Producing Fertilizers with Recycled Phosphate
Phosphorus is an essential element for plant growth that cannot be replaced. As phosphate rock becomes scarcer, ICL is looking at various alternatives, including the possibility of recycling phosphate. Currently, available secondary phosphate, found in sewage sludge as well as in meat & bone meal ash, is used for landfill. There is a real potential of using this untapped resource of phosphate.
ICL is advancing in the process of developing the proper technologies and working with governments on the relevant regulatory requirements.
ICL The Netherlands Amfert opened its innovative Phosphate recycling unit
In 2019, ICL The Netherlands Amfert (Phosphate BU) initiated its first innovative Phosphate recycling project unit, which is aimed at using recycled phosphates from waste streams as a raw material. This project was encouraged by a subsidy of €500,000 from the Dutch Province of Noord-Holland (Regional Government in the Netherlands). This collaboration demonstrates growing circular economy innovations and investments.
To successfully use recycled phosphates in the plant, appropriate storage silos and other equipment were acquired. These allow to feed ash from sewage sludge and bone meal into the plant’s acidulation unit. The goal is for ICL Amfert to substitute up to 100% of phosphate rock with recycled sources, depending on market demand and the availability of raw materials.
Currently, ICL Amfert is replacing about 10% of the phosphate rock with secondary phosphates, within the fertilizer products of the pilot recycling unit . The company is working on REACH registration for the new product, to allow the increase of the recycled percentage.
In addition to the financial benefits to be gained from this substitution, there are also substantial environmental benefits. Combining this recycled phosphate with other ICL products, such as Polysulphate will enable the production of fertilizers with a very low Carbon Footprint.
The Dutch government’s investment in this project will allow a circular phosphate economy, i.e using a valuable ingredient more than once and increasing recycling rates for food production. This innovative effort is unprecedented in the global Phosphate industry.
Using secondary sources also means less transport of raw materials for ICL Amfert’s production, and therefore a significant reduction in the site’s carbon footprint.
The project demonstrates ICL’s innovative culture, as well as its commitment to sustainability, and further strengthens its cooperation with local authorities in the environmental area.
ICL Phosphate Recycling Unit (ICL) Achieved the Shortlist for the 2020 Circular Award Business
Advancing a circular economy is a high priority in the Netherlands. As such, the government is supporting initiatives that incorporate ‘circular economy’ into the business sector. ICL Phosphate Recycling Unit was selected to be on the short list for the Circular Award - for the Business sector.
Partnering to Create a “Circular Economy” for Phosphorus
Life on earth is dependent on nutrients. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N, P and K) constitute the three major nutrients required for plant growth and are crucial for the world’s food supply chain. There are
currently no artificial substitutes for phosphorus and potassium. On the other hand, excess phosphorus can also cause environmental issues.
ICL is taking part in initiatives that are focused on circular economy and the sustainable use of phosphorus. ICL The Netherlands Amfert is a member of the European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform. The European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform (ESPP) brings together companies and stakeholders to address the Phosphorus Challenge and its opportunities.
Sustainable management of phosphorus and other nutrients is crucial for agriculture, food, industry, water and the environment.” ESPP
ICL The Netherlands Amfert is also a member of the Nutrient Platform, a cross-sector network of Dutch organizations that believe in a pragmatic approach towards nutrient scarcity. The Nutrient Platform unites water, agriculture, waste and chemistry with the government, knowledge institutes and NGOs to achieve a goal of recovering phosphorus from ‘waste’ streams, recycling it and using phosphorus more sustainably.
ICL is one of the leading companies in the Netherlands in recycling phosphates.
ICL The Netherlands Amfert is one of the Nutrient Platform’s success stories. The site is one of the Netherlands leaders in recycling phosphates. A good example is co-operation between ICL’s phosphate plant in Amsterdam and the water company, Waternet, which is also a member of the platform. Waternet collects several residuals from the Amsterdam sewage system, among which is struvite, a phosphate mineral. ICL uses struvite as a raw material in its production process as a source for phosphorus, nitrogen and magnesium.
In October 2016, ICL, other members of the Nutrient Platform, and the Dutch Government signed an agreement, ‘Ambition Nutrients 2018’, to further increase nutrient recycling.
...an inspiring example of closing the phosphate loop''
Mrs. Sharon Dijksma, Dutch State Secretary for the Environment
In Germany, ICL Amfert Ludwigshafen is also a member of the DPP, the German Phosphate Platform. The German Phosphorus Platform DPP is a network for the recovery of phosphorus and the sustainable use of the recovered products. The DPP brings together knowledge and experience of players from relevant industries, public and private organizations and from research and development institutions.
