Request For Information (RFI) on Recovery of High Energy-Value Materials from Wastewater

Background
The U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit input for a potential program focused on the development of technologies to recover high energy-value materials from wastewater. The purpose of this RFI is to reduce energy demands and greenhouse gas emissions associated with conventional sourcing and waste stream treatment. The RFI broadly defines wastewater to include municipal, livestock, industrial, and mining sources. The high energy-value materials under consideration are nutrients (ammonia and phosphorus) and critical minerals, including lithium and rare earth elements (REEs).

Grant Details
The programmatic concept aims to evaluate technologies capable of efficiently recovering ammonia (or ammonia with phosphorus) as a high-quality feedstock for direct input to fertilizer supply chains or hydrogen carrier markets, as well as critical minerals that can displace metal ore production or overseas procurement for domestic use. Capable technologies will be energy efficient, highly selective, durable over extended use, involve few sequential steps, easily automated, adaptable to existing or new wastewater facilities, and scalable. ARPA-E seeks input from various experts including environmental, chemical, mechanical, electrical, biological, and systems engineers.

Eligibility Requirements
The RFI is not accepting applications for financial assistance; it is solely for soliciting input for ARPA-E consideration to inform the possible formulation of future programs. Respondents are encouraged to submit responses in PDF format by the specified deadline.

Period of Performance
Not applicable

Grant Value
Not applicable

Place of Performance
Not applicable