Elsevier

Desalination

Volume 248, Issues 1–3, 15 November 2009, Pages 360-368
Desalination

Options for urine treatment in developing countries

Presented at the Water and Sanitation in International Development and Disaster Relief (WSIDDR) International Workshop Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, 28–30 May 2008.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2008.05.076Get rights and content

Abstract

Interesting prospects of a urine-based product exist as a fertilizer in agricultural applications in developing countries. However, removal of pharmaceutical residues is essential to prevent long-termenvironmental hazards. In this paper, the perspectives of urine collection and treatment are discussed with a perspective of the developing countries. Scenarios are drawn up and discussed around the processes of electrodialysis, precipitation and evaporation. A new process combination is presented consisting of nitrification in sand filters and solar evaporation, which could potentially be implemented in developing countries. Such a scenario enables good perspectives for local business development, which is an important prerequisite for the implementation of new technologies in the developing countries.

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