The Realize Energy-rich Compound Opportunities Valorizing Extraction from Refuse waters - (RECOVER) program seeks to create new ways to extract critical metals and ammonia from domestic wastewater.
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
April 15, 2026
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The Realize Energy-rich Compound Opportunities Valorizing Extraction from Refuse waters - (RECOVER) program seeks to create new ways to extract critical metals and ammonia from domestic wastewater. Specifically, the projects will develop new materials to selectively bind or react to target ions and molecules in solutions with high ionic strength, natural organic matter, and/or competing cations; and create new processes to continuously recover ammonia and critical minerals without a drop in performance over time. If successful, RECOVER projects could replace 50 percent of domestic ammonia supplies and 100 percent of key critical metal supplies, ultimately reducing dependence on foreign energy and mineral sources, thereby increasing U.S. energy security.