The global challenges of water scarcity and resource depletion have accelerated the need for sustainable, circular technologies. Agricultural wastewater, rich in nutrients and organic matter, presents a valuable but underutilized resource. In particular, point-source agricultural effluents such as liquid digestate and food-processing wastewater offer high potential for resource recovery within a circular economy framework. This study proposes the development of novel electrokinetic separation processes based on overlimiting current mechanisms to recover valuable compounds—especially organic acids—from agricultural wastewater. The electrokinetic systems are designed according to the specific physicochemical properties of the feed and the quality requirements of the target products. We proposed a cascaded approach integrating adsorption, ion exchange, electrokinetic transport, aligned with green chemistry principles. A key innovation involves the development of ionically conductive materials for operating electrokinetic separation processes under overlimiting current condition, enhancing the selectivity and energy efficiency of resource separation. Case studies include the valorization of piggery wastewater, brackish process effluents, and industrial wastewater for the recovery of nutrients, organic acids, chemicals. System optimization focuses on addressing the water-energy-resource nexus, with attention to energy consumption, productivity, and economic feasibility, as well as life cycle assessment. This work advances the application of electrokinetic separation technologies for sustainable wastewater management and circular resource recovery.
