Phosphorus Recovery Congress: Carbotechnik announces lecture

Decentralized sewage sludge recycling presented at the 2019 phosphorus congress

On November 19 and 20, 2019, Stuttgart hosted the 5th Congress titled “Phosphorus—A Critical Raw Material with a Future.” Indeed, prominent experts from environmental policy, science, and industry gathered at this key event. Specifically, they focused on current developments in sewage sludge disposal. In addition, the participants discussed future phosphorus recovery and new regulatory requirements. Ultimately, the attendees evaluated strategic concepts and sustainable solutions for a resource-efficient circular economy.

The advantages of decentralized sewage sludge recycling

During the event, the focus placed a particular emphasis on decentralized sewage sludge recycling. Consequently, Carbotechnik delivered a technical presentation to highlight the advantages of local single-purpose treatment plants. In doing so, we demonstrated how operators can easily combine economic and environmental goals. Indeed, decentralized plants shorten transport distances. Additionally, they reduce overall $CO_2$ emissions and strengthen regional responsibility. As a result, operators benefit from greater independence and higher supply security.

High-quality ash through patented pulse burners

In fact, the technology presented was highly impressive. Our patented pulse burner thermally treats sewage sludge. Through this process, it produces high-quality sewage sludge ash with a high phosphorus content. Under the right conditions, this ash serves as a valuable raw material for fertilizer production. At the same time, our method supports the sustainable recovery of phosphorus. Thus, our technology makes an important contribution to the circular economy.

Practical testing in our in-house research facility

Furthermore, another key advantage is Carbotechnik’s in-house research facility. This modern facility operates with a thermal capacity of 1 MW. There, we directly demonstrate the high plant availability of the contained phosphorus. Importantly, this process requires no additional, cost-intensive steps. Therefore, we develop new technologies in a highly practical manner. Consequently, our team tests all systems under realistic operating conditions.

Growing market interest in sustainable solutions

During the conference, participants also discussed legal frameworks and potential cooperation models. Moreover, the experts evaluated different methods for assessing phosphorus availability. The strong response from the audience confirmed a rapidly growing need for innovative concepts. With our process, we actively support wastewater treatment plant operators. Specifically, we help them recover phosphorus while implementing sustainable and cost-effective disposal solutions.