Development of wet mechanochemical treatment for the use of WTP sludge as raw material for the production of controlled-release fertilizers

• Grant number: 23/01549-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Agreement: CNPq
• Principal Investigator: Cauê Ribeiro de Oliveira
• Grantee: Cauê Ribeiro de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Embrapa Instrumentação Agropecuária. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA). Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Brasil). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/12210-3 - Development of technological alternatives for the use of ETA sludge as raw material for the production of controlled release fertilizers, AP.PITE
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/03314-3 - Development of wet mechanochemical treatment for the use of WTP sludge as raw material for the production of controlled-release fertilizers., BP.JD; 24/12074-3 - Development of wet mechanochemical treatment for the use of WTP sludge as raw material for the production of controlled-release fertilizers., BP.JD; 23/09673-0 - Development of wet mechanochemical treatment for the use of WTP sludge as raw material for the production of controlled-release fertilizers, BP.JD

Abstract

Sludges from water treatment plants - WTPs - have characteristics that make their disposal a challenge. The composition variability, the low content of organic matter and, mainly, the high content of aluminum salts considerably limit its direct application in agricultural soils. This strategy is a solution already studied for sludge from sewage treatment plants (STPs), which have a higher organic matter content. However, its mineral structure could, in principle, be the basis for the production of pellets that would act as soil conditioners or as adjuvants for controlled release fertilizer systems, an alternative that would enable the high-volume consumption of the residue. Thus, simple and alternative technological routes that immobilize aluminum salts in non-soluble structures could, together with formulation technologies, enable conditions for the agricultural use of this residue. Therefore, it is proposed to develop, from WTPs sludges representative of SABESP's production, a wet mechanochemical route for the production of zeolitic concentrates from reactions with KOH, and that can be formulated as extruded fertilizer granules using plasticized starch with urea and thus composing a slow-release NK fertilizer. To avoid subsequent precipitation effects of phosphate (P) immobilization, essential fertilizer applied concurrently with NK. Standardized laboratory, greenhouse and field tests will be carried out to evaluate the agronomic efficiency of the fertilizers. Thus, it is expected that the integration of different strategies will provide greater agronomic efficiency and competitiveness in the reuse of these residues. (AU)

Scientific publications

(7)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BRONDI, MARIANA GOVONI; BORTOLETTO-SANTOS, RICARDO; FARIAS, JULIA GOMES; FARINAS, CRISTIANE SANCHEZ; AMMAR, MOHAMMED; RIBEIRO, CAUE; WILLIAMS, CLINTON; BALTRUSAITIS, JONAS. Mechanochemically Synthesized Nitrogen-Efficient Mg- and Zn-Ammonium Carbonate Fertilizers. ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING, v. 12, n. 16, p. 12-pg., 2024-04-12. (20/12210-3, 23/01549-8)

LODI, LUDIMILA ARAUJO; LOPES, MARINA MOMESSO; GRACIANO, VANESSA ARAUJO; BORGES, ROGER; DE OLIVEIRA-PAIVA, CHRISTIANE ABREU; RIBEIRO, CAUE; FARINAS, CRISTIANE SANCHEZ. