Full-scale phosphorus recovery from digested wastewater sludge in Belgium - part II: economic opportunities and risks.
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 PO(4)(3-) concentration, MgCl₂dosing, 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 PO(4)(3-) 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.
Aquafin nv, Dijkstraat 8, Aartselaar 2630, Belgium E-mail: sam.geerts@aquafin.be.
Sam
S
Geerts
Aquafin nv, Dijkstraat 8, Aartselaar 2630, Belgium E-mail: sam.geerts@aquafin.be.
Adrien
A
Marchi
Aquafin nv, Dijkstraat 8, Aartselaar 2630, Belgium E-mail: sam.geerts@aquafin.be.
Marjoleine
M
Weemaes
D001530:Belgium; D019149:Bioreactors; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000737:chemistry*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry; D018508:Water Purification / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods
D010758:Phosphorus; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical