Towards a complete recycling of phosphorus in wastewater treatment--options in Germany

Global reserves of mineral phosphorus are finite and the recycling of phosphorus from wastewater, a significant sink for phosphorus, can contribute to a more sustainable use. In Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, an increasing percentage of municipal sewage sludge is incinerated and the cont...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research. - 1986. - 64(2011), 1 vom: 20., Seite 29-35
1. Verfasser: Petzet, S (VerfasserIn)
Weitere Verfasser: Cornel, P
Format: Aufsatz
Sprache:English
Veröffentlicht: 2011
Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk:Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research
Schlagworte:Evaluation Study Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review Fertilizers Metals, Heavy Sewage Phosphorus 27YLU75U4W
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Global reserves of mineral phosphorus are finite and the recycling of phosphorus from wastewater, a significant sink for phosphorus, can contribute to a more sustainable use. In Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, an increasing percentage of municipal sewage sludge is incinerated and the contained phosphorus is lost. This paper reviews current technologies and shows that a complete phosphorus recovery from wastewater is technically feasible. Depending on the composition of the sewage sludge ash (SSA), there are various options for phosphorus recovery that are presented. Iron-poor SSAs can be used directly as substitute for phosphate rock in the electrothermal phosphorus process. SSAs with low heavy metal contents can be used as fertilizer without prior metal elimination. Ashes not suitable for direct recycling can be processed by thermal processes. Operators of wastewater treatment plants can additionally influence the ash composition via the selection of precipitants and the control of (indirect) dischargers. This way, they can choose the most suitable phosphorus recovery option. For sewage sludge that is co-incinerated in power plants, municipal waste incinerators or cement kilns phosphorus recovery is not possible. The phosphorus is lost forever
Beschreibung:Date Completed 01.12.2011
Date Revised 10.12.2019
published: Print
Citation Status MEDLINE
ISSN:0273-1223