Pathways to advanced resource recovery from sewage

Abstract

The ongoing paradigm shift in sewage management from pollution control to resource recovery is an integral part of a circular economy. Efforts have traditionally concentrated on the recovery of organic carbon as bioenergy, and nitrogen and phosphorus as nutrients. In the past decade, technologies have been developed to recover high-value commodities. Simultaneously, innovative processes have been proposed to produce chemical agents that can be immediately reused in the sewage system to facilitate sewage management. This Review evaluates these latest developments and the underpinning scientific discoveries, identifies the key challenges, and outlines a roadmap towards greener and more sustainable sewage management.