Valorisation of ferric sewage sludge ashes: Potential as a phosphorus source

• Sewage sludge ashes fresh and deposited were studied aiming phosphorus recovery.
• Ashes physico-chemical differences depended on incinerator plant and sampling date.
• Phosphorus solution after acid wash contained high amount of heavy metals.
• The 2 compartment ED-cell improved phosphorus extraction and recovery.
• A cleaner phosphorus solution was obtained after ED.

Sewage sludge ashes (SSA), although a waste, contain elements with socio-economic and environmental potential that can be recovered. This is the case of phosphorus (P). SSA from two Danish incinerators were collected during two years and characterized. The sampling was done immediately after incineration (fresh SSA) or from an outdoor deposit (deposited SSA). Although morphology and mineral composition were similar, physico-chemical and metal concentration differences were found between incinerator plants and sampling periods. No differences were observed between deposited and fresh SSA, except for the parameters directly influenced by disposal conditions (e.g. moisture content). All the SSAs had high concentrations of P (up to 16 wt%), but they all exceeded Danish EPA Cd and Ni thresholds for direct application at agricultural soil.Fresh and deposited SSA were acid washed aiming P extraction, achieving 50 g P/kg (approx. 37% of total P), but metals were also co-extracted to the liquid phase. To avoid and/or minimize the metals pollution of the extracted P, selective P recovery from the SSA was tested, using the electrodialytic (ED) process. ED laboratory cells, with 3 compartments (3c) and 2 compartments (2c), and two acid concentrations (H2SO4, 0.08 M and 0.19 M) were used for 7 days. The most concentrated acid solution increased P solubilization. The 2c-cell combined with the higher acid concentration resulted in higher P recoveries, 125 g of P/kg of SSA in the anolyte. The obtained results showed that the ED process is a valuable tool for the SSA valorisation as it promotes simultaneous P recovery and metals extraction from the SSA.