Work

Controlling Phosphorus in Aquatic Systems: A Mini Review on Emerging Adsorption and Electro-Assisted Hybrid Technologies for Sustainable Water Treatment

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Phosphorus management has become a major challenge in wastewater treatment because phosphorus is both a key driver of eutrophication and a finite nutrient resource that should be recovered and reused. This review examines recent advances in phosphorus removal and recovery, with particular emphasis on emerging adsorption-based materials, membrane processes, and electro-assisted hybrid technologies. Conventional approaches, including chemical precipitation and enhanced biological phosphorus removal, are first considered to establish their performance and limitations as a basis for comparison with emerging treatment pathways. Recent developments in adsorption are then critically evaluated, ranging from metal oxides and biochar-based materials to layered double hydroxides, metal-organic frameworks, and engineered composite adsorbents. Particular attention is given to the relationships among material design, phosphate-binding mechanisms, selectivity, regeneration, and performance under realistic wastewater conditions. Membrane and electro-assisted systems are further examined, including electrochemical-membrane configurations, capacitive deionization, and membrane capacitive deionization, which provide opportunities for electrically controlled separation, phosphorus enrichment, and regeneration. Rather than considering removal efficiency alone, the review highlights key trade-offs involving selectivity, stability, fouling, energy demand, scalability, and the ability to convert separated phosphorus into a recoverable form. Emerging hybrid architectures that integrate selective adsorption, membrane separation, and electrochemical regeneration, therefore, represent an important transition from conventional phosphorus removal toward multifunctional treatment platforms that bridge high-efficiency phosphorus polishing and circular-economy nutrient recovery.

Source: Water Conservation Science and Engineering

DOI: 10.1007/s41101-026-00574-1

Authors: Seyed Mohammadreza Miraboutalebi, Dai Quyet Truong, Saravanamuthu Vigneswaran, Gayathri Naidu, Tien Vinh Nguyen

Institutions: University of Technology Sydney, VNU Central Institute for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies

Language: English

Topic: Phosphorus and nutrient management

Subfield: Waste Management and Disposal

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,290