The Resource Recovery theme of Wetsus directs towards the recovery of N and P from wastewater. In addition, the microbial fuel cell technology is further developed.
The winning of P from municipal wastewater and cheese water occurs via an electrochemical process. Depending on the residence time, it is possible to extract more than 90% of the P from the wastewater as calcium phosphate. The winning of N in the form of ammonia, converted to ammonium sulfate, occurs in an electrochemical process. The recovery of N is more than 80-90%.
For further development of the microbial fuel cell technology for the conversion of wastewater to electricity, a project runs on the activity of the bio-anode using intermittent current control. To up-scale the microbial fuel cell, the fluidized bed bio-anode is developed. This fluidized bed bio-anode enables up scaling of the microbial fuel cell to a level of m3 as the charging of the capacitive granules by the electro-active bacteria occurs electro less. Discharging takes place in a dedicated electrochemical cell.