Phosphorus (P) is a limited resource and our agriculture relies on a steady supply. Phosphate rock is mined and processed to produce phosphorus containing fertilizers, like PK-fertilizers. However, exploitable phosphate rock reserves are found in just a few countries. The EU itself has hardly any phosphate rock reserves and depends nearly entirely on the import of this crucial resource; in 2005 the primary P import of the EU-27 was 1.8 Mton. Phosphorus use has to become more sustainable and should include P-recycling from secondary sources (i.e. wastewater). This will not only prevent eutrophication of surface waters, but will also minimize costs for disposal of phosphorus rich wastes. 

Phosphorus rich waste streams such as sewage have a high potential for P recovery. Phosphorus has to be eliminated from these wastewaters to prevent environmental damage, like harmful algae blooms. Annually, Europe’s Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) remove approximately 370 kton P by immobilization in the sewage sludge. The direct use of the sludge as fertilizer is problematic due to its bulky volume, the fixed nutrient ratios and the low bioavailability of a nutrient like phosphate. 

Therefore, there is an increasing interest to separate the phosphorus in concentrated form from the bulk sludge for subsequent reuse in the fertilizer industry. The majority of Europe’s STPs apply chemical precipitation with an iron-based coagulant to achieve sufficient phosphorus removal