P-TRAP — Diffuse phosphorus input to surface waters - new concepts in removal, recycling and management (P-TRAP)

Results in brief

Diffuse phosphorus input to surface waters - new concepts in removal, recycling andmanagement (P-TRAP)

Identifying mitigation strategies for reducing phosphorus (P) losses from soils and sediments to surface waters in order to improve water quality continues to represent a challenge in Europe. Despite the reduction of nutrient losses from the agricultural sector, release of P from inventories in soils and sediments, which have been accumulated in the past, remains a persistent source of P export into surface waters. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Training Network P-TRAP, running from 2019 to 2023, aimed to develop mitigation measures to reduce the P loading from drained agricultural areas and lake sediments to surface waters and to recover the retained P by converting the retained P into fertilizers. P-TRAP focused on: • P retention in agricultural areas with tile drainage by using filter systems based on iron(Fe)-containing by-products from water treatment or by taking profit from the natural Fe dynamics. • Converting the P-loaded Fe-materials into P-containing Fe minerals and test their suitability as fertilizers. • Improving the quality of lake waters by adding Fe-containing by-products • Determining the mechanisms and rates of Fe mineral formations and constrain the consequence for P uptake and release by these minerals.. P-TRAP aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by addressing the role of P in food production and SDG 15 (Life on Land) by conserving terrestrial ecosystems. It also supported SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by emphasizing circular economy principles for sustainable P management.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Flux of phosphate (P) from agricultural areas to surface waters is wasting a resource which is becoming scarce and is in conflict with the principles of a circular economy. Enhanced loading of surface water with P is the main cause for eutrophication and presents a key challenge in meeting the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive. P-TRAP targets both problems and develops new methods and approaches to trap P in drained agricultural areas and in the sediments of eutrophic lakes. Trapping of P involves the application of iron(Fe)-containing by-products from drinking water treatment. P-TRAP aspires the ideas of a circular economy and aims at recovering the retained P in agricultural systems. Novel microbial technologies will be developed to convert P-loaded Fe-minerals into marketable fertilizers whose suitability will be evaluated. The new P-TRAP technologies have in common that they rely on the naturally strong connection between P and Fe and the innovative P-TRAP strategies will be underpinned by process-orientated investigations on the behavior of P during the transformation of Fe minerals. The latter are key in trapping and recycling of P in agricultural systems and lakes. P-TRAP establishes a framework of partners from multiple science and engineering disciplines. Integration of non-academic partners from various stakeholder groups into the P-TRAP consortium paves the way for direct implementation of the acquired knowledge. P-TRAP provides Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) an environment for conducting innovative scientific research by using state-of-the-art methodology. Training through P-TRAP increases the ESRs’ mobility between sectors, cultures, and nations and strengthens their responsibility to exploiting scientific results for societal and economical benefit. P-TRAP will offer ESRs an excellent starting point for a career of leadership in a number of environmental and sustainable business sectors, academia, and public administration.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT · UtrechtCoordinatorNetherlands
AQUAMINERALS BV · NieuwegeinNetherlands
ARCADIS NEDERLAND BV · AmersfoortNetherlands
BAYERISCHE FORSCHUNGSALLIANZ BAVARIAN RESEARCH ALLIANCE GMBH · MUNCHENGermany
EIDGENOESSISCHE ANSTALT FUER WASSERVERSORGUNG ABWASSERREINIGUNG UND GEWAESSERSCHUTZ · DubendorfSwitzerland
EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH · ZuerichSwitzerland
FERTIBERIA SA · MadridSpain
G.E.O.S.INGENIEURGESELLSCHAFT MBH · HalsbruckeGermany
GeoTeam-Gesellschaft für umweltgerechte Land- und Wasserwirtschaft mbH · BayreuthGermany
KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN · LeuvenBelgium
STICHTING DELTARES · DelftNetherlands
STICHTING WATERMAATSCHAPPIJ AMSTERDAM · AmsterdamNetherlands
THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER · ManchesterUnited Kingdom
UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA · SevillaSpain
UNIVERSITAT BAYREUTH · BayreuthGermany
UNIVERSITAT WIEN · WienAustria

P-TRAP · Diffuse phosphorus input to surface waters - new concepts in removal, recycling and management (P-TRAP)

Results in brief

Diffuse phosphorus input to surface waters - new concepts in removal, recycling andmanagement (P-TRAP)

Project objective

Participants

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