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New research into recovering phosphorus from sewage New research into recovering phosphorus from sewage
(about 13 hours later)
Scottish researchers are working on new techniques to recover phosphorus from sewage.Scottish researchers are working on new techniques to recover phosphorus from sewage.
It is part of an EU-funded programme to recycle and conserve a vital element essential for food production.It is part of an EU-funded programme to recycle and conserve a vital element essential for food production.
The planet's reserves are diminishing amid a warning that we may have reached "peak phosphorus".The planet's reserves are diminishing amid a warning that we may have reached "peak phosphorus".
A team at Glasgow Caledonian University are recovering the chemical from waste water, microscopic plants and some wool.A team at Glasgow Caledonian University are recovering the chemical from waste water, microscopic plants and some wool.
It's right up there on the periodic table of the elements - atomic number 15.It's right up there on the periodic table of the elements - atomic number 15.
It's the stuff that ensures safety matches strike when we want them to - but does not ignite the whole box in our pocket.It's the stuff that ensures safety matches strike when we want them to - but does not ignite the whole box in our pocket.
So good news if you're a fan of peat fires and/or scented candles.So good news if you're a fan of peat fires and/or scented candles.
But how much do we really need phosphorus?But how much do we really need phosphorus?
More than many of us may realise. It's an essential part of our lives.More than many of us may realise. It's an essential part of our lives.
It's in our cells. In fact - just for once - it's not an exaggeration to say it's literally part of our DNA.It's in our cells. In fact - just for once - it's not an exaggeration to say it's literally part of our DNA.
Most importantly it's an essential ingredient of the fertilisers that put food on our tables.Most importantly it's an essential ingredient of the fertilisers that put food on our tables.
Whether it's fruit, vegetables or the plants we use to feed livestock, they all need phosphorus.Whether it's fruit, vegetables or the plants we use to feed livestock, they all need phosphorus.
And unlike nitrogen, that other element essential for growth, we can't pluck it out of the air.And unlike nitrogen, that other element essential for growth, we can't pluck it out of the air.
It has to be mined in a relative handful of countries, not all of them beacons of stability.It has to be mined in a relative handful of countries, not all of them beacons of stability.
Reserves diminishingReserves diminishing
Prof Ole Pahl, of Glasgow Caledonian University, is among those facing up to the problem.Prof Ole Pahl, of Glasgow Caledonian University, is among those facing up to the problem.
"The statistics say that every person uses about 22kg of the original material - in rock - per year," he says."The statistics say that every person uses about 22kg of the original material - in rock - per year," he says.
"So multiply that by the world population and you can imagine how much of it we use.""So multiply that by the world population and you can imagine how much of it we use."
The planet's phosphorus reserves are limited and diminishing.The planet's phosphorus reserves are limited and diminishing.
Our bodies use only a little of the phosphorus contained in the food we eat.Our bodies use only a little of the phosphorus contained in the food we eat.
The rest of it we are pouring down the drain.The rest of it we are pouring down the drain.
It goes into our sewage and is washed irrecoverably out to sea.It goes into our sewage and is washed irrecoverably out to sea.
But perhaps not for much longer.But perhaps not for much longer.
Glasgow Caledonian's researchers are part of an EU-funded project called Phos4You. It aims to recapture our discarded phosphorus from waste water and sewage sludge.Glasgow Caledonian's researchers are part of an EU-funded project called Phos4You. It aims to recapture our discarded phosphorus from waste water and sewage sludge.
On the continent, with big population centres, that could be achieved on an industrial scale.On the continent, with big population centres, that could be achieved on an industrial scale.
Scotland's problem is that it has relatively few big sewage treatment works. Much of our waste is handled by smaller facilities - and a whole lot of septic tanks.Scotland's problem is that it has relatively few big sewage treatment works. Much of our waste is handled by smaller facilities - and a whole lot of septic tanks.
