New Plant Turns Sewage Sludge into Fertilizer

Germany's largest phosphorus recycling plant has begun operations, aiming to produce sustainable fertilizer from sewage sludge and address concerns about import dependence and radioactive contamination. The facility seeks to efficiently recover phosphorus and create a pure fertilizer suitable even for organic farming.

Key Points

• A new phosphorus recycling plant, the largest of its kind in Germany, has opened in Altenstadt, Bavaria.
• The plant aims to recover phosphorus from sewage sludge and produce mineral fertilizer.
• The process aims to reduce Germany's dependence on imported phosphorus, particularly from politically unstable regions.
• The technology removes pollutants like drug residues and heavy metals from the sewage sludge during the recycling process.
• The resulting fertilizer is claimed to be so pure it can be used in organic agriculture.
• The plant is designed to recover 98% of the phosphorus contained in the sewage sludge.

Background

Phosphorus is essential for all life, including bone development, energy metabolism, and modern agriculture. While phosphorus reserves are considered plentiful, reliance on imports from specific countries creates supply vulnerabilities. A significant portion of Europe's phosphorus fertilizer imports still comes from Russia. Furthermore, naturally mined phosphorus can contain traces of radioactive elements, which are then spread onto agricultural fields through fertilization. The EU has recognized phosphorus as a critical raw material, and Germany's revised Sewage Sludge Ordinance mandates phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge for larger municipalities.

Numbers & Facts

• The recycling plant is located in Altenstadt, Bavaria.
• The plant uses a high-temperature process (over 900 degrees Celsius) to remove pollutants.
• The plant aims to recover 98% of the phosphorus from sewage sludge.
• The plant's output is projected to be 15,000 tons of fertilizer per year.
• The revised Sewage Sludge Ordinance requires phosphorus recovery for municipalities with over 100,000 residents by 2029 and those with over 50,000 residents by 2031, provided the sludge contains more than 2% phosphorus.
• The German Federal Environment Agency estimates that 167 tons of uranium end up on German fields annually due to phosphorus fertilizers.

Assessment

The opening of the phosphorus recycling plant addresses several challenges. Firstly, it reduces dependence on imported phosphorus, mitigating the risk of supply disruptions due to political instability in source countries. Secondly, the recycling process removes harmful pollutants, resulting in a cleaner and more sustainable fertilizer product that aligns with the growing demand for environmentally friendly agricultural practices. The claim that the fertilizer is suitable for organic farming positions it favorably in the market. The plant’s economic viability depends on its ability to compete with traditional fertilizer production methods, which the operator claims is achievable.

Outlook

The plant's success could pave the way for similar facilities across Germany and Europe, furthering the goal of a circular economy for phosphorus. Meeting the requirements of the revised Sewage Sludge Ordinance will drive further investment in phosphorus recovery technologies. The environmental and economic performance of the Altenstadt plant will be closely monitored to assess the scalability and replicability of the technology. Further research and development efforts may focus on optimizing the recycling process and exploring new applications for recycled phosphorus.

Source: https://www.tagesschau.de/wissen/technologie/phosphor-recycling-anlage-100.html