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Leon P, Nakayama Y, Margenot AJ. Field-scale evaluation of struvite phosphorus and nitrogen leaching relative to monoammonium phosphate. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2024; 53:23-34. [PMID: 37801333 DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Struvite (MgNH4 PO4 ·6H2 O) is a wastewater-derived phosphorus (P) fertilizer with potential to reduce P as well as nitrogen (N) losses due to its low water solubility. To test hypothesized lower P and N losses from struvite relative to monoammonium phosphate (MAP), field experiments with a randomized-complete block design were conducted in central (Urbana) Illinois on an Endoaquoll-Argiudoll complex and in southern (Ewing) Illinois on a Fragiudalf-Hapludalf complex. Fertilizer was broadcast applied in the fall prior to spring planting of soybean (Glycine max L.) at a maintenance rate of 29.5 kg P ha-1 (Urbana) and 22.0 kg P ha-1 (Ewing). In the spring, soil extractable N and Mehlich 3-P at 0- to 15-cm and 15- to 35-cm depths were determined, and leached N and P were estimated using fall-installed ion-exchangeable resin (IER) lysimeters. At Urbana, soil extractable nitrate-N was higher under MAP than struvite at 0- to 15-cm depth. At Ewing, soil Mehlich 3-P under struvite was lower than MAP at both depths. At Urbana, leached P was 10-fold lower, and leached N was twofold lower under struvite than MAP. Soybean yields were similar between MAP and struvite at Urbana (4.1-4.3 Mg ha-1 ) and Ewing (3.2-3.5 Mg ha-1 ), but at Ewing yields were 23% higher under struvite compared to the P-unfertilized control. Off-season yield-scaled P and N losses under struvite were lower than MAP by 51% at Urbana and by 10% at Ewing. Our results support the hypothesized potential of struvite to reduce nutrient losses while meeting crop P needs. Additionally, we identify disproportionally greater reductions in N leaching and yield-scaled N losses by substituting struvite for MAP in fall applications, indicating that struvite can offer greater relative benefits for N loss reduction than P loss reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Leon
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Yuhei Nakayama
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Andrew J Margenot
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Agroecosystem Sustainability Center, Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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Watabe S, Lohman HAC, Li Y, Morgan VL, Rowles LS, Stephen T, Shyu HY, Bair RA, Castro CJ, Cusick RD, Yeh DH, Guest JS. Advancing the Economic and Environmental Sustainability of the NEWgenerator Nonsewered Sanitation System. ACS ENVIRONMENTAL AU 2023; 3:209-222. [PMID: 37483306 PMCID: PMC10360206 DOI: 10.1021/acsenvironau.3c00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Achieving safely managed sanitation and resource recovery in areas that are rural, geographically challenged, or experiencing rapidly increasing population density may not be feasible with centralized facilities due to space requirements, site-specific concerns, and high costs of sewer installation. Nonsewered sanitation (NSS) systems have the potential to provide safely managed sanitation and achieve strict wastewater treatment standards. One such NSS treatment technology is the NEWgenerator, which includes an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR), nutrient recovery via ion exchange, and electrochlorination. The system has been shown to achieve robust treatment of real waste for over 100 users, but the technology's relative life cycle sustainability remains unclear. This study characterizes the financial viability and life cycle environmental impacts of the NEWgenerator and prioritizes opportunities to advance system sustainability through targeted improvements and deployment. The costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the NEWgenerator (general case) leveraging grid electricity were 0.139 [0.113-0.168] USD cap-1 day-1 and 79.7 [55.0-112.3] kg CO2-equiv cap-1 year-1, respectively. A transition to photovoltaic-generated electricity would increase costs to 0.145 [0.118-0.181] USD cap-1 day-1 but decrease GHG emissions to 56.1 [33.8-86.2] kg CO2-equiv cap-1 year-1. The deployment location analysis demonstrated reduced median costs for deployment in China (-38%), India (-53%), Senegal (-31%), South Africa (-31%), and Uganda (-35%), but at comparable or increased GHG emissions (-2 to +16%). Targeted improvements revealed the relative change in median cost and GHG emissions to be -21 and -3% if loading is doubled (i.e., doubled users per unit), -30 and -12% with additional sludge drying, and +9 and -25% with the addition of a membrane contactor, respectively, with limited benefits (0-5% reductions) from an alternative photovoltaic battery, low-cost housing, or improved frontend operation. This research demonstrates that the NEWgenerator is a low-cost, low-emission NSS treatment technology with the potential for resource recovery to increase access to safe sanitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shion Watabe
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Hannah A. C. Lohman
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Yalin Li
- Institute
for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1101 W. Peabody Dr., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Victoria L. Morgan
- Institute
for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1101 W. Peabody Dr., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Lewis S. Rowles
- Institute
for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1101 W. Peabody Dr., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Tyler Stephen
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Hsiang-Yang Shyu
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Robert A. Bair
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Cynthia J. Castro
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Roland D. Cusick
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Daniel H. Yeh
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Jeremy S. Guest
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Institute
for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1101 W. Peabody Dr., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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3
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Rowles LS, Morgan VL, Li Y, Zhang X, Watabe S, Stephen T, Lohman HAC, DeSouza D, Hallowell J, Cusick RD, Guest JS. Financial Viability and Environmental Sustainability of Fecal Sludge Treatment with Pyrolysis Omni Processors. ACS ENVIRONMENTAL AU 2022; 2:455-466. [PMID: 36164351 PMCID: PMC9502014 DOI: 10.1021/acsenvironau.2c00022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
