Spatially decoupled electrochemical strategy for lime passivation prevention and sustainable phosphate recovery.

Abstract

Lime-based precipitation, though widely adopted for wastewater phosphorus (P) removal, suffers from surface passivation. The passivation layer inhibits Ca²⁺ release, forcing excessive dosing while yielding low-quality sludge and effluent with elevated hardness and pH. Limestone, despite its economic and environmental benefits, exhibits limited efficacy under fluctuating alkalinity. Here, we develop a limestone-integrated electrochemical system that spatially decouples the dissolution and precipitation reactions. By strategically positioning limestone at the acidic anode, we ensure sustained Ca²⁺ release without passivation, while cathodic alkalinity enables efficient P recovery (85.7%). The system produces high-purity products (15.2 wt% P) at low energy consumption (14.8 kWh kg P^-1) and delivers superior effluent quality. Beyond its robustness and capacity flexibility over long-term operation, the electrochemical strategy reduces overall costs by 73.2% and carbon emissions by 29.1%, positioning it as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to traditional lime-based wastewater treatment with remarkable passivation resistance and resource recovery efficiency.