Phosphorus recovery for circular Economy: Application potential of feasible resources and engineering processes in Europe

Phosphorus (P), one of the essential and indispensable elements for the growth of living organisms, is finite and nonrenewable for a multitude of applications. Economic P recycling can contribute to sustainable P management and lessen the pressure on P imports of the EU. Several European countries now have paved the way for establishing P recovery legislation and successively implemented compulsory recycling from P-rich wastes. This paper provided a comprehensive review for analyzing the potential of existing P recycling resources and engineering technologies in terms of their feasibility and applicability in Europe. Potential P-rich flows from the waste streams and eutrophic environments were deeply investigated. Regarding their technical principles, application, and availability, different engineering approaches for P release enhancement and P recovery were also reviewed in a critical manner. Moreover, assessments on engineering applications for P recycling considering economic feasibility and environmental benefits were also presented. Wastewater treatment plants show promising recovery efficiency, whereas industrial processes with sludge ashes as input allow up to 95% recovery of P. Collectively, in Europe, efficient and sustainable management of P has been recognized as a necessary strategy to meet the growing demand for mineral P.

Automated summary

Phosphorus (P) is an essential and nonrenewable element for the growth of living organisms. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the potential of existing P recycling resources and engineering technologies in Europe. It also examines different engineering approaches for P release enhancement and recovery and evaluates their economic feasibility and environmental benefits. The results show that wastewater treatment plants and industrial processes with sludge ashes as input have promising P recovery efficiency, offering up to 95% recovery.