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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 2, 2025

Two-way Valorization of Blast Furnace Slag: Synthesis of Precipitated Calcium Carbonate and Zeolitic Heavy Metal Adsorbent

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Phosphorus release from hydrothermally carbonized digested sewage sludge using organic acids.

Carla Pérez¹, Jean-François Boily², Nils Skoglund³

¹Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-90187 Umeå, Sweden; Industrial Doctoral School, Umeå University, SE-90187 Umeå, Sweden.

Waste Management (New York, N.Y.)

|August 4, 2022

Summary

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) effectively sanitizes sewage sludge (SS) and recovers phosphorus (P) using oxalic acid. Optimal P recovery occurs at low HTC temperatures and short extraction times with oxalic acid.

Keywords:

Characterization Chemical treatment Digested sewage sludge Hydrochar Hydrothermal carbonization Metal release Phosphorus

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Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Chemical Engineering
Materials Science

Background:

Sewage sludge (SS) management is a global challenge, requiring effective sanitization and resource recovery.
Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) offers a promising route for SS treatment, producing valuable hydrochar.
Phosphorus (P) recovery from SS is crucial for sustainable agriculture and a circular economy.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate phosphorus (P) leaching efficiency from sewage sludge hydrochars (SSHs).
To evaluate the impact of organic acids (oxalate, citrate) and pH on P recovery.
To assess the co-release of metals and heavy metals during P extraction.

Main Methods:

Sewage sludge was hydrothermally carbonized at 180, 215, and 250 °C.
Phosphorus (P) extraction was performed using oxalate and citrate solutions across a pH range of 0-4.
Extraction times varied from 5 minutes to 24 hours.
Characterization of hydrochars and leachates using various analytical techniques.

Main Results:

Oxalic acid achieved over 75% P extraction efficiency at low pH, with nearly complete P release at pH > 0.
Optimal P recovery conditions were low HTC temperature (180 °C) and short extraction time (5 min) in oxalate solution (pH 1.4).
Oxalate leaching co-extracted metals/heavy metals, except for calcium (Ca), which precipitated as Ca-oxalate.

Conclusions:

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is effective for sewage sludge (SS) sanitization and volume reduction.
Oxalic acid is a highly efficient agent for phosphorus (P) recovery from SS hydrochars.
This process contributes to the circular economy by enabling P recycling and reducing sludge disposal issues.