Nanocellulose Membranes for Nutrient Recovery from Agricultural Runoff

This project develops functionalized nanocellulose membranes to recover nitrate, phosphate, and potassium from agricultural runoff, enabling nutrient recycling as soil fertilizers. Funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme (Grant Agreement No 858735), the technology uses biodegradable, water-based membranes manufactured via roll-to-roll processing. Laboratory tests show uptake rates of 8 mg/g for potassium and nitrate, and 11 mg/g for phosphate. Tested at 60 cm x 2.5 m with 1 cm layer spacing and flow rates of 4–16 L/h, the system enables efficient water flow without additional pumping. At TRL 6–7, the solution supports circular agriculture, reduces pollution, and offers cost savings and green job creation, with regional support recommended for scaling. Contact: Alexey Khakalo (VTT, Finland), Stevo Lavrnić (University of Bologna, Italy), Nőra Hatvani (Bay Zoltán Nonprofit Ltd).