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Omni Processors (OPs) are community-scale systems for
non-sewered
fecal sludge treatment. These systems have demonstrated their capacity
to treat excreta from tens of thousands of people using thermal treatment
processes (e.g., pyrolysis), but their relative sustainability is
unclear. In this study, QSDsan (an open-source Python package) was
used to characterize the financial viability and environmental implications
of fecal sludge treatment via pyrolysis-based OP technology treating
mixed and source-separated human excreta and to elucidate the key
drivers of system sustainability. Overall, the daily per capita cost
for the treatment of mixed excreta (pit latrines) via the OP was estimated
to be 0.05 [0.03–0.08] USD·cap–1·d–1, while the treatment of source-separated excreta
(from urine-diverting dry toilets) was estimated to have a per capita
cost of 0.09 [0.08–0.14] USD·cap–1·d–1. Operation and maintenance of the OP is a critical
driver of total per capita cost, whereas the contribution from capital
cost of the OP is much lower because it is distributed over a relatively
large number of users (i.e., 12,000 people) for the system lifetime
(i.e., 20 yr). The total emissions from the source-separated scenario
were estimated to be 11 [8.3–23] kg CO2 eq·cap–1·yr–1, compared to 49 [28–77]
kg CO2 eq·cap–1·yr–1 for mixed excreta. Both scenarios fall below the estimates of greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions for anaerobic treatment of fecal sludge collected
from pit latrines. Source-separation also creates opportunities for
resource recovery to offset costs through nutrient recovery and carbon
sequestration with biochar production. For example, when carbon is
valued at 150 USD·Mg–1 of CO2, the
per capita cost of sanitation can be further reduced by 44 and 40%
for the source-separated and mixed excreta scenarios, respectively.
Overall, our results demonstrate that pyrolysis-based OP technology
can provide low-cost, low-GHG fecal sludge treatment while reducing
global sanitation gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis Stetson Rowles
- Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, University of Illinois Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Victoria L. Morgan
- Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, University of Illinois Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Yalin Li
- Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, University of Illinois Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Xinyi Zhang
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Shion Watabe
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Tyler Stephen
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Hannah A. C. Lohman
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Derek DeSouza
- Biomass Controls PBC, Woodstock, Connecticut 06281, United States
| | - Jeff Hallowell
- Biomass Controls PBC, Woodstock, Connecticut 06281, United States
| | - Roland D. Cusick
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Jeremy S. Guest
- Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, University of Illinois Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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Wang Y, Chen L, Jiang Y, Yang X, Dai J, Dai X, Dong M, Yan Y. Salt sacrificial template strategy and in-situ growth of lamellar La(OH)3 on a novel PVDF foam for the simultaneous removal of phosphates and oil pollution without VOCs emission. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.120681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Brown J. Invited Perspective: Sanitation Innovation Holds Promise but Must Consider Risks to Users. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:11301. [PMID: 34985306 PMCID: PMC8729224 DOI: 10.1289/ehp10609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Joe Brown
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Ryals R, Bischak E, Porterfield KK, Heisey S, Jeliazovski J, Kramer S, Pierre S. Toward Zero Hunger Through Coupled Ecological Sanitation-Agriculture Systems. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.716140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Ecological sanitation (EcoSan) systems capture and sanitize human excreta and generate organic nutrient resources that can support more sustainable nutrient management in agricultural ecosystems. An emerging EcoSan system that is implemented in Haiti and several other contexts globally couples container-based household toilets with aerobic, thermophilic composting. This closed loop sanitation system generates organic nutrient resources that can be used as part of an ecological approach to soil nutrient management and thus has the potential to contribute to Sustainable Development Goals 2 (zero hunger), 6 (clean water and sanitation for all), and 13 (climate change solutions). However, the role of organic nutrient resources derived from human excreta in food production is poorly studied. We conducted a greenhouse experiment comparing the impact of feces-derived compost on crop production, soil nutrient cycling, and nutrient losses with two amendments produced from wastewater treatment (pelletized biosolids and biofertilizer), urea, and an unfertilized control. Excreta-derived amendments increased crop yields 2.5 times more than urea, but had differing carry-over effects. After a one-time application of compost, crop production remained elevated throughout all six crop cycles. In contrast, the carry-over of crop response lasted two and four crop cycles for biosolids and biofertilizer, respectively, and was absent for urea. Soil carbon concentration in the compost amended soils increased linearly through time from 2.0 to 2.5%, an effect not seen with other treatments. Soil nitrous oxide emissions factors ranged from 0.3% (compost) to 4.6% (biosolids), while nitrogen leaching losses were lowest for biosolids and highest for urea. These results indicate that excreta-derived compost provides plant available nutrients, while improving soil health through the addition of soil organic carbon. It also improved biogeochemical functions, indicating the potential of excreta-derived compost to close nutrient loops if implemented at larger scales. If captured and safely treated through EcoSan, human feces produced in Haiti can meet up to 13, 22, and 11% of major crop needs of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, respectively.
