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Wastewater contains a diverse array of organic and inorganic compounds and its complex composition strongly depends on the location and the connected dischargers. However, municipal wastewater as a carrier of feces and urine generally contains considerable amounts of the main nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus. The latter is in the focus of the discussions about the recovery potential of wastewater due to the relatively high mass flows of phosphorus in wastewater and the finite nature and decreasing quality of phosphate rock reserves. But due to the presence of the whole periodic table of elements, wastewater might contain further valuable components of interest for recovery including those defined as critical raw materials by the European Commission. Phosphorus and most of the other critical raw materials are fixed in the sewage sludge and after incineration in the sewage sludge ash (SSA). This is accompanied by high concentration factors from wastewater via sludge to ash. However, the mass fractions of the majority of elements in sewage sludge are comparable to those of the earth crust, indicating no relative enrichment. Nevertheless, enrichment factors of 100 or higher are given for phosphorus, copper, zinc, cadmium, silver, tin, lead and the platinum group elements indicating an anthropogenic input. An economic value of sewage sludge was estimated to $460,-/t calculated on the basis of the respective market prices for high purity elements – a theoretical value. A German survey of sewage sludge ashes showed that the mass fractions and the mass flows of most of the elements present in SSA are probably too low for an economic recovery. In most cases the mass flows are rather small compared to the imports and the chemical forms are not suitable for recovery. An exception is phosphorus that is present in high mass fractions up to 13% and that bears a high substitution potential. If the application of P-recovery technologies lead to a further concentration of valuable elements e.g. as by-products in side streams of the process, it would probably make also the recovery of other elements of economic interest.
Phosphorous is essential for all living creatures and indispensable in its functions regarding bone structure, energy metabolism, and storage and expression of genetic information. It is removed from the soils through farming and husbandry and has to be replaced. Annually, more than 17 million tons of phosphorous are applied to soils in the form of mineral fertilizer worldwide (Killiches, 2013). In Germany, this accounts for 150,000 t/a. This fertilizer is produced from rock phosphate, which is often contaminated with heavy metals (Dissanayake et al., 2009), especially cadmium and uranium. Cd concentrations are around 30 mg/kg, U around 100 mg/kg, with even higher peak values. Since rock phosphate is treated with acids to make the phosphorous bioavailable, those heavy metals were also mobilized. When the fertilizer is applied to the farmland, the contaminants can pollute the soil and pose an environmental risk. Sewage sludge is another phosphorous source for farming. In Germany, 15,000 t/a phosphorous are applied to farmlands this way. However, there is a growing concern of possible environmental hazards since sewage sludge contains not only inorganic contaminants but also organic pollutants, especially pharmaceuticals and personal care products (Guardia et al., 2004).
Im Rahmen des EU-Projekts P-REX werden unter anderem die zwei thermischen Verfahren ASH DEC und Mephrec zur technischen Rückgewinnung von Phosphor aus Klärschlamm und Klärschlammaschen für die P-Düngemittelproduktion betrachtet. Die Produkte haben geringe Konzentrationen an Schwermetallen und eine bessere P-Löslichkeit als die nicht behandelten Klärschlammaschen. Die Klärschlammasche wird im ASH DEC-Verfahren mit Natriumverbindungen unter reduzierenden Bedingungen im Drehrohrofen behandelt. Das Verfahren wurde erfolgreich bei einem Demonstrationsversuch getestet. Das Mephrec-Verfahren ist ein metallurgisches Schmelzverfahren und wird unter reduzierenden Bedingungen im Schachtofen durchgeführt. Es ist eine Pilotanlage in Nürnberg geplant.
Phosphorus (P) for fertilizer use can be recovered from sewage sludge ash (SSA). To enhance the bioavailability of P and reduce the heavy metal content of SSA, it can be treated thermochemically with Na2CO3 or Na2SO4 at 950 °C in a rotary kiln using dry sewage sludge or lignite as reducing agent. These processes were investigated by thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis coupled with gas analysis. Reducing conditions in this experimental setup were provided by 2 % hydrogen in the Ar carrier gas. During SSA + Na2CO3 treatment CO2, CO and water were detected in the off-gas. During SSA + Na2SO4 treatment SO2, some CO2 and water were detected. Heavy metal removal was more efficient for SSA + Na2CO3 compared to the sulfate variant. A SSA + Na2SO4 + lignite variant which also formed CO shifted the heavy metal removal to the results obtained with Na2CO3 which was obviously due to the additional reduction potential. However, Zn evaporation was not achieved with the Na2SO4 variants which were most probably due to immobilization as ZnS.
