Science Natural Science PeeCycling: Make Phosphorus From Your Own Pee By Lloyd Alter Design Editor University of Toronto Lloyd Alter is Design Editor for Treehugger and teaches Sustainable Design at Ryerson University in Toronto. our editorial process Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter Lloyd Alter Updated October 11, 2018 The Discovery of Phosphorus Through Henning Fire in Hamburg 1669. Migrated Image Share Twitter Pinterest Email Science Space Natural Science Technology Agriculture Energy Here is a weekend project for Sami, TreeHugger's champion peecycler: make phosphorus from your own urine! It's toxic and explosive in its pure form, but chemistry is fun, right? IO9 describes the process used by innovators like the Rich Earth Institute: First, you should allow some urine (preferably your own but I don't judge) to sit in an open container for about a week. Keep it in a room away from people. During this week, get some charcoal and grind it up into very very fine powder. You should make about two tablespoons of powder. Also get two tablespoons of powdered cinnamon. Mix the powders together. You then mix the urine with the tasty powder and heat it in a retort like that kid in the chemistry set has. Warning Hold your breath and wear protective clothing and eye protection when working with the mixture to limit exposure to ammonia, which comes from urea. Additionally, keep the mixture under water to prevent a spontaneous ignition. Then again, Sami, maybe this isn't such a good idea.