A Green and Sustainable A Green and Sustainable Solution to Solution to

Global Phosphorus DepletionGlobal Phosphorus Depletion

Donald S. Mavinic, Ph D., P. Eng.Donald S. Mavinic, Ph D., P. Eng.Professor of Civil EngineeringThe University of British Columbia, B.C., Canada

November 17, 2010

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

PhosphorusPhosphorus

HistoryHistory Global IssuesGlobal Issues ResearchResearch Solutions and Technology Transfer Solutions and Technology Transfer Recommendations for Canadian PolicyRecommendations for Canadian Policy

““Phosphorus is a Phosphorus is a key link in the global food chainkey link in the global food chain, , an an essential nutrient for lifeessential nutrient for life and the biggest and the biggest natural resource shortagenatural resource shortage you have you have nevernever heard heard of. of. Earth has a limited supplyEarth has a limited supply of phosphorus and of phosphorus and once it is gone, once it is gone, life as we know it will be gonelife as we know it will be gone as as well.”well.”

James ElserJames Elser

Professor of Life Sciences, Arizona State UniversityProfessor of Life Sciences, Arizona State University

September, 2010, WE&T MagazineSeptember, 2010, WE&T Magazine

Phosphorus (P) was discoveredPhosphorus (P) was discovered** in Hamburg, Germany by in Hamburg, Germany by alchemist Hennig Brand in 1669 by heating urine to high alchemist Hennig Brand in 1669 by heating urine to high temperaturestemperatures

Brand thought he had discovered the Philosopher’s Stone, which turned lead into gold

*The origin of elemental phosphorus is shrouded

in mystery and possibly was discovered in ancient Greece and Rome and then forgotten again.

What About Phosphorus ?What About Phosphorus ?

Phosphorus is Phosphorus is essentialessential for for allall living organismsliving organisms

Phosphorus is a Phosphorus is a building blockbuilding block of DNA,of DNA, cellular cellular membranes and energy metabolismmembranes and energy metabolism

The human The human adult body containsadult body contains approx. 1.5 kgapprox. 1.5 kg of of phosphorus, mostly in the bonesphosphorus, mostly in the bones

There is There is no known substituteno known substitute for phosphorus for phosphorus

What About Phosphorus ?What About Phosphorus ?

Phosphorus Phosphorus cannot be manufacturedcannot be manufactured or extracted from or extracted from the atmosphere (like nitrogen)the atmosphere (like nitrogen)

Phosphorus Phosphorus cannot be destroyedcannot be destroyed, since it has no , since it has no gaseous phasegaseous phase

HumansHumans excrete excrete betweenbetween 3 – 4 grams 3 – 4 grams daily in urine daily in urine

CowsCows and and hogshogs excreteexcrete 20 times20 times that amount daily that amount daily

““We may be able to substitute nuclear power for We may be able to substitute nuclear power for coal, and plastics for wood, and yeast for coal, and plastics for wood, and yeast for meat, and friendliness for isolation - but for meat, and friendliness for isolation - but for phosphorus there is neither substitute nor phosphorus there is neither substitute nor replacement”replacement”

Isaac Asimov

What About Phosphorus ?What About Phosphorus ?

Phosphorus is one of the three Phosphorus is one of the three key componentskey components of fertilizersof fertilizers

It is It is crucial crucial for the for the world's food supplyworld's food supply

Approx. 80% Approx. 80% of the phosphorus contained in of the phosphorus contained in rockrock mined for food productionmined for food production nevernever reaches reaches the food consumed globallythe food consumed globally

Excess Phosphorus (P) in water = water pollution Excess Phosphorus (P) in water = water pollution

and the start ofand the start of EutrophicationEutrophication

British Parliament was British Parliament was disrupted in the summer of disrupted in the summer of 1858 due to stench from the 1858 due to stench from the Thames River, known asThames River, known as

“ “The Big StinkThe Big Stink””

Faraday giving his card to Father Thames, caricature commenting on a letter of Faraday's on the state of the river in the Times in Summer 1855

Canadian limnologists were at Canadian limnologists were at the forefront of the eutrophication the forefront of the eutrophication debatedebate

Experimental Lakes Area in Experimental Lakes Area in Northwestern Ontario, run by the Northwestern Ontario, run by the Freshwater Institute in Winnipeg, Freshwater Institute in Winnipeg, show impact of Phosphorusshow impact of Phosphorus

N and C on N and C on the topthe top

N, P and C on N, P and C on the bottomthe bottom

Dave Schindler, Jack Vallentyne, John Dave Schindler, Jack Vallentyne, John Stockner, Staffan Holmgren, Everett FeeStockner, Staffan Holmgren, Everett Fee

