Abstract

Phosphorus is a vital, finite, and non-renewable element that plays a central role in agricultural productivity and global food security. In light of increasing population growth and the rising demand for food, the sustainable management and recovery of phosphorus, particularly from food industry waste streams, has become a global priority. Struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) crystallization has recently gained attention as a promising and environmentally sustainable method for phosphorus recovery from various wastewaters, such as municipal effluents, human urine, and livestock manure. However, relatively few studies have investigated its application for nutrient recovery from dairy wastewater, despite its high phosphorus content, which originates from cleaning agents, milk residues, and other processing inputs. Discharge of untreated dairy effluents into natural ecosystems can lead to serious environmental consequences, including eutrophication of water bodies. Utilizing struvite precipitation to recover phosphorus from these effluents not only mitigates environmental impacts but also enables the production of value-added bio-based fertilizers, offering a potential revenue stream for the dairy industry. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the chemical structure of struvite, recent advancements in recovery technologies, and the influence of operational parameters on process efficiency and product quality. Furthermore, the potential applications of struvite fertilizers and their implications for agricultural sustainability and economic viability are discussed.