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Echevarria D, Trimmer JT, Cusick RD, Guest JS. Defining Nutrient Colocation Typologies for Human-Derived Supply and Crop Demand To Advance Resource Recovery. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:10704-10713. [PMID: 34260214 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Resource recovery from human excreta can advance circular economies while improving access to sanitation and renewable agricultural inputs. While national projections of nutrient recovery potential provide motivation for resource recovery sanitation, elucidating generalizable strategies for sustainable implementation requires a deeper understanding of country-specific overlap between supply and demand. For 107 countries, we analyze the colocation of human-derived nutrients (in urine) and crop demands for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. To characterize colocation patterns, we fit data for each country to a generalized logistic function. Using fitted logistic curve parameters, three typologies were identified: (i) dislocated nutrient supply and demand resulting from high density agriculture (with low population density) and nutrient islands (e.g., dense cities) motivating nutrient concentration and transport; (ii) colocated nutrient supply and demand enabling local reuse; and (iii) diverse nutrient supply-demand proximities, with countries spanning the continuum between (i) and (ii). Finally, we explored connections between these typologies and country-specific contextual characteristics via principal component analysis and found that the Human Development Index was clustered by typology. By providing a generalizable, quantitative framework for characterizing the colocation of human-derived nutrient supply and agricultural nutrient demand, these typologies can advance resource recovery by informing resource management strategies, policy, and investment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desarae Echevarria
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - John T Trimmer
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1101 W. Peabody Dr., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Roland D Cusick
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Jeremy S Guest
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1101 W. Peabody Dr., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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8
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Trimmer JT, Lohman HAC, Byrne DM, Houser SA, Jjuuko F, Katende D, Banadda N, Zerai A, Miller DC, Guest JS. Navigating Multidimensional Social-Ecological System Trade-Offs across Sanitation Alternatives in an Urban Informal Settlement. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:12641-12653. [PMID: 32822180 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c03296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Urban growth in low- and middle-income countries has intensified the need to expand sanitation infrastructure, especially in informal settlements. Sanitation approaches for these settings remain understudied, particularly regarding multidimensional social-ecological outcomes. Guided by a conceptual framework (developed in parallel with this study) re-envisioning sanitation as a human-derived resource system, here we characterize existing and alternative sanitation scenarios in an informal settlement in Kampala, Uganda. Combining two core research approaches (household survey analysis, process modeling), we elucidate factors associated with user satisfaction and evaluate each scenario's resource recovery potential, economic implications, and environmental impacts. We find that existing user satisfaction is associated with factors including cleaning frequency, sharing, and type of toilets, and we demonstrate that alternative sanitation systems may offer multidimensional improvements over existing latrines, drying beds, and lagoons. Transitioning to anaerobic treatment could recover energy while reducing overall net costs by 26-65% and greenhouse gas emissions by 38-59%. Alternatively, replacing pit latrines with container-based facilities greatly improves recovery potential in most cases (e.g., a 2- to 4-fold increase for nitrogen) and reduces emissions by 46-79%, although costs increase. Overall, this work illustrates how our conceptual framework can guide empirical research, offering insight into sanitation for informal settlements and more sustainable resource systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- John T Trimmer
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Hannah A C Lohman
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Diana M Byrne
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Stephanie A Houser
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Fulgensio Jjuuko
- Community Integrated Development Initiatives, P.O. Box 692, Kampala, Uganda
| | - David Katende
- Community Integrated Development Initiatives, P.O. Box 692, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Noble Banadda
- Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Assata Zerai
- Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Daniel C Miller
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1102 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Jeremy S Guest
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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