JX
Georgia Institute of Technology · University
Doped magnetic nanoparticles that took 90% of the phosphorus out of wastewater at a poultry processing plant.
Sponsored researchIn-development
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Receive a weekly email digest of the latest water resource recovery solutions added by the network.Browse 334 solutions in water resource recovery on the Halo network
Updated Nov 2, 2026
Water resource recovery covers taking something back out of a waste stream, including the water. On Halo, the solutions cover nitrogen and phosphorus recovery, water harvested from vapor and fog, algae grown on wastewater nutrients, and carbon and metal recovery from residues. Sign up to search the full network and post your specific need.
Nitrogen and phosphorus recovery
JX
SC
University of Cincinnati
Magnesium carbonate pellets recovering 78% of the ammonia nitrogen in urban stormwater runoff for reuse as a nutrient.
Sponsored researchEarly-stage
YW
University of Waterloo
A CuPd single-atom catalyst converts nitrate in wastewater into ammonia at over 80%, ahead of a biological stage.
Sponsored researchEarly-stage
Water harvested from vapor and fog
Matt Grandbois
AirJoule, LLC · Startup
A MOF desiccant that recovers water vapor from industrial streams, regenerated with low-grade industrial waste heat.
In-development
XL
Washington University in St. Louis
Architected carbon foams that pull water from moist air, designed for heat and mass transfer at once.
In-development
GP
University of Pennsylvania
Piezoelectric PVDF yarns that catch fog from cooling tower exhaust and generate power from the airflow doing it.
In-development
Algae grown on wastewater nutrients
SB
MicroBio Engineering Inc. · Supplier
Reactors and raceway ponds that grow microalgae for protein on dairy, digester, mining and municipal wastewater.
Pilot/trialIn-development
Michael Lomas
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences · University
Cyanobacteria biofilms that strip nutrients from domestic wastewater and turn them into microalgae biomass for chemicals.
In-development
Carbon and metal recovery from residues
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Shakirudeen Salaudeen
McMaster University
Hydrothermal carbonization turns wet pectin residue into biochar at 50 to 70% yield, with no drying step.
Sponsored researchIn-development
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Who is working on water resource recovery
Innovators in water resource recovery
Researchers and inventors advancing water resource recovery.
Water resource recovery expertsAbout water resource recovery
The work on Halo spans nutrient recovery, water pulled from vapor and fog, algae grown on wastewater, and carbon and metal taken back from residues. Most of it sits at pilot scale or earlier. On Halo it spans four groups, including nitrogen and phosphorus recovery, water harvested from vapor and fog, and algae grown on wastewater nutrients.
Stage of development. Work on water resource recovery on Halo comes mostly from university programs. 40% of the solutions are in market. Co-development and licensing are the usual partnering routes, and about 55% of the solutions that state terms offer sponsored research.
Three trends in water resource recovery on Halo
Nitrogen comes back as ammonia. The nutrient work converts nitrogen, it does not simply remove it: a CuPd single-atom catalyst turning nitrate into ammonia at over 80% (University of Waterloo), and magnesium carbonate pellets recovering ammonia nitrogen from stormwater (University of Cincinnati). Phosphorus follows the same logic, captured on doped magnetic nanoparticles at a poultry plant (Georgia Institute of Technology). Ammonia and phosphate have a market price, which is what separates recovery from treatment.
Water recovered from vapor and fog. The water itself is recovered from air, not liquid: a metal-organic framework desiccant regenerated by industrial waste heat (AirJoule), architected carbon foams designed around heat and mass transfer (Washington University in St. Louis), and piezoelectric yarns that catch cooling tower fog and generate power from the airflow (University of Pennsylvania). The stream being recovered is one most plants vent.
Wastewater as a growth medium. Algae turn dissolved nutrients into biomass with a buyer: cyanobacteria biofilms on domestic wastewater feed bio-inspired chemicals (Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences), and engineered raceways and photobioreactors grow microalgae for protein on dairy, digester and municipal effluent (MicroBio Engineering). Wet residues go the same way, with hydrothermal carbonization turning pectin side streams into biochar (McMaster University). Each route takes the stream wet, which avoids the energy cost of drying it first.
319organizations
334solutions listed
70%from university labs
40%in market
Frequently asked questions
What is water resource recovery?
Water resource recovery is the practice of turning wastewater, runoff and vented vapor into products that have a use. It spans nutrient recovery that returns nitrogen and phosphorus as a product, water harvested from industrial vapor and cooling tower fog, algae grown on wastewater nutrients, and the carbon and metals recovered from residues. Utilities, industrial operators and agricultural processors are the buyers.
What are examples of water resource recovery?
Four examples of water resource recovery solutions on Halo include:
- Doped magnetic nanoparticles that took 90% of the phosphorus out of wastewater at a poultry processing plant. (Georgia Institute of Technology)
- A MOF desiccant that recovers water vapor from industrial streams, regenerated with low-grade industrial waste heat. (AirJoule, LLC)
- Cyanobacteria biofilms that strip nutrients from domestic wastewater and turn them into microalgae biomass for chemicals. (Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences)
- Hydrothermal carbonization turns wet pectin residue into biochar at 50 to 70% yield, with no drying step. (McMaster University)
What are the latest water resource recovery innovations?
The most recently updated water resource recovery solutions on Halo include:
Which companies and suppliers are developing water resource recovery?
There are 319 organizations with water resource recovery solutions on Halo, 62 of them universities and research institutions. Among them are Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Cincinnati, and University of Waterloo. Most offer co-development or licensing. Sign up to see every organization working in the area and to send them your specific need.
How do I find water resource recovery research partners?
Browsing water resource recovery solutions on Halo is free. Sign up to search the full network and save the ones you want. Post your specific need to get exact matches. Organizations reply directly on the platform.
What are R&D teams looking for in water resource recovery?
Over the past 12 months, R&D teams on Halo have posted these water resource recovery needs:
Related water treatment research areas
Industrial wastewater treatmentRemediation technologiesWater quality monitoringMembrane filtration technologyDesalination systemsDrinking water purificationBiological water treatmentAdvanced oxidation processesPoint-of-use treatment systemsPFAS & emerging contaminant remediationBrowse all water treatment solutions
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