Fertilisers production from ashes after sewage sludge combustion - A strategy towards sustainable development

Katarzyna Gorazda; Barbara Tarko; Zbigniew Wzorek; Halyna Kominko; Anna K Nowak; Joanna Kulczycka; Anna Henclik; Marzena Smol

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2017.01.002

Fertilisers production from ashes after sewage sludge combustion - A strategy towards sustainable development

Environ Res. 2017 Apr:154:171-180. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.01.002. Epub 2017 Jan 10.

Authors

Katarzyna Gorazda¹, Barbara Tarko², Zbigniew Wzorek³, Halyna Kominko⁴, Anna K Nowak⁵, Joanna Kulczycka⁶, Anna Henclik⁷, Marzena Smol⁸

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Ul. Warszawska 24, Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: gorazda@chemia.pk.edu.pl.
² Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Ul. Warszawska 24, Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: btarko@indy.chemia.pk.edu.pl.
³ Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Ul. Warszawska 24, Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: wzor@chemia.pk.edu.pl.
⁴ Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Ul. Warszawska 24, Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: halyna.kominko@gmail.com.
⁵ Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Ul. Warszawska 24, Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: akn@indy.chemia.pk.edu.pl.
⁶ Cracow University of Science and Technology, Ul. Gramatyka 10, Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: kulczycka@meeri.pl.
⁷ The Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Ul. Wybickiego 7, Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: a.henclik@meeri.pl.
⁸ The Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Ul. Wybickiego 7, Kraków, Poland.

PMID: 28086102
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.01.002

Abstract

Sustainable development and circular economy rules force the global fertilizer industry to develop new phosphorous recovery methods from alternative sources. In this paper a phosphorus recovery technology from Polish industrial Sewage Sludge Ashes was investigated (PolFerAsh - Polish Fertilizers form Ash). A wet method with the use of mineral acid and neutralization was proposed. Detailed characteristic of SSA from largest mono-combustion plans were given and compared to raw materials used on the market. The technological factors associated with such materials were discussed. The composition of the extracts was compared to typical industrial phosphoric acid and standard values characterizing suspension fertilizers. The most favorable conditions for selective precipitation of phosphorus compounds were revealed. The fertilizers obtained also meet EU regulations in the case of the newly discussed Cd content. The process was scaled up and a flow mass diagram was defined.

Keywords: Alternative raw materials; Circular economy; Phosphorus recovery as fertilizers; Sewage sludge ash; Sustainable development.

Publication types

Comparative Study

MeSH terms

Conservation of Natural Resources / methods*
Fertilizers*
Phosphates / chemistry*
Poland
Recycling / methods*
Sewage / chemistry*
Waste Management / methods*

Substances

Fertilizers
Phosphates
Sewage