Removing and reusing phosphorus from agricultural runoff

By using a biological system to capture phosphorus from agricultural runoff, researchers at the University of Michigan have created a process that would allow treatment plants to remove it from wastewater in a concentrated form that can then be reused as fertilizer.
*Footage in this video was filmed before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.*
Water treatment plants currently use ferric chloride to absorb phosphorus runoff in wastewater. The result is a heavy sludge that builds up in the water and is removed and incinerated or thrown in a landfill. Glen Daigger, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at U-M, and his research team are developing a biological system that can capture the phosphorus in the water without use of chemicals.
The team is working with the Great Lakes Water Authority in Detroit, Michigan. The GLWA is one of the largest used water treatment facilities in the world and uniquely works with what is called a combined sewer system: cleaning industrial wastewater as well as stormwater.
cee.engin.umich.edu/people/gl...
www.glwater.org/
------
Watch more videos from University of Michigan Engineering and subscribe: / michiganengineering
The University of Michigan College of Engineering is one of the world’s top engineering schools. Michigan Engineering is home to 12 highly-ranked departments, and its research budget is among the largest of any public university.
engin.umich.edu
Follow University of Michigan Engineering:
Twitter: / umengineering
Facebook: / michigan.engineering
Instagram: / michiganengineering
Contact University of Michigan Engineering:
engin.umich.edu/about/contact/

[@amos616]

Absolutely wonderful! I'm hoping this process becomes widespread as water is our most precious resource and second to that is the soil. You've found a process to benefit both and lessen our landfill/burn impact. Thank you for thinking outside the box and looking at ways to improve the world!!