Environment Canada report by Environment Canada report by Vollenweider, and Vallentyne’s Vollenweider, and Vallentyne’s “The Algal Bowl” summarized “The Algal Bowl” summarized eutrophication situation - 1960’seutrophication situation - 1960’s

Led to legislation reducing P in Led to legislation reducing P in detergents and waste waterdetergents and waste water

US Clean Water Act introduced US Clean Water Act introduced

in 1972in 1972

Lake Winnipeg has become severely eutrophic in Lake Winnipeg has become severely eutrophic in the 1990s due to Phosphorus pollutionthe 1990s due to Phosphorus pollution

Shuswap Lake System - Algae BloomShuswap Lake System - Algae Bloom

Phosphorus Facts Phosphorus Facts Collectively, Collectively, Morocco, China, South AfricaMorocco, China, South Africa and the and the US US hold over hold over 80% of known80% of known, high quality, economically-, high quality, economically-recoverable recoverable phosphate rockphosphate rock..

Phosphorus FactsPhosphorus Facts

MoroccoMorocco holds approximately holds approximately 40% of Global reserves40% of Global reserves, , followed by China at about 27%followed by China at about 27%

US productionUS production of phosphates has of phosphates has already already peakedpeaked and and known reserves are expected to be known reserves are expected to be depleted within 20-depleted within 20-25 years25 years

Canada has no significant reserves and is Canada has no significant reserves and is heavily dependent on US suppliesheavily dependent on US supplies

Phosphorus FactsPhosphorus Facts

Global phosphate Global phosphate rock extractionrock extraction is “expected” is “expected” to to peakpeak between between 2030 and 20402030 and 2040

THEN WHAT ?THEN WHAT ?

Global Global demand will exceed supplydemand will exceed supply between between 2025 – 20302025 – 2030 ( based on a 3.1- 3.2% per year ( based on a 3.1- 3.2% per year growth demand)growth demand)

IMPLICATIONS ??IMPLICATIONS ??

Struvite Struvite (trade name)(trade name) – what is it? – what is it?

A form of inorganic fertilizer containing phosphorusA form of inorganic fertilizer containing phosphorus

Forms as a solid matrix in many biological Waste Forms as a solid matrix in many biological Waste Water TreatmentWater Treatment

Plants (WWTPs)Plants (WWTPs)

Leads to serious plugging Leads to serious plugging

of pipes and pumpsof pipes and pumps

Struvite Struvite (Trade name)(Trade name) – what is it? – what is it? Chemical composition: Mg NHChemical composition: Mg NH44 PO PO44 . 6 H . 6 H22OO

Known as Magnesium-Ammonium-Phosphate = MAPKnown as Magnesium-Ammonium-Phosphate = MAP

Contains Contains nono organic material, hence is not a biosolid organic material, hence is not a biosolid

UBC Pilot Scale ReactorsUBC Pilot Scale Reactors

Full Scale ProcessFull Scale Process

Many nations are now vigorously pursuingMany nations are now vigorously pursuing P recoveryP recovery

North America’s largest North America’s largest P recovery reactor, in P recovery reactor, in Edmonton March/07Edmonton March/07

UBC Patented DesignUBC Patented DesignNovember 2009November 2009

Full scale P recovery reactor, Full scale P recovery reactor, in Edmonton in Edmonton

Serves 200,000 people Serves 200,000 people

Recovers about 400 kg of P Recovers about 400 kg of P per dayper day

4 more reactors potentially 4 more reactors potentially coming on line 2011coming on line 2011

Struvite – Commercial NameStruvite – Commercial Name

Crystal GreenCrystal Green®® (Ostara Inc)(Ostara Inc)

5-28-0 + 10 % Mg5-28-0 + 10 % Mg Easily Blended with Easily Blended with

other pelletsother pellets Size: 0.5- 5 mm crystalsSize: 0.5- 5 mm crystals

Crystal GreenCrystal Green®®

A A sustainable, recoverable resourcesustainable, recoverable resource from from human and agricultural waste streamshuman and agricultural waste streams

A A slow-release fertilizerslow-release fertilizer, that also generates , that also generates Greenhouse Gas CreditsGreenhouse Gas Credits during production during production

Fertilizer to foodFertilizer to food

Three full scale P recovery Three full scale P recovery reactors, Tigard (Portland) reactors, Tigard (Portland)

Serves 500,000 people, Serves 500,000 people,

Recovers about 500 tonnes Recovers about 500 tonnes of Phosphorus per yearof Phosphorus per year

Struvite can command Struvite can command premium prices on premium prices on

world marketsworld markets

Robert Kennedy Jr. is on the Robert Kennedy Jr. is on the Ostara Board of DirectorsOstara Board of Directors

