A process for separating heavy metals from a phosphoric starting material includes, in a step (i), heating the starting material to a temperature between 700 and 1,100° C. in a first reactor and withdrawing combustion gas. In a step (ii), the heated starting material at the temperature between 700 and 1,100° C. is transferred to a second reactor, chlorides of alkaline and alkaline earth metals are added and process gas is withdrawn.

A process for separating heavy metals from a phosphoric starting material includes, in a step (i), heating the starting material to a temperature between 700 and 1,100° C. in a first reactor and withdrawing combustion gas. In a step (ii), the heated starting material at the temperature between 700 and 1,100° C. is transferred to a second reactor, chlorides of alkaline and alkaline earth metals are added and process gas is withdrawn.

An apparatus for the extraction of phosphorus from wastewater that includes a precipitation module and a retention module. The precipitation module includes a crystallization vessel, one or more inlets disposed in a lower region of the precipitation module and at least one outlet disposed in an upper region of the precipitation module. The retention module includes a sedimentation vessel, at least one inlet disposed in an upper region of the retention module and at least one outlet disposed in a lower region of the retention module. At least one outlet of the precipitation module is connected to at least one inlet of the retention module and at least one outlet of the retention module is connected to at least one inlet of the precipitation module. The volume VS of the sedimentation vessel is greater than/equal to 0.6 times the volume VC of the crystallization vessel (VS≧0.6.Math.VC).

An apparatus for the extraction of phosphorus from wastewater that includes a precipitation module and a retention module. The precipitation module includes a crystallization vessel, one or more inlets disposed in a lower region of the precipitation module and at least one outlet disposed in an upper region of the precipitation module. The retention module includes a sedimentation vessel, at least one inlet disposed in an upper region of the retention module and at least one outlet disposed in a lower region of the retention module. At least one outlet of the precipitation module is connected to at least one inlet of the retention module and at least one outlet of the retention module is connected to at least one inlet of the precipitation module. The volume VS of the sedimentation vessel is greater than/equal to 0.6 times the volume VC of the crystallization vessel (VS≧0.6.Math.VC).

A method for processing biomass digestate is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of—providing a biomass digestate (BD), —subjecting the biomass digestate to a separation step (SEP) into a liquid fraction (LF) and a solid biomass digestate fraction (SBD), —subjecting the solid biomass digestate fraction (SBD) to an acidic wash step (AW) at a pressure below 200 kPa (2 bar) to obtain a washed biomass digestate (WBD), —separating (SEP) the washed biomass digestate (WBD) into a liquid wash fraction (LW) and a solid wash fraction (SW), —posttreating (POST) the solid wash fraction (SW) to obtain a posttreated solid wash fraction (PSW) and—anaerobic digesting (AD) the posttreated solid wash fraction (PSW) to obtain a posttreated biomass digestate (PBD) wherein the amount of phosphorus in the solid wash fraction (SW) is reduced compared to amount of phosphorus in the solid biomass digestate fraction (SBD).

A method for processing biomass digestate is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of—providing a biomass digestate (BD), —subjecting the biomass digestate to a separation step (SEP) into a liquid fraction (LF) and a solid biomass digestate fraction (SBD), —subjecting the solid biomass digestate fraction (SBD) to an acidic wash step (AW) at a pressure below 200 kPa (2 bar) to obtain a washed biomass digestate (WBD), —separating (SEP) the washed biomass digestate (WBD) into a liquid wash fraction (LW) and a solid wash fraction (SW), —posttreating (POST) the solid wash fraction (SW) to obtain a posttreated solid wash fraction (PSW) and—anaerobic digesting (AD) the posttreated solid wash fraction (PSW) to obtain a posttreated biomass digestate (PBD) wherein the amount of phosphorus in the solid wash fraction (SW) is reduced compared to amount of phosphorus in the solid biomass digestate fraction (SBD).

A system and method for separating nutrients, such as phosphorus and protein, from biological materials may be disclosed. Biological material, for example in the form of wet solids from raw manure, may first be separated out by a solid-liquid separator. The wet solids may then be dissolved in an acidic solution. The resulting supernatant from the acidic treatment may then be separated and phosphorus reclaimed therefrom. The resulting precipitate from the acidic treatment may be separated from the supernatant and treated with a basic solution. The resulting supernatant following the basic treatment may then be separated and protein reclaimed therefrom. In some embodiments, the supernatant resulting from the acidic treatment may itself be alkalinized, creating a precipitate which contains phosphorus solids and a supernatant which can be separated from the phosphorus solids and used as the basic solution with which to treat the precipitate resulting from the acidic treatment. Further, the system may be used to extract phosphorus and proteins from other biological materials, such as algae or crops.

A system and method for separating nutrients, such as phosphorus and protein, from biological materials may be disclosed. Biological material, for example in the form of wet solids from raw manure, may first be separated out by a solid-liquid separator. The wet solids may then be dissolved in an acidic solution. The resulting supernatant from the acidic treatment may then be separated and phosphorus reclaimed therefrom. The resulting precipitate from the acidic treatment may be separated from the supernatant and treated with a basic solution. The resulting supernatant following the basic treatment may then be separated and protein reclaimed therefrom. In some embodiments, the supernatant resulting from the acidic treatment may itself be alkalinized, creating a precipitate which contains phosphorus solids and a supernatant which can be separated from the phosphorus solids and used as the basic solution with which to treat the precipitate resulting from the acidic treatment. Further, the system may be used to extract phosphorus and proteins from other biological materials, such as algae or crops.

A system and method for separating nutrients, such as phosphorus and protein, from biological materials may be disclosed. Biological material, for example in the form of wet solids from raw manure, may first be separated out by a solid-liquid separator. The wet solids may then be dissolved in an acidic solution, which may be created directly or by fermentation. The resulting supernatant from the acidic treatment may then be separated and phosphorus reclaimed therefrom. The resulting precipitate from the acidic treatment may be separated from the supernatant and treated with a basic solution. The resulting supernatant following the basic treatment may then be separated and protein reclaimed therefrom. In some embodiments, the supernatant resulting from the acidic treatment may itself be alkalinized, creating a precipitate which contains phosphorus solids and a supernatant which can be separated from the phosphorus solids and used as the basic solution with which to treat the precipitate resulting from the acidic treatment. Further, the system may be used to extract phosphorus and proteins from other biological materials, such as algae or crops.

A system and method for separating nutrients, such as phosphorus and protein, from biological materials may be disclosed. Biological material, for example in the form of wet solids from raw manure, may first be separated out by a solid-liquid separator. The wet solids may then be dissolved in an acidic solution, which may be created directly or by fermentation. The resulting supernatant from the acidic treatment may then be separated and phosphorus reclaimed therefrom. The resulting precipitate from the acidic treatment may be separated from the supernatant and treated with a basic solution. The resulting supernatant following the basic treatment may then be separated and protein reclaimed therefrom. In some embodiments, the supernatant resulting from the acidic treatment may itself be alkalinized, creating a precipitate which contains phosphorus solids and a supernatant which can be separated from the phosphorus solids and used as the basic solution with which to treat the precipitate resulting from the acidic treatment. Further, the system may be used to extract phosphorus and proteins from other biological materials, such as algae or crops.