Klärschlammaschen weisen hohe Gehalte an Phosphor auf, dieser ist allerdings schlecht für Pflanzen verfügbar. Des Weiteren enthalten sie Schwermetalle die vor dem Einsatz als Düngemittel entfernt werden müssen. Vor diesem Hintergrund wurden in den letzten Jahren nasschemische und thermochemische Verfahren entwickelt und zum Teil bereits in Demonstrationsanlagen getestet. Ein thermochemischer Verfahrensansatz wird in diesem Beitrag näher vorgestellt. Klärschlammaschen werden mit Klärschlamm als Reduktionsmittel und Natriumsulfat als Aufschlussmittel im Drehrohrofen thermisch behandelt. Bei diesem Prozess wird pflanzenverfügbares NaCaPÜ4 gebildet, unerwünschte Elemente wie As, Cd, Hg und Pb werden zum Teil über die Gasphase separiert. Die Ergebnisse eines Demonstrationsversuchs werden vorgestellt.
There is a growing concern of the direct use of contaminated sewage sludge in agriculture due possible environmental and health hazards. Thus, incineration of the sludge and thus increasing amounts of sewage sludge ashes (SSA) are to be expected in the future. SSA contains considerable amounts of phosphorus (P) and technology metals that might be recovered as secondary raw materials. Since the EU for instance depends completely on the import of rock phosphate needed for fertilizer production, alternative sources for P are in order. Furthermore, rock phosphate is often contaminated with heavy metals like Cd and U, leading to health and environmental hazards. P recovered from SSA might diminish these problems. To determine the possible recovery potential of P and technology metals from SSA, we conducted a survey of German mono incineration facilities and analyzed the respective SSA for their elemental composition. More than 95% of the emerging SSA was monitored. Results indicate a P recovery potential of 18,000 t/a (up to 13% of the annual P demands for fertilizer production). The concentrations of Cd and U in SSA are one to two Orders of magnitude lower than in rock phosphate and could help to reduce possible hazards.
Sewage sludge ashes (SSA) represent a possible source of phosphorus (P) and technology metals. So far, the sole external source for P, that is indispensable for all animate beings, is rock phosphate, a finite resource. The EU depends completely on the import from possible politically instable regions. Furthermore, rock phosphate is often contaminated with heavy metals like Cd and U, leading to health and environmental hazards. P recovered from SSA might diminish these problems. SSA of German mono incineration facilities are analyzed for their elemental composition. More than 95% of the emerging SSA is monitored, enabling the determination of complete mass flows of the ashes and their components. Initial results indicate a P recovery potential of 16,000 t/a (11% of the annual P demands for fertilizer production). The concentrations of Cd and U in SSA are one to two Orders of magnitude lower than in rock phosphate and could help to reduce possible hazards.
Sewage sludge incineration is extensively practiced in some European countries such as the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. A survey of German sewage sludge ash showed that the recovery potential is high, approx. 19,000 t of phosphorus per year. However, the survey also discovered that the bioavailability of phosphorus in the sewage sludge ash is poor and that more than half of the ashes cannot be used as fertilizers due to high heavy metal content. A new thermochemical process for sewage sludge ash treatment was developed that transforms the ash into marketable fertilizer products. Sewage sludge ash was thermochemically treated with sodium and potassium additives under reducing conditions, whereby the phosphate-bearing mineral phases were transformed into plant available phosphates. High P-bioavailability was achieved with a molar Na/P ratio > 1.75 in the starting materials. Sodium sulfate, carbonate and hydroxide performed comparably as additives for this calcination process. Potassium carbonate and -hydroxide have to be added in a molar K/P ratio > 2.5 to achieve comparable P-solubility. The findings of the laboratory scale investigations were confirmed by an industrial demonstration trial for an ash treatment with sodium sulfate. Simultaneously, the volatile transition metal arsenic (61% removal) as well as volatile heavy metals such as cadmium (80%), mercury (68%), lead (39%) and zinc (9%) were removed via the off-gas treatment system. The product of the demonstration trial is characterized by high bioavailability and a toxic trace element mass fraction below the limit values of the German fertilizer ordinance, thus fulfilling the quality parameters for a P-fertilizer.
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