Crystalline phase analysis and phosphorus availability after thermochemical treatment of sewage sludge ash with sodium and potassium sulfates for fertilizer production

Phosphorus rich sewage sludge ash is a promising source to produce phosphorus recycling fertilizer. However, the low plant availability of phosphorus in these ashes makes a treatment necessary. A thermochemical treatment (800–1000 °C) with alkali additives transforms poorly plant available phosphorus phases to highly plant available calcium alkali phosphates (Ca,Mg)(Na,K)PO 4 . In this study, we investigate the use of K 2 SO 4 as additive to produce a phosphorus potassium fertilizer in laboratory-scale experiments (crucible). Pure K 2 SO 4 is not suitable as high reaction temperatures are required due to the high melting point of K 2 SO 4 . To overcome this barrier, we carried out series of experiments with mixtures of K 2 SO 4 and Na 2 SO 4 resulting in a lower economically feasible reaction temperature (900–1000 °C). In this way, the produced phosphorus potassium fertilizers (8.4 wt.% K, 7.6 wt.% P) was highly plant available for phosphorus indicated by complete extractable phosphorus in neutral ammonium citrate solution. The added potassium is, in contrast to sodium, preferably incorporated into silicates instead of phosphorus phases. Thus, the highly extractable phase (Ca,Mg)(Na,K)PO 4 in the thermochemical products contain less potassium than expected. This preferred incorporation is confirmed by a pilot-scale trial (rotary kiln) and thermodynamic calculation.