Carbon Sequestration Fertilizer E-GROW™ Advances Towards Market Availability
Outcome/Accomplishment
E-GROW™-–an innovative fertilizer formulation that simultaneously delivers carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus-– is being developed at the Center for Advancing Sustainable and Distributed Fertilizer Production (CASFER)–-a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) headquartered at Texas Tech University (TTU). Developed in collaboration with NSF CASFER’s Platinum industry partner, Inside Out LLC, E-GROW™ has now achieved Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL-5) validation across multiple waste streams, with agronomic nitrogen efficiency at least two times higher than compost and comparable to inorganic fertilizer. As the technology continues to mature, performance is on track to exceed that benchmark, alongside demonstrated capabilities for pathogen elimination and potential destruction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) known as “forever chemicals.”
Impact/Benefits
E-GROW™ enhances nutrient bioavailability while supporting carbon sequestration. The rich nutrient composition of E-GROW™ ensures that floral plants thrive with stronger, more vibrant blooms. Plants develop quickly but also become tougher and more resilient thanks to the presence of acetic acid, which boosts strength and drought resistance.E-GROW™ surpasses traditional compost in plant growth efficiency while providing environmental benefits through slow-release nitrogen delivery, carbon sequestration, elimination of pathogens, and significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions including methane, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ammonia, and nitrous oxide (N2O). As the performance of E-GROW™ continues to advance, the product is moving from laboratory validation towards market-ready deployment.
Explanation/Background
NSF CASFER's original adsorption experiments identified natural zeolites, particularly chabazite with higher sodium content, as exceptional materials for ammonia capture, achieving 10% nitrogen adsorption capacity by weight—a breakthrough that enables more efficient nitrogen recovery systems for sustainable fertilizer production. Carbon sequestration of approximately 0.03 metric tons carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents per metric ton of E-GROW™ at 50% humidity was also observed in experiments. By coupling electrodialysis with a membrane contactor in a cascading process, the team successfully achieved 10% by weight nitrogen.
TTU testbed operations have now confirmed scalability of E-GROW™ at field conditions. NSF CASFER’s mobile testbed trailer at the Lubbock Wastewater Treatment Plant demonstrated sustained field operation, producing over 212 kilograms of E-GROW™ fertilizer across 225+ hours since mid-2024. The system integrates electrochemical biosolids conversion with ion-exchange to achieve nutrient recovery, contaminant mitigation, and fertilizer production in a real-world environment while supporting Techno-Economic Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment (TEA/LCA) validation and Technology Readiness Level TRL advancement.
Location
Lubbock, Texaswebsite
Start Year
Energy and Sustainability
Energy and Smart Infrastructure
Lead Institution
Core Partners
Fact Sheet
Outcome/Accomplishment
E-GROW™-–an innovative fertilizer formulation that simultaneously delivers carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus-– is being developed at the Center for Advancing Sustainable and Distributed Fertilizer Production (CASFER)–-a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) headquartered at Texas Tech University (TTU). Developed in collaboration with NSF CASFER’s Platinum industry partner, Inside Out LLC, E-GROW™ has now achieved Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL-5) validation across multiple waste streams, with agronomic nitrogen efficiency at least two times higher than compost and comparable to inorganic fertilizer. As the technology continues to mature, performance is on track to exceed that benchmark, alongside demonstrated capabilities for pathogen elimination and potential destruction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) known as “forever chemicals.”
Location
Lubbock, Texaswebsite
Start Year
Energy and Sustainability
Energy and Smart Infrastructure
Lead Institution
Core Partners
Fact Sheet
Impact/benefits
E-GROW™ enhances nutrient bioavailability while supporting carbon sequestration. The rich nutrient composition of E-GROW™ ensures that floral plants thrive with stronger, more vibrant blooms. Plants develop quickly but also become tougher and more resilient thanks to the presence of acetic acid, which boosts strength and drought resistance.E-GROW™ surpasses traditional compost in plant growth efficiency while providing environmental benefits through slow-release nitrogen delivery, carbon sequestration, elimination of pathogens, and significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions including methane, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ammonia, and nitrous oxide (N2O). As the performance of E-GROW™ continues to advance, the product is moving from laboratory validation towards market-ready deployment.
Explanation/Background
NSF CASFER's original adsorption experiments identified natural zeolites, particularly chabazite with higher sodium content, as exceptional materials for ammonia capture, achieving 10% nitrogen adsorption capacity by weight—a breakthrough that enables more efficient nitrogen recovery systems for sustainable fertilizer production. Carbon sequestration of approximately 0.03 metric tons carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents per metric ton of E-GROW™ at 50% humidity was also observed in experiments. By coupling electrodialysis with a membrane contactor in a cascading process, the team successfully achieved 10% by weight nitrogen.
TTU testbed operations have now confirmed scalability of E-GROW™ at field conditions. NSF CASFER’s mobile testbed trailer at the Lubbock Wastewater Treatment Plant demonstrated sustained field operation, producing over 212 kilograms of E-GROW™ fertilizer across 225+ hours since mid-2024. The system integrates electrochemical biosolids conversion with ion-exchange to achieve nutrient recovery, contaminant mitigation, and fertilizer production in a real-world environment while supporting Techno-Economic Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment (TEA/LCA) validation and Technology Readiness Level TRL advancement.