Kennedy has stated every Kennedy has stated every large WWTP in the USA large WWTP in the USA must have P recoverymust have P recovery

The “Nutrient Pump”The “Nutrient Pump”

Salmon “pump” nutrients uphill against the force of gravity

Salmon are ~ 0.3% as P and ~3% as N (wet weight)

Salmon carcasses provide nutrients including phosphorus for the health of the rivers and ecosystem

When they are absent the river needs added nutrients

BC using P recovered from waste stream to replace the missing nutrients

Proceedings from the 2001 Salmon Nutrient Conference, Eugene Oregon

Available: www.fisheries.org

Stream Rehabilitation using Stream Rehabilitation using Crystal GreenCrystal Green®®

Replacing absent salmon Replacing absent salmon

carcasses - Helicoptercarcasses - Helicopter

The OutcomeThe Outcome

Stream Rehabilitation using Stream Rehabilitation using Crystal GreenCrystal Green®® - - tthe hard wayhe hard way

The OutcomeThe Outcome

BC Rivers fertilized with BC Rivers fertilized with Crystal GreenCrystal Green®® in 2010 in 2010

International Conference held in Vancouver May 2009

Global review of current technology in Phosphorus Recovery

Attended by government officials and researchers from 32 countries

Phosphorus - the Global IssuePhosphorus - the Global Issue

The Conference generated Global discussion on The Conference generated Global discussion on the looming the looming Phosphorus ShortagePhosphorus Shortage

Recent European Community directives recommend P recovery/recycling from farms and biological waste water treatment plants (WWTP)

P can be P can be recycled recycled endlesslyendlessly

GPRI DeclarationGPRI Declaration

Accepted by the UN Environment CommitteeAccepted by the UN Environment Committee

The Next ChallengeThe Next Challenge

Recovery of P from animal manure

Represents a huge opportunity to recover P and protect the environment

The planet has 6.7 billion people, but 70 billion livestock!!

Okanagan Winter SpreadingOkanagan Winter Spreading

SummarySummary

Global phosphate reserves are rapidly being depletedGlobal phosphate reserves are rapidly being depleted, , threatening the world’s future ability to produce foodthreatening the world’s future ability to produce food

Phosphate rockPhosphate rock, the basis for large scale fertilizer , the basis for large scale fertilizer production, production, is a non-renewable resourceis a non-renewable resource

Cheap fertilizers are a thing of the pastCheap fertilizers are a thing of the past as global as global demands begin to outstrip the available supply of high-demands begin to outstrip the available supply of high-quality, economically recoverable P reservesquality, economically recoverable P reserves

SummarySummary

Many countries areMany countries are now limiting phosphate rock now limiting phosphate rock exportation and are exportation and are mandatingmandating P recovery P recovery and reuse and reuse

Phosphorus Phosphorus removal and removal and recoveryrecovery from domestic from domestic treatment plants is treatment plants is nownow a reality a reality

Phosphate removal and recoveryPhosphate removal and recovery from agricultural from agricultural wastes (e.g. cattle and hogs) wastes (e.g. cattle and hogs) shows great promise.shows great promise.

Implications for North AmericaImplications for North America

Begin thinking differently NOWBegin thinking differently NOW

Shift the paradigm from phosphorus removal to Shift the paradigm from phosphorus removal to phosphorus removal / recovery and reusephosphorus removal / recovery and reuse

View Waste StreamsView Waste Streams (human and agricultural) (human and agricultural) as a resourceas a resource, a sustainable source of , a sustainable source of phosphorus and Green House Creditsphosphorus and Green House Credits

Implications for CanadaImplications for Canada

Recommended actions:Recommended actions: Mandate a national policyMandate a national policy for major biological for major biological

waste treatment plants, including nutrient waste treatment plants, including nutrient removal and recovery (especially P)removal and recovery (especially P)

ImplementImplement a CCME directivea CCME directive to begin to begin addressing this NEW PARADIGMaddressing this NEW PARADIGM

““Phosphorus is a Phosphorus is a key link in the global food chainkey link in the global food chain, , an an essential nutrient for lifeessential nutrient for life and the biggest and the biggest natural resource shortagenatural resource shortage you have you have nevernever heard heard of. of. Earth has a limited supplyEarth has a limited supply of phosphorus and of phosphorus and once it is gone, once it is gone, life as we know it will be gonelife as we know it will be gone as as well.”well.”

James ElserJames Elser

Professor of Life Sciences, Arizona State UniversityProfessor of Life Sciences, Arizona State University

September, 2010, WE&T MagazineSeptember, 2010, WE&T Magazine

….and the last word from Herr Doktor Brand…

Recycle P!