Agri-food wastewater contains valuable plant nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, but releasing them into the environment causes eutrophication. Traditional treatment removes these nutrients, but fails to recover them, especially phosphorus, a key fertilizer component. With finite geological reserves, recovering phosphorus from wastewater aligns with circular economy principles, turning waste into a resource.

This presentation introduces an electrochemical system using carbonate minerals (e.g., dolomite) to treat meat-processing wastewater and recover phosphorus in a reusable form as slow-release fertilizer. After electrochemical treatment, duckweed (Lemnaceae) will further clean the water by absorbing residual nutrients. Duckweed grows rapidly and can be used as animal feed, keeping phosphorus within the agricultural cycle.

By combining electrochemical recovery with phytoremediation, this work offers a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment and nutrient recycling, supporting both environmental protection and resource efficiency.