Nanoporous Sorbents for the Removal and Recovery of Phosphorus from Eutrophic Waters: Sustainability Challenges and Solutions

Increased industrial and agricultural activity has affected the availability of phosphorus (P) in nature and has caused a significant imbalance in the P cycle with long-term consequences on ecosystem health and sustainability. While P is an essential element for food production as well as plant and animal nutrition, it is also a limited nonrenewable resource whose availability is expected to decrease in the next century. Widespread application of P-based fertilizers and their excessive accumulation in water bodies leads to eutrophication which is associated with overgrowth of harmful algal blooms and degradation of water quality. This paper provides an overview of contemporary challenges and methodologies for improving P use efficiency and sustainability in the environment. Technologies and processes for the removal of P-containing compounds from water through the use of functional nanomaterial sorbents with tailored surface properties for capture, removal, and recycling are described. Various classes of materials including carbon-based, zeolites, mesoporous silica, metal organic frameworks, metal oxides and hydroxides, biomass-derived materials, and P-binding receptors are reviewed along with their properties, binding affinity, and adsorption capacity. The potential of these materials to control the amount of P in the environment and create decision support tools for water resource management is also discussed, with examples of applications.