GreenP · Greenly synthesized nanomaterials for phosphorus recovering and recycling in agricultural catchment

Greenly synthesized nanomaterials for phosphorus recovering and recycling in agricultural catchment

The excessive and conventional use of phosphorus (P) in modern agriculture is disrupting its natural cycle, moving P from mineral reserves to farms and subsequently into water bodies [1,2]. This unsustainable use not only risks depleting non-renewable reserves which are predicted to be exhausted in the near future, but also accelerates the eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems [3]. Annually, around 30% of the 21 million tons of phosphate rock mined globally end up in water systems due to human activities [4,5]. Furthermore, there are no viable alternatives to P, and the primary supply from phosphate rock is limited to a few countries, creating an uneven distribution that could jeopardize global food security and political stability. Consequently, recovering and recycling P has become a global imperative to minimize its environmental impact [6]. Within this framework, the recovery of P from agricultural drainage and its reuse as an effective fertilizer presents an attractive solution, as it could help mitigate P scarcity, reduce dependence on rock phosphate, and close its loop in agriculture. However, there is a significant gap in the availability of cost-effective and environmentally friendly technologies that do not impose excessive economic burdens on farmers or introduce external pollutants, thereby safeguarding soil health in agricultural lands. Green synthesis offers an opportunity for creating cost-effective and environmentally friendly nanoparticles that can rapidly and safely recover P from agricultural drainage. Therefore, the overall objective of GreenP was to determine whether green-synthesized nanoparticles can perform as well as or better than chemically produced nanoparticles in recovering low levels of P from agricultural drainage. Additionally, the project aimed to explore the potential of recycling these nanoparticles with adsorbed P as an innovative composite nanofertilizer, promoting sustainable phosphorus management and supporting a circular economy in agriculture. References [1] Ockenden et al. (2017). Nature Communications 8 (1), 161-172. [2] Tonini et al. (2019). Nature Sustainability 2 (11), 1051-1061. [3] Brownlie et al. (2022). UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Edinburgh. [4] Cordell and White, (2014). Global Environmental Change 24, 108-122. [5] Yang et al. (2021). Science of the Total Environment 768, 145106. [6] Cordell and Neset, (2014). Annual review of environment and resources 39 (1), 161-188

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