Full-scale phosphorus recovery from digested wastewater sludge in Belgium – part II: economic opportunities and risks

2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 495-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Geerts ◽  
Adrien Marchi ◽  
Marjoleine Weemaes
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Financial Risk ◽  
Financial Incentive ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Wastewater Sludge ◽  
Phosphorus Recovery ◽  
Digested Sludge ◽  
Positive Economic ◽  
Demonstration Plant ◽  
P Recovery

One of the options to recycle phosphorus (P) in the wastewater sector is to recover it as struvite crystals from digested sludge. Measurements on a full-scale demonstration plant in Leuven, Belgium, yielded a first indication of the profitability of struvite recovery, in function of different variables such as incoming PO43− concentration, MgCl2 dosing, improved dewaterability, etc. An uncertainty and sensitivity analysis was carried out. Although possible improvement in sludge dewaterability when recovering struvite from digested sludge has a positive economic amortization effect, it is at the same time the largest source of financial risk. A theoretical exercise showed that for struvite recovery from centrate, uncertainty would be lower, and the largest sensitivity would be attributed to ingoing PO43− concentration. Although struvite recovery from digested sludge is riskier, it is an investment with potentially a higher return than investment in struvite recovery from centrate. The article provides information for possible financial incentive schemes to support P-recovery.

Pilot size matters: the case of a full scale pilot for P-recovery from digestate in Belgium

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 517-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Geerts ◽  
Adrien Marchi ◽  
Bart Saerens ◽  
Marjoleine Weemaes
Keyword(s):  
Economic Evaluation ◽  
Uncertainty Analysis ◽  
Pilot Plant ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Wastewater Sludge ◽  
Large Size ◽  
P Recovery

In Leuven, Belgium, a full-scale pilot plant to test P-recovery from digested municipal wastewater sludge was built in April 2013. This paper illustrates the value of using large-size pilot-plant by explaining the economic evaluation of the installation. The uncertainty analysis of the price per tonne of phosphorus (P) recovered on the basis of the information available during planning is compared with analyses after six months and then two years of operation. It is shown that the most sensitive of the economic model's parameters should determine the size of the pilot-plant.

scholarly journals Phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge – phosphorus leaching behavior from aluminum-containing tertiary and anaerobically digested sludge

2020 ◽  
Vol 82 (8) ◽  
pp. 1509-1522
Author(s):  
Marlena Cristina Monea ◽  
Carsten Meyer ◽  
Heidrun Steinmetz ◽  
Harald Schönberger ◽  
Asya Drenkova-Tuhtan
Keyword(s):  
Phosphorus Recovery ◽  
Dissolution Behavior ◽  
Leaching Behavior ◽  
Digested Sludge ◽  
Recovery Potential ◽  
Acid Consumption ◽  
Anaerobically Digested Sludge ◽  
P Recovery ◽  
Dissolution Efficiency ◽  
Acidic Dissolution

Abstract Systematic investigations of the acidic dissolution of phosphorus (P), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), and calcium (Ca) from Al-containing tertiary sludge were carried out in this work. The results were compared with the dissolution behavior of Al-containing anaerobically digested sludge to evaluate the P recovery potential in the form of struvite from tertiary sludge versus anaerobically digested sludge. Additional investigations of synthetically produced Al sludge served as a comparison for the dissolution behavior of P and Al without the influence of other contaminants (metals, biomass). In addition, the acid consumption was analyzed as a function of the target pH during the dissolution. The dissolution efficiency of ortho-phosphate in tertiary and anaerobically digested sludge after acid treatment at pH 2 was ∼90%. The dissolution efficiency of Al and Ca in tertiary sludge was also ∼90% at pH 2, while the release efficiency of Al and Ca in anaerobically digested sludge was lower, ∼70% at pH 2. In tertiary sludge, about 75% of Fe was found dissolved at pH 2, whereas in anaerobically digested sludge this value was higher, ∼90%. Based on the experimental data, it can be concluded that significant dissolution of phosphorus from Al-containing tertiary sludge can take place at pH < 3. The highest sulfuric acid consumption for P dissolution was observed in the case of tertiary sludge at pH 2.

scholarly journals Cost assessment of different routes for phosphorus recovery from wastewater using data from pilot and production plants

2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 413-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Nättorp ◽  
K. Remmen ◽  
C. Remy
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Wastewater Sludge ◽  
Phosphorus Recovery ◽  
Cost Data ◽  
Sludge Treatment ◽  
Wastewater Disposal ◽  
Treatment Train ◽  
P Recovery ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Cost

