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combining scientific excellence with commercial relevance

Phosphate recovery from

sewage

Innovation through Technology and Research in the Netherlands

Toronto June 19th, 2014

Leon Korving

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Recovery from sewage

Decentral Sewage treatment Sludge treatment

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Examples decentral projects

Saniphos

Since 2010

5000 m3 urine/year

10.000 p.e.

Waterschoon

Since 2007 (2 phases)

Black water

60 – 200 houses

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Rijnstraat – The Hague

Ministry of Environment

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2016

4000 people/day

Vacuum toilets

Waterless urinals

Digester

Struvite Bio-electrochemical cell

Black water

Urine

Surface water

P: struvite N: ammoniumsulphate

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Revenues – Rijnstraat project

Water savings

Sewer tax

Treatment tax

Other

Positive business case: payback time ca.10 year

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Recovery options

Decentral Sewage treatment Sludge treatment

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Enhanced P-removal

Netherlands

(CBS, 2010)

Enhanced biologicalP-removal

Combined chemical& biological

Chemicalprecipitation

United Kingdom

(UKWIR, 2010)

Enhanced biological P-removal: precondition to struvite recovery

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Struvite projects

Location Since Capacity

(ton P/a)

Remarks

Amersfoort 2015 260 Ostara

Amsterdam 2014 140 Airprex

Echten 2013 29 Airprex

Land van Cuijk 2011 15 Anphos, with dairy industry

Olburgen 2009 60 Phospaq, 15% municipal origin

Total recovered 504

Planned 363

P in sewage water 13 900

Struvite: recovery 20-50% of influent P

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Business case Amsterdam

Cost factor Cost

(kEuro/year)

Capital 307

MgCl2 182

Energy, operation, maintenance 178

Sludge treatment -681

Flocculant -131

P-precipitation with Fe -307

Total -452

Source: STOWA report 2012-27

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Recovery options

Decentral Sewage treatment Sludge treatment

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Recovery from sewage sludge

Sludge treatment (EU 27, 2005)

Trend towards incineration & agriculture

NL: 100% incineration

A. Kelessidis, A.S. Stasinakis , Waste Management 32 (2012) 1186–1195

Agricultural application

Incineration

Composting

Landfill

Others

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Recovery from sewage ash

Advantages:

• High volume

• high P concentration

Ash needs to be treated to:

• Remove heavy metals

• Increase availability of P

Main driver = reduction of ash disposal costs:

• Maximum value of P in ash: 10 Euro/ton

• Current ash disposal costs: 70 Euro/ton

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Recovery from sewage ash

Technologies for P-recovery from ash:

• Raw material for phosphorous production

(Thermphos, † 2013)

• Thermochemical treatment (PK-fertilizer)

(SUSAN/AshDec/Outotec)

• Wet chemical treatment (DCP, TSP, DAP)

(Ecophos, Easymining, ICL)

2014: investment decision for Ecophos plant

4000-5000 ton P/a from sewage sludge ash

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Summary

P-recovery already feasible

No “one size fits all” solution

Market share and recovery are limited

The value of phosphate is NOT the

driver for P-recovery

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Innovation through cooperation

Multi disciplinary

Triple Helix

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From idea to business

2010-2012

Lab tests

2013-2015

Pilot

2016

Rijnstraat

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www.wetsus.nl