A research team from the Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST)—including Le Thi Hai Ninh, Pham Thi Hai Thinh, Nguyen Duc Nui, and Duong Van Nam—has carried out a study on phosphorus recovery from natural rubber processing wastewater using the struvite precipitation method.
The objective of this work is to examine the feasibility of recovering phosphorus from natural rubber processing wastewater through struvite precipitation. This technology not only supports wastewater treatment but also enables the production of fertilizer from the recovered phosphorus, contributing to environmental protection and supplying nutrients for agriculture.
Phosphorus is a non-renewable element essential for plant growth. However, global natural phosphorus reserves are rapidly depleting. Recovering phosphorus from wastewater provides a sustainable solution for fertilizer production, pollution reduction, and the conservation of natural resources.
From wastewater to resource: Turning phosphorus into struvite
Struvite (MgNH₄PO₄·6H₂O) precipitation is one of the most effective techniques for recovering phosphorus from wastewater. The process occurs when magnesium (Mg²⁺), ammonium (NH₄⁺), and phosphate (PO₄³⁻) ions combine in solution to form struvite crystals. The resulting product not only removes phosphorus from wastewater but can also be used directly as a fertilizer.
The experiments were conducted using wastewater samples from natural rubber processing, which is characterized by extremely high pollutant loads, including phosphate concentrations of 420–450 mg/L. This creates significant potential for phosphorus recovery—estimated at approximately 157,625 tonnes in 2024.
Struvite shows promise: Efficiency, conditions, and key findings
Natural rubber processing wastewater contains a wide range of pollutants, with phosphorus accounting for a substantial portion. Phosphate levels can reach 420–450 mg/L, posing severe environmental risks if untreated. The study demonstrates that struvite precipitation is highly effective in recovering phosphorus from this wastewater stream.
The estimated recoverable phosphorus amount—157,625 tonnes in 2024—represents a notable resource. This recovered phosphorus could be used as fertilizer, providing an important supplementary input for Vietnam’s agricultural sector.
A new opportunity for the rubber industry’s circular future
Phosphorus recovery from natural rubber processing wastewater not only mitigates environmental pollution but also helps address fertilizer shortages in Vietnam. The recovered phosphorus can serve as a sustainable fertilizer source, reducing reliance on imported chemical fertilizers.
In addition, the approach helps lower wastewater treatment costs for rubber processing plants while generating a valuable product without creating additional pollution.
The work by Le Thi Hai Ninh, Pham Thi Hai Thinh, Nguyen Duc Nui, and Duong Van Nam demonstrates a sustainable pathway for managing wastewater from the natural rubber processing industry. Struvite precipitation offers a dual benefit: recovering phosphorus for fertilizer use and supporting environmental protection—thereby contributing to a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector in Vietnam.
In the context of accelerating climate change, sea-level rise, and increasingly severe coastal erosion in the Mekong Delta, field-based scientific evidence on the coastal protection functions of mangrove forests (MF) has become critically important for shoreline planning and management. Recently, a research team comprising Ly Trung Nguyen, Danh Tinh, and Le Thanh Khang from the College of the Environment and Natural Resources, Can Tho University, completed a large-scale field study in coastal mangrove forests located in the former Soc Trang province, now administratively part of Can Tho city.
In the context of rapidly increasing municipal solid waste (MSW) generation in urban areas, digital transformation is opening significant opportunities to improve the efficiency of waste collection, transportation, treatment, and recycling. The study conducted by Phan Thi Hai Luyen and Pham Quang Dung (Vietnam National University of Agriculture) provides a comprehensive overview of digital technologies—including the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and smart management models—together with a SWOT analysis assessing the feasibility of applying such technologies in Vietnam. Findings indicate that digital transformation can deliver substantial improvements, although challenges remain in terms of infrastructure, investment costs, and public awareness.
In recent years, agriculture has continued to play an important role in Quang Ninh’s local economic structure and remains a key source of livelihoods for tens of thousands of farming households. Beyond its economic contribution, the sector underpins rural employment and social stability across many districts. However, the development of key agricultural product value chains in the province still faces persistent challenges, including fragmented small-scale production, aging fruit orchards, unstable consumption markets, and increasing risks associated with climate change.
In the U Minh Thuong area (formerly Kien Giang province, now part of An Giang), the shrimp–rice system has long been regarded as a key production model. Yet in recent years, the system has been under pressure due to salinization, soil degradation, and continuous shrimp farming, all of which have contributed to declining yields and deteriorating water quality. A research team from Can Tho University conducted a field trial using two native aquatic plant species — Nan tuong (Scirpus littoralis) and Co nuoc man (Paspalum vaginatum) — in shrimp ponds. Their findings show that these plants can improve water conditions and increase black tiger shrimp productivity by 14–21%, offering a promising biological management approach for shrimp–rice systems in the Mekong Delta.
The study “Reducing CO₂ emissions from the coffee value chain toward sustainable agriculture” was conducted by the research team including Thai Phuong Vu, Nguyen Thi Mong Quynh, Nguyen Khuong Duyen, Tran Thi Que Tran, and Nguyen Thi Cam Tien from the Faculty of Environment, Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Resources and Environment. This research is of significant importance as Vietnam’s coffee sector plays a key role in agricultural export while facing increasing pressure to mitigate greenhouse gas (CO₂) emissions across the entire value chain—from cultivation and harvesting to processing and consumption.
