phosphorus recycling from wastewater - iwa-wef nutrient recovery and recycling, denver, june 2016

IWA-WEF Nutrient Recovery and Recycling, June 2016 – 1

Ludwig Hermann (Outotech) & Chris Thornton (ESPP)

[email protected] www.phosphorusplatform.eu @phosphorusfacts

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.phosphorusplatform.eu/


Phosphorus recyclingA long history


P-recycling inputs Livestock manures Wastewater treatment Food wastes Meat & Bone Meal Ash Agro-industry, industrial Biofuels, biomaterials


P-recycling drivers & synergies Biological Nutrient Removal

- Anammox - DEamMON - etc Anaerobic digestion / biogas Food waste Water reuse EcoSan Organic farming nutrient needs Soil carbon Circular Economy


P-recycling routes Sewage biosolids to land

- after hygienisation, digestion, composting- recycles P, N, organic C- issues with contaminants (real or perceived), water content, logistics …- certification systems (e.g. REVAQ)

Use of wastewater or biosolids to feed- energy or bio-materials crops- algae aquaculture


Success story:Cooperl farmers’ cooperative, Brittany• 400 000 t/y manure processed to organic fertiliser

product- 150 000 t composted poultry litter- 150 000 t dried poultry manure- 100 000 t pig manure (1 100 farms)

• Nutrients adapted for specific crops• Export to other

regions of France


Success story:KOTO AlgaeBioGas, Llubljana• 13 000 t/y household and industry food waste

converted to biogas• 30 m2 pilot algae pond fed with digestate• Algae used for energy production,

fertilisers or bioplastics


P-recycling routes Adsorption to produce a

fertiliser - Organic by-products: posidonia, straw, …- (Calcinated) shells, minerals …- Biochar (porous)

Still at R&D stage Ion-Exchange Membranes

- e.g. mineral concentrates from manures

Electro-chemical cells ….


Success story:Polonite filter bedsNatural calcium silicateBinds P and reduces pathogensP-enriched = fertiliserUse in farm drainage ditches, manure, septic tank discharge, sewage treatment EcoFiltration AB http://ecofiltration.se/ PhosphoReduc LLC http://phosphoreduc.org/

http://ecofiltration.se/

http://ecofiltration.se/

http://phosphoreduc.org/




P-recycling routesPhosphate precipitation- struvite, K-struvite, brushite- synergy with biological P removal and anaerobic digestion- upstream or downstream of dewatering- can combine with sludge hydrolysis e.g. Cambi, Eliquo Stulz, Exelys, Pondus …


Success story:Timac: struvite as maize starter fertiliser• Recovered struvite • Non-burning, enabling “ultra localisation” by roots• Micro-granulation• Ammonium addition for nutrient balance

Ostara – next presentation


P-recycling routesPhosphate leaching from sludge- acid leaching: Gifhorn (Seaborne), Stuttgart high chemical consumption (pH 3-5 then pH 8.5-10) - Budenheim process: compressed & cycled CO2 see SCOPE Newsletter 103 1 m3 industrial pilot will be operational Mainz end 2016Electro-thermal production of White Phosphorus (P4)- RecoPhos process purchased by ICL 2015 see SCOPE Newsletter 120


P-recycling routesUse of P-rich ashes in fertiliser production processes- Chicken manure ashes, slaughterhouse rendering ashes (MBM) sold directly as fertiliser, useful in fertiliser production (Saria UK, Fibrophos UK, Honkajoki Finland, BMC Moerdijk Netherlands, EkoVäx Sweden ….)- Sewage sludge incineration ash work ongoing to use in fertiliser production (ICL Amsterdam, Ludwigshaven) issues with Mg, Fe, Al See SCOPE Newsletter 115 & 113


Success story:Ecophos P-recycling from sewage sludge• Pilot plant operational Varna, Bulgaria• Produce DCP (Di Calcium Phosphate) for fertilisers,

animal feed• Full-scale plant under construction Dunkerque, France

capacity: 200 000 t/y DCP from low grade P-rock and ash

• Contract to treat 60 000 t/y ash from Netherlands (SNB – HVC Groep) = 4 000 t/y P

See SCOPE Newsletter 111


Success story:Kanton Zürich Switzerland• 72 wwtps now deliver

100 000 t/y dewatered sludge to central mono-incinerator- 94% vote “Yes” in local referendum- commissioned 2015- delivers 15 000 t/y ash for P-recycling- 40% operating cost savings by energy efficient dryer

• 3,3 M CHF pilot P-recovery installation under construction- acid P leaching P, solvent extraction phosphoric acid

See SCOPE Newsletter 119


Three success stories• Molly Biedenfeld, Ostara, Vice President, Nutrients

Market Development and Sales, Ostara: marketing Crystal Green® struvite recovered from municipal sewage treatment plants

• Marc Caligaris, Suez International, Technical & Innovation Division, : phosphorus recycling through sewage biosolids valorization, different route including particular compost

• Rakesh Govind, PRD Tech, President, one of the EPA manure Nutrient Recovery Challenge awards: simultaneous recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from waste streams


Ludwig Hermann (Outotech) & Chris Thornton (ESPP)

[email protected] www.phosphorusplatform.eu @phosphorusfacts

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.phosphorusplatform.eu/

phosphorus recycling from wastewater - iwa-wef nutrient recovery and recycling, denver, june 2016

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