Breakthrough phosphorus recovery process comes online in pilot facility
The first facility in Karslruhe, Germany to use the AVA cleanphos process came online at the beginning of July 2016. The AVA cleanphos process, which is developed by biotechnology company AVA-CO2, enables efficient and cost-effective recovery of phosphorus from sewage sludge. It also allows for co-incineration in the future and therefore the direct substitution of fossil fuels such as lignite.
The AVA cleanphos process represents a breakthrough in the phosphorus recovery industry as required by the German amendment to the Sewage Sludge Ordinance. The process has the potential to be efficient and cost-effective, as municipal sewage sludge is converted first into HTC-coal before the phosphate is isolated. This creates two commercially interesting products – a valuable fertilizer and phosphorus-free HTC-coal. In the future, CO2-neutral HTC-coal could be used as a direct substitute for lignite, which would lead to substantial CO2 emission reductions.
The first results of the AVA cleanphos plant will be made public later this year. In combination with the AVA cleanphos process, HTC provides a solution which paves the way for effective and durable sewage sludge recovery.
This new process will be tested in the coming weeks and months at a pilot scale at AVA Green Chemistry Development GmbH in Karlsruhe. AVA-CO2 is cooperating with two project partners: the University of Hohenheim and the Project Group for Material Cycles and Resource Strategy at the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research (ISC). The pilot facility in Karlsruhe is sponsored by the German Federal Environment Foundation (DBU).