Journal of Environmental Management 351 (2024) 119812 Available online 14 December 2023 0301-4797/© 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Research article Phosphorus recovery from domestic wastewater: A review of the institutional framework Valentina Carrillo a, b , Rodrigo Castillo a, c , Albert Magrí d , Eduardo Holzapfel a , Gladys Vidal a, b, * a Water Research Center for Agriculture and Mining (CRHIAM), ANID Fondap Center, Victoria, 1295, Concepcion, Chile b Engineering and Environmental Biotechnology Group (GIBA-UDEC), Environmental Sciences Faculty and Center EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepci´ on, Concepci´ on, Chile c Faculty of Legal and Social Sciences, Universidad Austral de Chile, Puerto Montt, Chile d LEQUIA, Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, Carrer Maria Aur` elia Capmany 69, E-17003, Girona, Catalonia, Spain A R T I C L E INFO Handling Editor: Lixiao Zhang Keywords: Phosphorus Recovery Recycling Legislation Wastewater Institutional framework ABSTRACT Phosphorus (P) is an essential element for life that must be managed sustainably. The institutional framework for P recovery from wastewater includes policies, regulations, plans, and actions that promote the recovery, recy- cling, and safe use of this element, aimed at moving toward more sustainable nutrient management and envi- ronmental protection. This review analyzes the status of the institutional framework for P recovery from wastewater in different countries around the world. Europe is the continent where the most progress has been made in terms of legislation. Countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and Denmark have already implemented policies and regulations that promote environmental protection, as well as P recovery and reuse. In other parts of the world, such as the United States, China, and Japan, there have also been signifcant advances in promoting the closure of the P cycle, with the implementation of advanced recovery technologies in wastewater treatment plants and regional/national action plans. By contrast, in Latin America there has been little progress in P treatment and recovery, with a weak regulatory framework, unclear goals, and insuffcient allocation of techno-economic resources. In this context, it is necessary to reinforce the comprehensive institutional frame- work, which covers technological aspects, economic incentives, political agreements, and regulations, to promote the sustainable management of this valuable resource. 1. Introduction Phosphorus (P) is an essential element for life responsible for storage of genetic information and intracellular energy transfer in metabolic processes, as it is a component of phospholipid molecules in the cell membrane and molecules such as nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and adenosine tri-, di-, or mono-phosphate (ATP, ADP or AMP) (Elser, 2012). However, despite its importance, P has no substitute, which makes it a fundamental resource for the development and functioning of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (Desmidt et al., 2015). P was discovered in the 17th century and Albino found it in plants in 1688 (Fig. 1). This achievement led to the establishment of British patents for the manu- facture of fertilizers from sulfuric acid and bones and, subsequently, the world’s frst fertilizer factory was established in Deptford, England (Corbridge, 2013). Mined phosphate rock is currently the main source of P, but its limited availability poses a signifcant challenge. Since the 19th century phosphate rock has been overexploited to produce fertilizers, thus putting increasing pressure on existing reserves, which could be exhausted in the coming decades (Cordell et al., 2009; Withers et al., 2015). The intensifcation of chemical fertilizer use allowed for better crop yields, driving the Green Revolution during the 1960s (Kok et al., 2018). The intensive supply of P to the soil has altered the global cycle of this element by mobilizing up to four times the natural level of P from phosphate rock into the environment (Cordell and White, 2014). Thus, a large part of this P, which is not assimilated by crops, will be mobilized by infltration and runoff, reaching surface water. Such inputs, together with discharges of insuffciently treated wastewater, generate anthro- pogenic eutrophication (Kok et al., 2018). In the mid-20th century, there was a rapid increase in P pollution in water, with serious consequences for human health, ecosystems, and the economy. Therefore, more sophisticated wastewater treatment * Corresponding author. Water Research Center for Agriculture and Mining (CRHIAM), ANID Fondap Center, Victoria, 1295, Concepcion, Chile. E-mail address: glvidal@udec.cl (G. Vidal). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Environmental Management journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jenvman https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119812 Received 10 October 2023; Received in revised form 21 November 2023; Accepted 8 December 2023