Phosphate rock is a non-renewable resource mined from a limited number of countries worldwide; forecasts suggest that global phosphorus reserves are expected to be depleted as imminently as the end of the century. Despite this looming threat, more than 90% of phosphorus is used in the agriculture industry where excess nutrients in bodies of water lead to eutrophication. Precipitation of struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) from wastewater allows for recovery of phosphorus and nitrogen with the production of a value-added product that can be used as a slow-release fertilizer. Our previous work highlighted the novelty of a dental peptide that increases struvite yield and affects its crystal morphology. In this study, we investigate the effects that pH, time, and the presence of a dental peptide have on struvite precipitation from synthetic concentrated animal feedstock operation (CAFO) wastewater. Additionally, alternative peptides discovered from a high throughput platform are studied to determine their efficacy in producing struvite. We will share the insights from our study and potential applications of this novel biotechnology.
