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PHOS4PLANT

From Waste to Resource Recycling Sewage Sludge Ash into Phosphate-rich Plant Fertilizer

Registration number/designation: ATCZ00043

Funding Sources: European Union, Interreg Austria – Czechia 2021-2027

Principal investigator: Brummer Vladimír, Ing., Ph.D.

Project duration: 01.05.2024 - 30.04.2027

Allocated ERDF funds: max. €1,080,845.43

Project lead partner:

  • K1-MET GmbH

Other project partners:

  • Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
  • Masaryk University
  • Brno University of Technology

Official project website

Description:

Global phosphorus supplies are limited and therefore phosphorus recycling is receiving a lot of attention. Due to its significant importance in fertiliser and food production and its heavy dependence on imports, phosphorus is on the EU's list of critical raw materials. Ash from the incineration of sewage sludge is one of the most promising secondary sources as it contains significant amounts of phosphorus. The disadvantage of ash as a secondary source of phosphorus is the presence of heavy metals. The PHOS4PLANT project aims to optimise sewage sludge incineration processes and recover phosphorus from ash by bioleaching. Using bioelectrochemical processes and fractional precipitation, heavy metals will be separated from the bioleachate and the bioavailable phosphorus obtained will be applied as fertilizer to the soil with model crops. Then, the growth parameters of their root system and above-ground part as well as the heavy metal content and microbial diversity in the soil and crops will be monitored.

Main project goals:

The main output of the PHOS4PLANT project is the development of a sustainable and ecological method for the production of phosphate fertilizer from sewage sludge ash, which is currently not used as a source of phosphorus. The main objective of the PHOS4PLANT project is therefore to dissolve phosphorus in solution by biological leaching from sewage sludge ash with an efficiency of >85% and to obtain a bioavailable phosphate fertilizer from it.

The entire process chain will be assessed by means of an ecological balance (LCA) and a life cycle cost calculation. The ecological balance will be used to assess the efficiency of the investigated processes for optimized phosphorus leaching and phosphate fertilizer production, taking into account the impacts on natural resources, ecosystems and human health. To complement the ecological balance, a life cycle cost calculation related to the environment will be performed in order to estimate the economic feasibility taking into account external costs.

The results of the work packages will be published in 4 peer-reviewed publications. Each partner will produce at least one publication where the results will be scientifically processed.

Results:

  • BRUMMER, V.; KOPUNEC, A.; GOMA, B.; HUDÁK, I.; BOJANOVSKÝ, J.; SKRYJA, P. Additivation in Sewage Sludge Combustion: Impacts on Phosphorus Recovery from ash: An overview. 2024. p. 1 (1 s.). Detail
  • SKRYJA, P.; BOJANOVSKÝ, J.; HUDÁK, I.; BRUMMER, V.; JECHA, D.; GOMA, B.: Adria Danube Combustion Meeting 2024. Brno (09.09.2024) Detail

News:

Workshops:

  • First workshop Phosphorus and Beyond: Circular Approaches in Waste Management will take place on November 26, 2025 in Brno - more information here