Global phosphorus reserves face depletion risks due to overconsumption and poor management, while eutrophication affects many marine waters from excess nutrients. The nutrient-rich marine environment offers a potential phosphorus source that could serve as future phosphorus mines. Sustainable recovery strategies, especially bio-based approaches using microorganisms, show promise for removing and recovering phosphorus to support both ecosystem health and market demand. However, significant research gaps remain regarding the technical feasibility of these methods. Future work should focus on developing and scaling these strategies, integrating phosphorus mining with other resource recovery options to enhance sustainability and economic viability.
Categories