We are recycling nitrogen from waste water
EasyMining's patented process enables it to chemically extract and purify nitrogen from waste water. This is unique as purification currently takes place using biological methods. The innovation will now be demonstrated in a project, RE-Fertilize, with the support of the EU's LIFE programme. The new circular solution makes it possible for water purification plants to also extract nitrogen in the process and use it as fertiliser, which in turn reduces emissions of greenhouse gases.
14 Feb 2020Up to now, water with a high nitrogen content, such as waste water, has been purified biologically using bacteria that separate nitrogen from water – a process which is both costly and sensitive to disruption. The biological process also entails emissions of nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas which has an impact on the climate that is 300 times greater than carbon dioxide.
Instead, EasyMining has developed a technique to purify waste water through chemical deposition of the nitrogen. In the process, which is patented, the water is treated with an precipitant that deposits the nitrogen in crystals which can then be separated from the waste water. The nitrogen is extracted from the crystals and becomes a fertiliser while the precipitant is reused. Nitrogen fertiliser can be used in agriculture, where nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients. This reduces the need to produce new nitrogen fertiliser with methods that are energy-intensive. Agriculture's carbon footprint can thereby be reduced.
"When sewage works use our method, they are reducing their emissions of nitrogen compounds into nearby water, thus reducing their carbon climate footprint and at a lower cost. Through recovering nitrogen, which is a valuable nutrient, they are making a real contribution to the circular economy," says Jan Svärd, CEO of EasyMining.
Circular process
Traditional methods of purifying nitrogen usually release the nitrogen back into the air - instead of recycling it. Precipitant which crystallise the nitrogen in EasyMining's process are not released, but are rather reused. The method can be used with all kinds of waste water that contains nitrogen in the form of ammonium. Besides purification plants for waste water and leachate from landfill, potential applications are treatment of fertiliser as well as liquids from biogas plants.
"Up to now, manufacture of nitrogen fertiliser has been associated with energy consumption and climate emissions. EasyMining's chemical process means that we are moving away from that and can capture both the nitrogen and the precipitant. We also utilise the nitrogen, which becomes fertiliser, and the precipitant is circulated back into the process. This chemical deposition process is also easier to control, in comparison with the biological process, and we can extract a high concentration of nitrogen," says Patrik Enfält, business developer at EasyMining.
The method is being commercialised
EasyMining has been received about SEK 19 million from the EU's LIFE programme (LIFE18 ENV/SE/000265) for its innovation within nitrogen extraction to demonstrate the patented method on a large scale. The project, ”RE-Fertilize”, is a partnership between EasyMining, Denmark's largest waste purification company BIOFOS, Lantmännen and Ragn-Sells. The first phase of the project will entail construction of pilot plants that will be in operation during 2021, and the plan is that the process will be ready for full commersialisation in three years.
Disclaimer: This information reflects the project partners´ view. The EU Agency is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
