N, P, K recovery from hydrolysed urine by Na-chabazite adsorption integrated with ammonia stripping and (K-)struvite precipitation

This study investigated the recovery of K+ along with NH4+-N and PO43−-P from hydrolyzed urine by technical integration. The K adsorption capacities of biochar, clinoptilolite, artificial zeolite and chabazite were firstly compared. Due to the high K recovery efficiency and additional P recovery capacity, Na-chabazite was selected as the adsorbent in this study. Its kinetics and isotherm analysis indicated that the high molarity of NH4+-N seriously hindered the K adsorption onto Na-chabazite in synthetic hydrolyzed urine (SHU). However, this competition between NH4+ and K+ got diminished when their molarity is the same, i.e. in the SHU after ammonia stripping (ASSHU). Based on this key finding, Na-chabazite adsorption was integrated with ammonia stripping and struvite precipitation under different configurations. Simultaneous ammonia stripping was inadequate to diminish the competitive effect of NH4+ on K+ adsorption. Depending on the demand for fertilizer, two sequential configurations were recommended, respectively. [Display omitted] •Simultaneous recovery of N-P-K was achieved by technical integration.•The K adsorption capacities of biochar, zeolite and chabazite were compared.•The kinetics and isotherm analysis of K adsorption onto Na-chabazite was performed.•Ammonia stripping enabled Na-chabazite to efficiently recover K by ion exchange.•“Stripping → Na-chabazite adsorption → (K-)struvite precipitation” was recommended.