Vol. 9, Special Issue 12, Part B (2025)

Recovery of phosphorus (P) from sewage sludge and wastewater has emerged as a priority activity with rising demand for P resources and the necessity for efficient waste treatment. In recent years, conversion of phosphorus to vivianite (Fe₃(PO₄)₂·8H₂O), a valuable and useful mineral, has gained increased attention. Vivianite recovery is promising due to the fact that the process is easy to control, has high phosphorus recovery efficiency and the product has numerous practical applications. This review initially examines the techniques employed for detection and quantification of vivianite content, crucial in assessing the effectiveness of the recovery process. It secondly briefly outlines advanced technologies applied for vivianite formation. These include anaerobic fermentation, chemical precipitation, electrochemical crystallization, bio mineralization and anaerobic digestion. Furthermore, the review considers significant factors that affect the formation of vivianite, including pH value, iron-to-phosphorus (Fe/P) molar ratio, concentration of sulfate, microbial activity, supersaturation degree, organic content and seed crystal usage. The review is generally facilitating the production of cleaner and more effective technologies with the ability to recover phosphorus and convert waste into useful resources, hence ensuring sustainable wastewater treatment and circular economy.