The reuse of human urine will allow sustainable fertilizer production for urban agriculture with environmental advantages. It is the results of a study conducted by the University of Environmental Science and Technology by the University of Environmental Science and Technology that assesses the environmental effects of recovery of nitrogen from the yellow waters of buildings. In addition to promoting sustainable agriculture, this can reduce the partner2 Emission and water consumption.
The global demand for fertilizer in agriculture is increasing daily, which must reduce the dependence on unreasonable sources. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), global demand for nitrogen as fertilizers increases 1 % annually, which is corresponding to a rise of 1.074 million tonnes yearly.
The production of those fertilizers relies heavily on non -renewable energy sources corresponding to natural gas, oil, and coal, which represents significant energy consumption and partner.2 Extraction
The recent study was led by the ICTA-UBB Social Group in collaboration with the Department of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering Department Jenivov Group, which offers the recovery of human urine nutrients as an answer to the change of urban agriculture. The article published within the scientific journal states that using urine allows the exploitation of local resources and minimize using external inputs, which helps to stabilize the agricultural process. In addition, it reduces dependence on limited resources and supports the more responsible cycle environmentally.
In this context, human urine or “yellow water” is a wealthy source of nutrients, especially for nitrogen, agricultural production. In addition to its advantages as fertilizer, it helps reduce pollution from greenhouse gas emissions and water sources, corresponding to rivers and water sources.
To estimate its feasibility, researchers tested this process within the biochemical constructing of the ICTA-UBB, which incorporates a pilot plant for nitrogen recovery and integrated greenhouse within the roof, where the consequences of nitrogen recovered on tomato crops are tested. This process begins within the underground plant, where a male urine is stored without water and a special reactor is directed. In this reactor, the urine is mixed with a base to administer its acidity, while microorganisms convert urea into nitrate in urine, a type of nitrogen that may absorb plants more easily.
Then the nitrate manufactured within the reactor is then utilized in the greenhouse for irrigation of hydroponic tomatoes, which is situated on the roof of the constructing. According to the study, a cubic meter of treated yellow water is 7.5kg of nitrogen, which can allow the cultivation of two.4 tonnes of tomatoes outside.
Although this remains to be a laboratory -scale study, the outcomes show that if the urine is recovered on an enormous scale, environmental and economic effects shall be reduced, connecting all of the urine within the constructing to the nitrogen recovery reactor. Experimental work remains to be happening, corresponding to evaluation of pharmaceutical compounds utilized by people and their potential appearance in crop tissues.