The European Commission’s science and knowledge service

Joint Research Centre

Towards the implementation of

fertilisers derived from

secondary raw materials in the

EU Fertiliser Regulation –

CMC struvite, ash-based

products and biochar

STRUBIAS definitions

• STRuvite (MgNH4PO4.6H2O, EINECS 232-075-2): an orthophosphate, containing nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg) ions in equal molar concentrations.

• BIochar is defined as biomass that has been produced via a gasification or pyrolysis process in a zero or low oxygen environment for its posterior use as a soil amendment.

• ASh-based products are products derived from ashes generated through incineration of biomass and waste materials. These include both raw ashes and ashes that have been further processed.

Introduction

Future CMCs for struvite,

biochar, ashes

BOX=

Legislative

proposals

based on

JRC

techno-

scientific

analysis

Plant available P from secondary raw materials

Plant P availability in product

(agronomic efficiency)

P-fertiliser production process

efficiency

feedstock availability and use of primary and secondary

raw materials

Plant available P from primary raw materials

price

substitution potential

market of fertilisers derived from primary and secondary raw materials

farmer's perception and acceptance

environmental legislation

market drivers:

Substitution potential

product properties

mineral P fertiliser

consumption ~ 1.20 Mt yr-1

Feedstock P availability

~ 1.55 Mt yr-1

• "Excess" P for recycling in secondary raw materials ~ mineral P-input • Manure dominates fraction (64%), followed by slaughterhouse waste

(18%) and sewage (12%) • Minor contribution for crop and wood residues, waste from food and food

processing.

feedstock availability

feedstock availability

of secondary raw

materials

total feedstock availability (kt yr-1

) 1000 280 190 1470 1000 280 190 1470 1000 280 1280

recovery efficiency (%)

relative agronomic efficiency (%)

recovered plant available P (kt yr-1)

24 - 138 (73)

Replacement potential considering

maximum use of available

feedstock (%)

ash-based products biochar

8 - 40 (15) 70 - 98 (85) 55 - 100 (80)

80 - 120 (95) 35 - 100 (60) 40 - 130 (85)

struvite

94 - 706 (210) 360 - 1440 (750) 282 - 1664 (870)

8 - 59 (17.5) 30 - 132 (62.5)

Maximum substitution potential • Based on full use of feedstock for STRUBIAS production • Based on feedstock availability moving in tandem with P fertiliser

inputs to 2030 • Brackets provide present typical values (under study)

"traditional" P-fertilisers derived from secondary raw materials

Substitution potential

• Mid-term substitution potential for the year 2030 uncertain:

• Technological advances that further decrease cost for production of "secondary fertilisers" (life cycle cost assessments under study)

• Avoided damage cost associated to not removing nutrients from waste streams (~ monetary valuation of ecosystem services)

• Farmer's perception, appreciation of slow-release fertiliser and long-term P reserves

• Availability of good quality phosphate rock

=> Hypothetical scenarios are presented here!

"traditional" P-fertilisers

STRUBIAS (<1%)

STRUBIAS slow release – "new"

=> Hypothetical scenarios are presented here!

1. Techno-economic limitations for challenging production processes and low market acceptance for 'new' P-fertilisers

2. + P-recovery from pig and poultry manure

3. + Geopolitical issues restrict imports of P rock

Hypothetical 2030 Scenarios – Maximum potential:

Techno-economic limitations for challenging production processes

Hypothetical 2030 Scenario 1 – Maximum potential:

"traditional" fertilisers from primary raw materials

1000 kt yr-1

280 kt yr-1

struvite

biochar

ash-based product

recovery efficiency 97% relative agronomic efficiency 100%

272

recovery efficiency 97% relative agronomic efficiency 100%

92

30%

Secondary raw materials are exclusively used as an intermediate for the production of existing mineral-P fertilisers

190 kt yr-1

recovery efficiency 15% relative agronomic efficiency 100%

14

Hypothetical 2030 Scenario 2 – Maximum potential:

"traditional" fertilisers from primary raw materials

100 kt yr-1

280 kt yr-1

struvite

biochar

ash-based product

recovery efficiency 97% relative agronomic efficiency 100% 14

272

recovery efficiency 97% relative agronomic efficiency 90%

166

360 kt yr-1

recovery efficiency 85% relative agronomic efficiency 60%

184

190 kt yr-1

+ P-recovery from pig and poultry manure

recovery efficiency 15% relative agronomic efficiency 95%

53%

Hypothetical 2030 Scenario 3 – Maximum potential:

"traditional" fertilisers from primary raw materials

recovery efficiency 85% relative agronomic efficiency 60%

333 kt yr-1

280 kt yr-1

struvite

biochar

ash-based product

recovery efficiency 80% relative agronomic efficiency 85%

170 95

recovery efficiency 97% relative agronomic efficiency 100%

184

+ Geopolitical issues restrict imports of P rock

667 kt yr-1

253

recovery efficiency 40% relative agronomic efficiency 95%

272

recovery efficiency 80% relative agronomic efficiency 85%

89%

190 kt yr-1

High market acceptance of 'new' P-fertilisers

95

Upcoming work

• Moving towards more realistic estimates

• Relative agronomic efficiency as a function of soil and crop type, application rate, climate conditions, etc.

• Cost and energy estimates of STRUBIAS production pathways using life cycle approach

Kick-off Meeting

Feedback sub-group

Interim report with proposal for criteria *

Final Meeting

* followed by written consultation of the sub-group

….

Provisional time line

Project start

Background Document

Nov, 2015

6-7 July, 2016

Project progress

Time

Final Report

Interim report on impact assessment *

Sept, 2016

May, 2017

December 2018

May, 2018

JRC STRUBIAS work

February 2018

Summary of observations at this stage

• Importance of creating an EU-wide legal framework for fertilisers originating from secondary raw materials in order to promote and incentivise nutrient recovery

• Current market for STRUBIAS is limited.

• Hypothetical scenarios present maximum feedstock use. Real future substitution rates will depend on many market and policy developments and are impossible to predict at this stage

• Manure, slaughterhouse waste and sewage are the most important feedstocks for "secondary" P-fertilisers

• Future market potential for fertilisers derived from secondary raw materials dependent on cost of production and avoided damages to the environment, agronomic value, farmer's acceptance for new products and limitations for phosphate rock