Integrated-Modular Onsite Urine Treatment Unit for Recovery of Water and Green Chemicals

Technology:; Onsite Urine Treatment Unit

Industry: Environment Engineering, Waste Treatment, Waste Management;

Applications: Waste management-treatment;

Market: The global external urine management market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.9% during 2023-2030.

Generally, major sources of nutrient like nitrogen, potassium & phosphorous in wastewater is from urine & accumulation of the minerals & nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium) in surface water due to poor wastewater management leads to eutrophication (algal bloom) in the surface waters, making them unusable.
Further there are a few prior art discussed which does not disclosed about the integrated treatment unit used for recovering nutrients from urine. Hence, there is a need an improved system & method.

The present invention describes a system and process for recovering water & nutrients from urine.
The System includes a urine storage tank, a hydrolysis tank, a distillation column, a steam generator, a condenser, a struvite reactor & an electrochemical reactor.
The hydrolysis tank is configured to hydrolyse urea present in urine to ammonium & bicarbonate.
The distillation column convert ammonium to gaseous ammonia at temp>100⁰C at operating pressure < 0.5 bar.
Said steam generator is configured to generate steam into the distillation column.
Said condenser is configured to condense gaseous ammonia to liquid ammonia & obtained depleted urine.
Said struvite reactor is configured to obtained ammonia & phosphate depleted urine.
The Electrochemical reactor is configured to degrade pollutants in the depleted urine to the top of the reactor.
The process for recovering water & nutrients from urine is depicted in the figures. (Refer FIGs 1,2, 3 & 4)

Technical Perspective:

The distillation column convert ammonium to gaseous ammonia at temp>100⁰C at operating pressure < 0.5 bar.
The ammonium recovered is 95%.
The percentage recovery of phosphate in the struvite reactor is in a range of 95-98.
Finally, the pollutant is an antibiotic & the reduction achieved is from a level of 1014 ppb or less to undetectable levels.
The ammonia & phosphate depleted urine is transferred to an electrochemical reactor to degrade pollutants in urine & recover water.

Industrial Perspective:

It’s an ecofriendly, cost-effective advanced integrated system & process for recovering of water & nutrients/green chemicals from human & mammal.
User friendly system with recovery of enhanced nutrients;
Required minimal energy consumption.

Prof. Indumathi M Nambi,

Department of Civil Engineering.

TRL-4

Proof of Concept ready, tested in lab.

Technology Transfer