Recovery of Phosphorus from Municipal Wastewater in Germany

Phosphorus (P) is an important, non-substitutable element, which is especially unrenounceable for the production of fertilizers. The global P-reserves will be exhausted in the foreseeable future. The declining quality of mined P ore must be regarded as problematic, because it leads into cost increases in the mining and application of phosphates, and also includes concomitant risks for the environment and nature protection. Against this background, the research, development and expansion of P-recovery technologies are to pursue urgently. For the P-recovery especially the material flows of wastewater treatment plants are suitable. The P-recovery can take place in municipal sewage treatment plants from the in the sludge dewatering resulting sludge water, from the effluent, as well as from the sewage sludge and sewage sludge ash. In essence, the points of application differ in terms of P-concentration, P-recovery potential and the chemical binding form of P.