AVA cleanphos pilot plant online, now delivering recovered phosphorus from sewage sludge

July 6, 2016 |

In Germany, the AVA cleanphos pilot plant in Karlsruhe, sponsored by the German Federal Environment Foundation (DBU), came online at the beginning of July 2016. Leading biotechnology company AVA-CO2 has developed the AVA cleanphos process which enables efficient and cost-effective recovery of phosphorus from sewage sludge. The process also allows for co-incineration in the future and therefore the direct substitution of fossil fuels such as lignite.

Over summer 2016, AVA cleanphos process will be tested 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 .

For industry, AVA cleanphos represents a breakthrough in phosphorus recovery as required by the German amendment to the Sewage Sludge Ordinance. The process has the potential to be more efficient and cost-effective than existing phosphorus recovery methods, as municipal sewage sludge is converted first into HTC-coal before the phosphate is isolated. This creates two commercially interesting products – a valuable fertiliser 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.

Category: Fuels

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