Phosphorus in waste sources in Southern Vietnam: potential for recovery

Abstract The potential for phosphorus (P) recovery from various sources in Southern Vietnam has been assessed in this study. Five types of waste were studied, namely sediment from catfish pond, manure from cattle and pig farming, and also sludge from domestic and rubber-latex processing wastewater-treatment plants. The study identifies P-reserve and assesses factors related to P recovery from waste sources such as distribution, collection, transportation conditions, and composition of wastes. P-reserve from catfish farming is estimated about 17.7 kt yr-1 while reserve from pig farming is the highest, about 21.7 kt yr-1. Total P-reserves from studied wastes are estimated about 50 kt yr-1, equivalent to 37% of Vietnam’s imported nutrient P quantity in 2019. Generated sludge from rubber-latex processing wastewater-treatment plants has the highest potential and favorable properties for P recovery. It turns out to be feasible to collect and recover P from this waste source under Vietnam’s current conditions.