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Title Fertiliser Properties of Wastewater Sludge and Sludge Ash-A Case Study from the Finnish Forest Industry
ID_Doc 25877
Authors Oksanen, J; Pöykiö, R; Dahl, O
Title Fertiliser Properties of Wastewater Sludge and Sludge Ash-A Case Study from the Finnish Forest Industry
Year 2023
Published Ecological Chemistry And Engineering S-Chemia I Inzynieria Ekologiczna S, 30, 1
DOI 10.2478/eces-2023-0004
Abstract In this case study we compared the fertiliser properties of an industrial wastewater treatment sludge and a sludge ash to the requirements of the Finnish Fertiliser Product Decree. The sludge was obtained from the activated sludge wastewater treatment plant of a Finnish non-integrated pulp mill. The sludge was furthermore incinerated at a laboratory in a muffle furnace (850 degrees C) to obtain sludge ash. The total Cd (4.9 mg/kg d.m.) concentration in the pulp sludge exceeded the Finnish limit value (1.5 mg/kg d.m.) for fertiliser products used in agriculture. In the sludge ash, the total concentration of Cd (39 mg/kg; d.m.) exceeded the Finnish limit value (25 mg/kg d.m.) for ash fertilisers used in forestry. These results restrict the potential reuse options of these residues. However, from the utilisation point of view, the enrichment of essential plant macro-nutrients was most notable, resulting to the following total concentrations of these elements in the sludge ash: P (26,000 mg/kg d.m.), S (40,000 mg/kg d.m.), K (11,000 mg/kg d.m.), Ca (83,000 mg/kg d.m.) and Mg (10,000 mg/kg d.m.). Therefore, we conclude that, the converting of sludge into ash may promote the reuse of this wastewater treatment residue to a more value-adding fertiliser by-product to be used as a soil improver and growing medium in landscaping or landfills sites or other closed industrial areas, where heavy metal limit values for fertilisers are not applied in Finland.
Author Keywords ash; circular economy; extraction; fertiliser; pulp mill; sludge; waste; wastewater treatment
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
EID WOS:000967526500005
WoS Category Environmental Sciences
Research Area Environmental Sciences & Ecology
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