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Sustainable Sewage Sludge Management: From Current Practices to Emerging Nutrient Recovery Technologies

Author

Listed:
  • Sina Shaddel

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7031 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Hamidreza Bakhtiary-Davijany

    (Cambi Group, Asker 1383, Norway)

  • Christian Kabbe

    (Easy Mining, 12489 Berlin, Germany)

  • Farbod Dadgar

    (Cambi Group, Asker 1383, Norway)

  • Stein W. Østerhus

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7031 Trondheim, Norway)

Abstract

Nutrient recovery from secondary resources, such as wastewater, has received increasing attention in recent years. Nutrient cycle sustainability and recycling approaches are important measures under development and considerations. This paper aims to present an overview of routes and technologies for nutrient recovery from sewage sludge and measures for improving their sustainability. First, current routes for nutrient recovery from sewage sludge are briefly reviewed. Next, an overview of commercial nutrient recovery technologies, projects, and emerging techniques around the world with the key factors for a successful phosphorus recovery technology is presented. Finally, a proposal for improving the sustainability of these practices is presented. It is concluded that the gap between demand and supply can be a major driver for the shift from ‘removal and treat’ to ‘recovery and reuse’. Moreover, there is not, and will never be, a one-size-fits-all solution. Future strategies and roadmaps need to be adapted to the local economy and geographical context more than ever.

Suggested Citation

  • Sina Shaddel & Hamidreza Bakhtiary-Davijany & Christian Kabbe & Farbod Dadgar & Stein W. Østerhus, 2019. "Sustainable Sewage Sludge Management: From Current Practices to Emerging Nutrient Recovery Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-12, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:12:p:3435-:d:242033
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Abdel Wahaab, Rifaat & Mahmoud, Mohamed & van Lier, Jules B., 2020. "Toward achieving sustainable management of municipal wastewater sludge in Egypt: The current status and future prospective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
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    7. Nicola Di Costanzo & Alessandra Cesaro & Francesco Di Capua & Giovanni Esposito, 2021. "Exploiting the Nutrient Potential of Anaerobically Digested Sewage Sludge: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-25, December.
    8. Marzena Smol & Michał Preisner & Augusto Bianchini & Jessica Rossi & Ludwig Hermann & Tanja Schaaf & Jolita Kruopienė & Kastytis Pamakštys & Maris Klavins & Ruta Ozola-Davidane & Daina Kalnina & Elina, 2020. "Strategies for Sustainable and Circular Management of Phosphorus in the Baltic Sea Region: The Holistic Approach of the InPhos Project," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-21, March.
    9. Derick Lima & Gregory Appleby & Li Li, 2023. "A Scoping Review of Options for Increasing Biogas Production from Sewage Sludge: Challenges and Opportunities for Enhancing Energy Self-Sufficiency in Wastewater Treatment Plants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-34, March.
    10. Francesco Facchini & Giovanni Mummolo & Micaela Vitti, 2021. "Scenario Analysis for Selecting Sewage Sludge-to-Energy/Matter Recovery Processes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-21, January.
    11. Viola Somogyi & Viktória Pitás & Kinga M. Berta & Róbert Kurdi, 2022. "Red Mud as Adsorbent to Recover Phosphorous from Wastewater Streams," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-15, October.
    12. Natalia Milojevic & Agnieszka Cydzik-Kwiatkowska, 2021. "Agricultural Use of Sewage Sludge as a Threat of Microplastic (MP) Spread in the Environment and the Role of Governance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-16, October.
    13. David Palma-Heredia & Manel Poch & Miquel À. Cugueró-Escofet, 2020. "Implementation of a Decision Support System for Sewage Sludge Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-18, October.
    14. Monika Jakubus, 2023. "Quantitative Distribution and Contamination Risk Assessment of Cu and Zn in Municipal Sewage Sludge," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-18, August.
    15. Sigrid Kusch-Brandt & Mohammad A. T. Alsheyab, 2021. "Wastewater Refinery: Producing Multiple Valuable Outputs from Wastewater," J, MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-11, February.
    16. Tanaka Mandy Mbavarira & Christine Grimm, 2021. "A Systemic View on Circular Economy in the Water Industry: Learnings from a Belgian and Dutch Case," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-62, March.
    17. Mohammad Ghorbani & Petr Konvalina & Anna Walkiewicz & Reinhard W. Neugschwandtner & Marek Kopecký & Kazem Zamanian & Wei-Hsin Chen & Daniel Bucur, 2022. "Feasibility of Biochar Derived from Sewage Sludge to Promote Sustainable Agriculture and Mitigate GHG Emissions—A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-23, October.
    18. Marcin Dębowski & Marcin Zieliński, 2020. "Technological Effectiveness of Sugar-Industry Effluent Methane Fermentation in a Fluidized Active Filling Reactor (FAF-R)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-17, December.
    19. Magdalena Szymańska & Tomasz Sosulski & Ewa Szara & Adam Wąs & Piotr Sulewski & Gijs W.P. van Pruissen & René L. Cornelissen, 2019. "Ammonium Sulphate from a Bio-Refinery System as a Fertilizer—Agronomic and Economic Effectiveness on the Farm Scale," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-15, December.
    20. Oumaima Mabrouk & Helmi Hamdi & Sami Sayadi & Mohammad A. Al-Ghouti & Mohammed H. Abu-Dieyeh & Nabil Zouari, 2023. "Reuse of Sludge as Organic Soil Amendment: Insights into the Current Situation and Potential Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-25, April.
    21. Clara Fernando-Foncillas & Maria M. Estevez & Hinrich Uellendahl & Cristiano Varrone, 2021. "Co-Management of Sewage Sludge and Other Organic Wastes: A Scandinavian Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-21, June.
    22. Jorge Alejandro Silva, 2022. "Implementation and Integration of Sustainability in the Water Industry: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-28, November.

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