7. Recovery of Nutrients and Metals from Sewage

This chapter delves into the critical process of recovering nutrients and metals from sewage, emphasizing its role in environmental protection and resource sustainability. It covers a range of methods, including struvite precipitation, enhanced biological phosphorus removal, ammonia stripping, ion exchange, and the Anammox process for nutrient recovery. For metal recovery, techniques such as acid leaching, biological leaching, electrokinetic separation, and pyrometallurgical processing are explored. The chapter also discusses the advantages and disadvantages of these processes, highlighting their efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impact. Additionally, it addresses future research opportunities and the development needed to optimize these recovery methods. The conclusion underscores the significance of these processes in reducing dependency on natural resources, mitigating pollution, and supporting sustainable agricultural practices and industrial applications.