Biogenic potassium: sources, method of recovery, and sustainability assessment

Abstract Nutrient management methods based on ecosystems are crucial for providing agricultural nutrient needs while reducing the environmental impact of fertilizer usage. With increasing agricultural production, the global demand for potassium is increasing, with India importing potassium from countries like Canada, USA, Israel, and Russia. Biomass-fired industries generate biomass ash as a residue so management of the resultant ash is important. Agricultural residue ashes contain abundant potassium so could potentially be used for fertilizer application. This review describes different potassium sources and recovery processes, including chemical precipitation, water extraction, solvent extraction, membrane separation, and ionic exchange. Extraction time, temperature, and solid to solvent ratio affect the recovery of potassium from biomass ash. Water extraction is the most commonly used method for potassium recovery from biomass ash. The environmental impact of potassium fertilizer recovered from biomass ash is less than that of mining source of potash. This paper discusses topics not covered in previous reviews, such as different biosources of potassium, latest recovery methods, and life cycle assessment of these methods. The gaps identified in the reports are addressed, and future research opportunities are presented.