Livermore is about 6 miles east of Pleasanton.
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are developing a technology that transforms wastewater containing nitrates into nitrogen fertilizer. The innovation aims to help California agricultural producers lower their dependence on volatile global supply chains, which have driven up the price of traditional fertilizers.
Jeremy Feaster, a scientist at the laboratory, initiated the project after reviewing the Environmental Restoration Department’s efforts to clean groundwater at Site 300, a former Cold War bomb-testing facility. The site had been contaminated with nitrates, a nitrogen compound used in explosives. Feaster noted that existing remediation technologies were not highly effective at removing these contaminants, which prompted the idea of concentrating and recovering the nitrates instead of simply discarding them.
To test this concept, Feaster applied an electrochemical reactor to a sample of the contaminated groundwater. By applying voltage, the device triggered a chemical reaction that separated the nitrates from the water. After one hour of operation, the process removed 20% of the nitrates, converting them into ammonia. Feaster observed that the efficiency of the reaction diminishes after this initial period.
The potential application of this technology addresses significant financial pressures on local growers. At B & T Farms in Gilroy, co-owner Paul Mirassou manages 4,000 acres of crops including sweet corn, broccoli, and peppers. Mirassou estimated that his operation spends approximately $1 million annually on fertilizer. He stated that without nitrogen applications, his yields would drop to one-tenth of current levels, making farming economically unviable.
Fertilizer costs have surged by 125% since 2020. Feaster attributed this increase to geopolitical events, such as the conflict in Ukraine and tensions involving Iran, which disrupt imports and cause prices to spike. Although the United States produces a large volume of nitrogen fertilizer due to its natural gas industry, prices remain tied to global market fluctuations.
