Domestic researchers have developed an eco-friendly new material that can quickly remove phosphorus, which causes algal blooms, while simultaneously capturing harmful microorganisms in the water.
Research team leader Choi Jae-woo and Jo Kyung-jin from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) noted on the 21st that they developed a new material capable of efficiently recovering phosphorus in a short time while simultaneously sterilizing harmful microorganisms.
The water we use daily is purified in wastewater treatment plants before being released into rivers or reused for domestic and industrial purposes. The purification process involves the removal of various harmful substances, including the elimination of phosphorus, which causes algal blooms, and the sterilization of microorganisms such as total coliform.
The research team developed a material that can recover phosphorus using a 'sea urchin-shaped' nano structure. The developed material can recover about 1.1 kg of phosphate per 1 kg in just 5 minutes. The researchers explained it possesses world-class performance. The recovered phosphorus can be recycled into various industrial materials such as fertilizers, detergents, and cleaning agents. This nano material can effectively sterilize total coliform while simultaneously recovering phosphorus.
In particular, this technology is composed of an eco-friendly system that can operate without electricity. By utilizing the magnetic field of magnets from the outside, it can precisely control the movement of the material, thereby reducing energy consumption by more than 99% compared to existing water treatment technologies. This also reduces carbon emissions and energy expenses, making it a promising alternative technology to combat water scarcity and climate crisis.
The developed new material and control technology can be applied in various water treatment environments such as wastewater treatment plants, water purification plants, livestock, and industrial wastewater treatment sites. Especially in industrial and agricultural sites with high concentrations of nutrients like phosphorus, it can simultaneously remove algal bloom-causing substances and recover resources. This technology also has sterilization capabilities, making it effective for securing safe water resources. It can be installed and operated without separate electric power or complex equipment, thus being easily utilized in areas lacking energy infrastructure or in rural regions.
Research team leader Choi Jae-woo said, "This research is significant in that it integrates two processes: phosphorus removal and microorganism sterilization, allowing for a low-energy water treatment solution applicable to various water quality environments." Co-researcher Jo Kyung-jin noted, "The ability to effectively sterilize total coliform without chlorine chemicals or electricity is meaningful, and it could develop into an energy-saving sterilization technology in the future."
The results of this research were published on April 10 in the international academic journal "Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials."
References
Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-025-01303-3