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