Recent advances in electrochemical removal and recovery of phosphorus from water: A review

Phosphorus (P) is an essential microelement for biota. Phosphate minerals obtained through subsurface mining are the main sources of P. Phosphate-bearing rocks are nonrenewable and reserves are limited, so overexploitation will cause a shortage of P. However, releasing large amounts of P into water bodies can cause eutrophication. The problems of availability of P and P-related pollution require long-term sustainable responses. Electrochemical P recovery methods have recently been found to offer promise for solving these problems. Here, we describe recent advances in electrochemical methods for removing and recovering P in various forms from aqueous systems and summarize the fundamentals and parameters affecting the methods. The review is not only limited to orthophosphate but also includes non-ortho P and phosphite, which are often overlooked. The economic viabilities of various methods are assessed and the constraints and prospects of the methods are summarized. Improving electrochemical methods will require interdisciplinary research in the fields of electrochemistry, chemical engineering, and environmental science.