Alkaline dehydration of source-separated fresh human urine: Preliminary insights into using different dehydration temperature and media

Simha, Prithvi; Lalander, Cecilia; Nordin, Annika; Vinnerås, Björn

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139313

Cited by 36 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…For all the collected samples, we analyzed for Total Solids (TS), Volatile Solids (VS), pH 1:5 and EC 1:5 as described in Simha et al (2020a). We also analyzed for the concentrations of different elements and micropollutants -in total, 19 elements, 3 anions, 126 pharmaceuticals and 8 hormones were analyzed.…”

Section: Monitoring and Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…where mass.cf WB is the mass concentration factor on wet basis and m media , m urine , and m end−product are the weight of the drying media at the start of the treatment, the total urine added during the treatment, and the end-product, respectively. To estimate the total urine inflow to the system (m urine ), we performed a mass balance for P since there is complete recovery of P from urine during alkaline dehydration (Simha et al, 2020a). We calculated urine's contribution of P (m P, urine ) to the total P recovered in the end-product (m P,end−product ) using Eq.…”

Section: Masscf Wbmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…macronutrients. Our past studies (Senecal and Vinneras, 2017;Simha et al, 2018Simha et al, , 2020a in the laboratory demonstrated the possibility of recovering almost all nutrients from urine, including N (>90%). This, however, was the not the case in our pilot-scale setup where the recovery of N was only 30 ± 6%, while we expected to recover 66% of the N at the design average treatment temperature of 60 • C. According to the thermodynamics of water evaporation, a large amount of heat (enthalpy of vaporization) is required for phase transition of liquid water to water vapor, approximately 2358 kJ kg −1 at 60 • C. Water absorbs sensible heat from hot air to convert it into latent heat.…”

Section: Compoundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The end-product composition is shown as a% of TS that was adjusted for loss of urea. The measured composition of urine shown in Table 1 was used for the simulation and end-product mass was calculated using a mass.cf WB of 17 from Simha et al (2020a).…”

Section: Compoundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences we have opted for an alternative approach, one where fresh urine is dehydrated to concentrate nutrients within an alkaline medium, resulting in the production of a dry fertilizer. This approach, which we call alkaline urine dehydration, has been studied extensively in the laboratory (Dutta and Vinneras, 2016;Senecal and Vinneras, 2017;Senecal et al, 2018;Simha et al, 2018Simha et al, , 2020a.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Field Testing a Pilot-Scale System for Alkaline Dehydration of Source-Separated Human Urine: A Case Study in Finland

Simha

Karlsson

Viskari

et al. 2020

Front. Environ. Sci.

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Alkaline dehydration can treat human urine to produce a dry and nutrient-rich fertilizer. To evaluate the technology at pilot-scale, we built a prototype with capacity to treat 30 L urine d −1 and field tested it for the first time at a military training camp in Finland. We operated the system for 3 months and monitored the recovery of nutrients, end-product composition, physicochemical properties and energy consumption. Results revealed that the system received less urine than anticipated, but achieved high dehydration rates (30-40 L d −1 m −2), recovered 30 ± 6% N, and yielded end-products with 1.4% N, 0.9% P, and 8.3% K. However, we demonstrated that the system had potential to recover nearly 70% N and produce fertilizers containing 13.2% N, 2.3% P, and 6.0% K, if it was operated at the design capacity. The energy demand for dehydrating urine was not optimized, but we suggested several ways of reducing it. We also discussed concerns surrounding non-essential heavy metals, salts, and micropollutants, and how they can be overcome to safely recycle urine. Lastly, we pointed out the research gaps that need to be addressed before the technology can be implemented at larger scale.

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Section: Monitoring and Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Masscf Wbmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Compoundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Compoundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Field Testing a Pilot-Scale System for Alkaline Dehydration of Source-Separated Human Urine: A Case Study in Finland

Simha

Karlsson

Viskari

et al. 2020

Front. Environ. Sci.

Self Cite

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Evaluating recycling fertilizers for tomato cultivation in hydroponics, and their impact on greenhouse gas emissions

Halbert-Howard

Häfner

Karlowsky

et al. 2020

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Soilless culture systems offer an environmentally friendly and resource-efficient alternative to traditional cultivation systems fitting within the scheme of a circular economy. The objective of this research was to examine the sustainable integration of recycling fertilizers in hydroponic cultivation—creating a nutrient cycling concept for horticultural cultivation. Using the nutrient film technique (NFT), three recycling-based fertilizer variants were tested against standard synthetic mineral fertilization as the control, with 11 tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Pannovy) per replicate (n = 4) and treatment: two nitrified urine-based fertilizers differing in ammonium/nitrate ratio (NH4+:NO3−), namely (1) “Aurin” (AUR) and (2) “Crop” (CRO); as well as (3) an organo-mineral mixture of struvite and vinasse (S+V); and (4) a control (NPK). The closed chamber method was adapted for gas fluxes (N2O, CH4, and CO2) from the root zone. There was no indication in differences of the total shoot biomass fresh matter and uptake of N, P and K between recycling fertilizers and the control. Marketable fruit yield was comparable between NPK, CRO and S+V, whereas lower yields occurred in AUR. The higher NH4+:NO3− of AUR was associated with an increased susceptibility of blossom-end-rot, likely due to reduced uptake and translocation of Ca. Highest sugar concentration was found in S+V, which may have been influenced by the presence of organic acids in vinasse. N2O emissions were highest in S+V, which corresponded to our hypothesis that N2O emissions positively correlate with organic-C input by the fertilizer amendments. Remaining treatments showed barely detectable GHG emissions. A nitrified urine with a low NH4+:NO3– (e.g., CRO) has a high potential as recycling fertilizer in NFT systems for tomato cultivation, and S+V proved to supply sufficient P and K for adequate growth and yield. Alternative cultivation strategies may complement the composition of AUR.

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Insight into the effect of pH-adjusted acid on thermodynamic properties and crystallization sequence during evaporative-crystallization process of hydrolyzed urine

Jiang

Xiang

Wang

et al. 2021

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Alkaline dehydration of source-separated fresh human urine: Preliminary insights into using different dehydration temperature and media

Cited by 36 publications

References 46 publications

Field Testing a Pilot-Scale System for Alkaline Dehydration of Source-Separated Human Urine: A Case Study in Finland

Field Testing a Pilot-Scale System for Alkaline Dehydration of Source-Separated Human Urine: A Case Study in Finland

Evaluating recycling fertilizers for tomato cultivation in hydroponics, and their impact on greenhouse gas emissions

Insight into the effect of pH-adjusted acid on thermodynamic properties and crystallization sequence during evaporative-crystallization process of hydrolyzed urine

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