Manufacturing fertilizer is problematic. The phosphorus in commercial fertilizer comes from a non-renewable resource, and nitrogen comes from natural gas. But there’s an endless stream of renewable phosphorus and nitrogen available in urine. Energy and expense does go to removing nutrients like them from municipal wastewater. Two different ways of producing fertilizer from urine exist Both have a smaller footprint than conventional wastewater treatment and fertilizer production when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, freshwater use, and potential to cause harmful algal blooms.
www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2020/12/researchers-have-identified-a-1-solution-for-decarbonizing-fertilizer-production/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=researchers-have-identified-a-1-solution-for-decarbonizing-fertilizer-production&utm_source=Anthropocene&utm_campaign=b96c5ef110-Anthropocene+science+to+AM&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ececcea89a-b96c5ef110-294331733Source: Hilton S.P. et al. “Life Cycle Assessment of Urine Diversion and Conversion to Fertilizer Products at the City Scale.” Environmental Science & Technology 2020.
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