So if Scotland is to recover significant amounts of phosphorus from waste it'll have to be done on an appropriate scale.So if Scotland is to recover significant amounts of phosphorus from waste it'll have to be done on an appropriate scale.
In a laboratory at Glasgow Caledonian, PhD student Lena Reichelt is working towards that using two tanks of waste water - sourced from Paisley - and a myriad of microscopic green algae. In a laboratory at Glasgow Caledonian, PhD student Lena Reichelt is working towards that using two tanks of waste water - sourced from Paisley - and myriad microscopic green algae.
'Really resistant algae''Really resistant algae'
In one tank the algae have turned the water a uniform deep green. It's not unattractive if you avoid thinking about what it actually is.In one tank the algae have turned the water a uniform deep green. It's not unattractive if you avoid thinking about what it actually is.
In the other tank the water is clearer. There the algae are clinging to some furry sticks which are weirdly suggestive of evil lollipops.In the other tank the water is clearer. There the algae are clinging to some furry sticks which are weirdly suggestive of evil lollipops.
"In the first tank it's green because the algae are suspended," Lena says."In the first tank it's green because the algae are suspended," Lena says.
"In the other one, the algae are getting attached to a biofilm and actually consuming the phosphorus."In the other one, the algae are getting attached to a biofilm and actually consuming the phosphorus.
"In the end we're trying to recover the phosphorus from these microalgae.""In the end we're trying to recover the phosphorus from these microalgae."
The biofilm on which the algae are capturing the phosphorus - the stuff that is making the sticks furry - is nothing more sophisticated than wool.The biofilm on which the algae are capturing the phosphorus - the stuff that is making the sticks furry - is nothing more sophisticated than wool.
It's a technology likely to suit Scotland's smaller-scale sewage system.It's a technology likely to suit Scotland's smaller-scale sewage system.
But as research assistant Dr Ania Escuero explains, it's the algae that are special. They've been sourced from a badly-polluted river in Spain.But as research assistant Dr Ania Escuero explains, it's the algae that are special. They've been sourced from a badly-polluted river in Spain.
"They are really resistant and they don't need much light," she says."They are really resistant and they don't need much light," she says.
"So in a place like Scotland or north west Europe in general that's really interesting."So in a place like Scotland or north west Europe in general that's really interesting.
"Everyone thinks that we are crazy because we are growing microalgae in Scotland with no light."Everyone thinks that we are crazy because we are growing microalgae in Scotland with no light.
"But these are specific algae. With a lot of light they get inhibited. So they prefer to be a bit in the darkness.""But these are specific algae. With a lot of light they get inhibited. So they prefer to be a bit in the darkness."
More sophisticatedMore sophisticated
Researchers at the University of the Highlands and Islands are also involved in this pan-European effort to create a phosphorus cycle.Researchers at the University of the Highlands and Islands are also involved in this pan-European effort to create a phosphorus cycle.
In some ways it's what farmers have always done when they spread muck on their fields.In some ways it's what farmers have always done when they spread muck on their fields.
But it promises to be a lot more sophisticated - and to raise sociological, even aesthetic, questions.But it promises to be a lot more sophisticated - and to raise sociological, even aesthetic, questions.
Prof Pahl says: "What we are trying now is to see whether people will be happy with a closer loop, closer to their own home, where you could almost know the neighbours that would have produced this phosphorus.Prof Pahl says: "What we are trying now is to see whether people will be happy with a closer loop, closer to their own home, where you could almost know the neighbours that would have produced this phosphorus.
"Are you happy to put that back onto your land?"Are you happy to put that back onto your land?
"Maybe not to grow salad, but to grow forestry, to grow grass that then our cows can graze on.""Maybe not to grow salad, but to grow forestry, to grow grass that then our cows can graze on."
If both the scientific and the societal questions can be answered to everyone's satisfaction, we may be able to prevent this vital element being lost at sea.If both the scientific and the societal questions can be answered to everyone's satisfaction, we may be able to prevent this vital element being lost at sea.