Phosphorus (P) recovery from wastewater has considerable potential to supplement limited fossil P reserves. Reliable cost data are essential for investor and policymaker decisions. In this study, investment and operational costs for nine P recovery processes were calculated from the investor's perspective, taking into account all relevant side effects on the sludge treatment or the wastewater treatment plant. The assessment was based on pilot and full-scale data which were thoroughly consolidated and standardized with technical and cost data from the German wastewater–sludge treatment train to enable direct comparison. The cost influence of precipitation processes on the current wastewater–sludge treatment train ranges from −0.14 (generating profit) to 0.23 EUR per population equivalent (PE) and year, while the cost influence of sludge leaching processes is around 2.50 EUR/(PE y). The cost influence of processes using dry sludge and mono-incineration ash varies between 0.33 and 3.13 EUR/(PE y), depending on existing disposal pathways, mono-incineration, co-incineration or agricultural use of sludge. The specific costs per kg P recovered (−4 to 10 EUR/kg P) are in general higher than conventional fertilizer production (1.6 EUR/kg P). However, annual costs per PE represent less than 3% of the total costs for wastewater disposal.

scholarly journals An Integrated Industry-Based Methodology to Unlock Full-Scale Implementation of Phosphorus Recovery Technology

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 10632
Author(s):  
Augusto Bianchini ◽  
Jessica Rossi
Keyword(s):  
Business Strategy ◽  
Industrial Process ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Industrial Sector ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Phosphorus Recovery ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
P Recovery

The recovery of phosphorus (P) from waste streams in specific industrial processes could really contribute to a more sustainable P supply chain, which is considered critical due to its high-risk economic relevance and to negative impacts on the environment. Although more than 30 types of P recovery technologies are already available, their full-scale implementation is not widespread. To make solutions for P recovery in the industrial sector mainstream, it is necessary to change the perception of companies that own flows rich in P, often considered an issue. The lack of decision-making tools and methodologies to identify the optimal solution for specific cases limits the diffusion of P recovery technologies. To unlock this situation, this paper proposes an integrated industry-oriented methodology to facilitate knowledge transfer from the scientific community to the industrial sector, supporting companies in the evaluation of technical, economic, environmental and social benefits/risks of P recovery. The methodology, applied to an Italian case study, uses both innovative and consolidated tools to provide quantitative information at the firm level to investigate a closed P loop: starting from mapping P flows in the industrial process, the methodology guides companies in the choice of the most suitable option for its business strategy, providing data to evaluate the economic feasibility of the investment and some Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to assess and monitor their efficiency in managing P. The methodology can be replicated in other contexts by both companies and consultants to explore and disseminate the opportunity to recover and reuse P from industries. The evaluation of the selected KPIs can be integrated into scientific analyses to compare solutions and to accelerate the shift from pilot to full-scale implementation of promising technologies. Finally, it can be used as an exercise for the training of new professionals in the P management sector.

Reduction of the content of organic micropollutants in digested sludge by a post-aeration process - a full-scale demonstration

2000 ◽  
Vol 42 (9) ◽  
pp. 111-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Knudsen ◽  
G. H. Kristensen ◽  
P. E. Jørgensen ◽  
S.-E. Jepsen
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Wastewater Sludge ◽  
Biological Degradation ◽  
Organic Micropollutants ◽  
Digested Sludge ◽  
Limit Values ◽  
Anaerobically Digested Sludge ◽  
Aeration Process ◽  
First Time

Surplus wastewater sludge reused for agricultural purposes must observe certain limit values with respect to different xenobiotic substances. The latest revision of the statutory order in Denmark includes for the first time a list of limit values on organic micropollutants in sludge. Four groups of micropollutants are included in the list (LAS, PAH, NPE, and DEHP). The limit values will be revised in June 2000, at which time up to 50% of the sludge used for agricultural purposes, will not comply with the standards. It has been observed that the level of organic micropollutants is much higher in anaerobically digested sludge than in aerobically stabilised sludge. This indicates that the organic micropollutants in question can be partly or fully degraded under aerobic conditions but not under anaerobic conditions. The observations have formed the basis of the development of a post-aeration process for biological degradation of organic micropollutants in anaerobically digested sludge with the aim of enabling continued reuse of the sludge for agricultural purposes. The process is presented in this paper together with a description of a full scale demonstration experience on a Danish wastewater treatment plant © 1999, IAWQ. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.

Anaerobic thermophilic digestion of sewage sludge with a thickened sludge recycle

2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 403-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ya. Vanyushina ◽  
Yu. A. Nikolaev ◽  
A. M. Agarev ◽  
M. V. Kevbrina ◽  
M. N. Kozlov
Keyword(s):  
Retention Time ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Hydraulic Retention Time ◽  
Biogas Production ◽  
Wastewater Sludge ◽  
Recycling Process ◽  
Digested Sludge ◽  
Volatile Solids ◽  
Solids Retention ◽  
Thermophilic Digestion

The process of anaerobic thermophilic digestion of municipal wastewater sludge with a recycled part of thickened digested sludge, was studied in semi-continuous laboratory digesters. This modified recycling process resulted in increased solids retention time (SRT) with the same hydraulic retention time (HRT) as compared with traditional digestion without recycling. Increased SRT without increasing of HRT resulted in the enhancement of volatile substance reduction by up to 68% in the reactor with the recycling process compared with 34% in a control conventional reactor. Biogas production was intensified from 0.3 L/g of influent volatile solids (VS) in the control reactor up to 0.35 L/g VS. In addition, the recycling process improved the dewatering properties of digested sludge.

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