Nutrient dynamics and recovery efficiencies in a decentralised faecal sludge and food waste treatment system
Decentralised faecal sludge (FS) and food waste (FW) treatment systems like co-composting system offer more practical solutions for waste treatment and nutrient recovery in low- and middle-income countries, yet nutrient recovery and losses across this system remain poorly quantified.This study aimed...
| Autores principales: | , , , , |
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| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
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Elsevier
2026
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| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179958 |
| _version_ | 1855520267029184512 |
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| author | Nartey, Eric Gbenatey Sakrabani, R. Tyrrel, S. Dapaah, E. Adamtey, Noah |
| author_browse | Adamtey, Noah Dapaah, E. Nartey, Eric Gbenatey Sakrabani, R. Tyrrel, S. |
| author_facet | Nartey, Eric Gbenatey Sakrabani, R. Tyrrel, S. Dapaah, E. Adamtey, Noah |
| author_sort | Nartey, Eric Gbenatey |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Decentralised faecal sludge (FS) and food waste (FW) treatment systems like co-composting system offer more practical solutions for waste treatment and nutrient recovery in low- and middle-income countries, yet nutrient recovery and losses across this system remain poorly quantified.This study aimed to assess the flows, losses, and recovery efficiencies of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) & potassium (K) with the goal of recommending measures to minimize pollution to water bodies. Raw FS, FW, compost, and effluent samples were collected at each treatment stage over three treatment cycles from August 2021 – 2022 in Somanya, Ghana. A total of 108 composite samples were collected and analysed for N,P & K using standard procedures. The N, P & K losses at each stage of the treatment system were calculated using the mass balance principle and the nutrient flow diagrams were created using the Sankey diagram generator. Results show that, 59–86 % N, 8–40 % P and 49–81 % K were lost at the dewatering stages for all cycles. Losses were lumped together as either gaseous losses, adsorption to media surfaces or percolate. The overall nutrient recovery efficiency of the system was 6–17 % N, 20–37 % P & 17–24 % K in cocompost and treated effluent. Despite high removal efficiencies in the facultative ponds, the final effluent did not meet EU standards. Effluent may become a resource in geographies that have scarce water and less stringent regulations. This study recommends strategies and approaches such as biochar use, percolate/leachate recirculation and covering of compost piles to reduce nutrient losses. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace179958 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| publisherStr | Elsevier |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1799582026-01-19T16:02:15Z Nutrient dynamics and recovery efficiencies in a decentralised faecal sludge and food waste treatment system Nartey, Eric Gbenatey Sakrabani, R. Tyrrel, S. Dapaah, E. Adamtey, Noah waste treatment faecal sludge food waste resource recovery nutrients composting Decentralised faecal sludge (FS) and food waste (FW) treatment systems like co-composting system offer more practical solutions for waste treatment and nutrient recovery in low- and middle-income countries, yet nutrient recovery and losses across this system remain poorly quantified.This study aimed to assess the flows, losses, and recovery efficiencies of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) & potassium (K) with the goal of recommending measures to minimize pollution to water bodies. Raw FS, FW, compost, and effluent samples were collected at each treatment stage over three treatment cycles from August 2021 – 2022 in Somanya, Ghana. A total of 108 composite samples were collected and analysed for N,P & K using standard procedures. The N, P & K losses at each stage of the treatment system were calculated using the mass balance principle and the nutrient flow diagrams were created using the Sankey diagram generator. Results show that, 59–86 % N, 8–40 % P and 49–81 % K were lost at the dewatering stages for all cycles. Losses were lumped together as either gaseous losses, adsorption to media surfaces or percolate. The overall nutrient recovery efficiency of the system was 6–17 % N, 20–37 % P & 17–24 % K in cocompost and treated effluent. Despite high removal efficiencies in the facultative ponds, the final effluent did not meet EU standards. Effluent may become a resource in geographies that have scarce water and less stringent regulations. This study recommends strategies and approaches such as biochar use, percolate/leachate recirculation and covering of compost piles to reduce nutrient losses. 2026-03 2026-01-16T08:11:20Z 2026-01-16T08:11:20Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179958 en Open Access Elsevier Nartey, E. G.; Sakrabani, R.; Tyrrel, S.; Dapaah, E.; Adamtey, N. 2026. Nutrient dynamics and recovery efficiencies in a decentralised faecal sludge and food waste treatment system. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 41:104740. (Online first). doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2025.104740 |
| spellingShingle | waste treatment faecal sludge food waste resource recovery nutrients composting Nartey, Eric Gbenatey Sakrabani, R. Tyrrel, S. Dapaah, E. Adamtey, Noah Nutrient dynamics and recovery efficiencies in a decentralised faecal sludge and food waste treatment system |
| title | Nutrient dynamics and recovery efficiencies in a decentralised faecal sludge and food waste treatment system |
| title_full | Nutrient dynamics and recovery efficiencies in a decentralised faecal sludge and food waste treatment system |
| title_fullStr | Nutrient dynamics and recovery efficiencies in a decentralised faecal sludge and food waste treatment system |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nutrient dynamics and recovery efficiencies in a decentralised faecal sludge and food waste treatment system |
| title_short | Nutrient dynamics and recovery efficiencies in a decentralised faecal sludge and food waste treatment system |
| title_sort | nutrient dynamics and recovery efficiencies in a decentralised faecal sludge and food waste treatment system |
| topic | waste treatment faecal sludge food waste resource recovery nutrients composting |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179958 |
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