Process for the Recovery of Phosphorus from Phosphorus-Containing Organic Waste Materials

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This invention provides a process for recovering phosphorus from phosphorus-containing organic waste materials, such as sewage sludge. The process involves thermally treating the waste at temperatures above 950°C to convert phosphorus into a gaseous state. The resultant phosphorus-containing gas is then brought into contact with an aqueous solution containing copper(II) ions, which selectively separates phosphorus from the gas. The separated phosphorus can be further processed to obtain valuable forms like phosphoric acid or elemental phosphorus.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Phosphorus recovery from municipal sewage sludge in wastewater treatment plants.
• Treatment and recycling of agricultural or food industry organic waste containing phosphorus.
• Recovery of phosphorus from animal by-products such as bone meal or meat meal.
• Sustainable fertilizer production by recycling phosphorus from waste streams.
• Reduction of hazardous waste by extracting and repurposing phosphorus from sludges and ashes.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Efficient recovery of high-value phosphorus compounds from waste, addressing resource scarcity.
• Selective separation that minimizes contamination from heavy metals or other unwanted by-products.
• Enables the recycling and reuse of phosphorus, supporting circular economy principles.
• Reduces the environmental impact of phosphorus disposal and related waste streams.
• Allows simultaneous recovery and potential utilization of other valuable by-products like hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the waste gas.
• Supports regulatory compliance for phosphorus recovery in municipal and industrial sectors.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for recovering phosphorus from a phosphorus-containing organic waste material, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a phosphorus-containing starting material, the phosphorus-containing starting material being the phosphorus-containing organic waste material or having been obtained from the phosphorus-containing organic waste material; (b) thermally treating the phosphorus-containing starting material at a temperature of 950°C or higher to obtain a phosphorus-containing product gas; and (c) bringing the phosphorus-containing product gas into contact with an aqueous solution containing copper(II) ions in order to separate phosphorus from the phosphorus-containing product gas.