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Characterization of Phosphorus Recovered from Sewage Sludge Ash: A Brazil Case Study
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Not relevant to microplastics — this paper focuses on recovering phosphorus from sewage sludge ash for use as agricultural fertilizer; while it mentions microplastics as one reason the raw sludge is not directly reused, the study itself is about phosphorus recovery chemistry.
The lack of interest in the reuse of phosphorus in agriculture is mainly due to the high abundance of pathogens, organic pollutants, microplastics, and possibly toxic metals. Therefore, different forms of treatment are necessary to take advantage of phosphorus recovery potential, one of which is the use of ash from incinerated/calcined biological sludge. A high rate of conversion of the non-apatite inorganic phosphorus fraction into apatite phosphorus was obtained in this study because of the use of commercially pure CaO additive in the dry sludge calcination tests, which is more bioavailable to plants. The obtained phosphorus pentoxide content ranged from 12 to 17%, surpassing several phosphorus-based raw materials and fertilizers. In addition, the ashes have been shown to contain toxic metals far below those recommended by Brazilian and international environmental legislation, so they can be applied directly to the soil for crop fertilization, or be used in P extraction and separation technologies for fertilizer production.
More Papers Like This
Stabilized Sewage Sludge as Fertilizer: Risks Related to the Presence of Microplastics
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Researchers analyzed microplastic content in sewage sludge-derived fertilizer collected in June and July, finding an average of ~460 mg of microplastics per 100 g of fertilizer with fragments and fibers predominating — raising concerns about agricultural land contamination from sewage sludge application.
Fate of microplastics in sewage sludge and in agricultural soils
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Researchers reviewed how microplastics accumulate in sewage sludge at wastewater treatment plants and then spread into agricultural soils when that sludge is applied as fertilizer, finding that sludge treatment processes can alter microplastic size and shape but do not eliminate them. The review calls for standardized methods to study how different sludge treatments affect microplastic properties and their downstream risks to soil health.
Microplastics in Sewage Sludge: A Known but Underrated Pathway in Wastewater Treatment Plants
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This review finds that wastewater treatment plants effectively transfer microplastics from effluent into sewage sludge, creating a significant but underrated pathway for MP contamination when sludge is applied to agricultural soils.
Microplastics and synthetic fibers in treated wastewater and sludge
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Researchers measured microplastics and synthetic fibers in both the treated effluent and sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, finding that while effluent concentrations were relatively low, sludge had very high microplastic concentrations. When sludge is applied to agricultural fields as fertilizer, it can deliver large quantities of microplastics directly to soils.
Microplastics removal from a primary settler tank in a wastewater treatment plant and estimations of contamination onto European agricultural land via sewage sludge recycling
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Researchers found that primary settling in wastewater treatment removes significant microplastics from sewage, but these particles concentrate in sludge that is often recycled onto agricultural land, creating a pathway back into the environment.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.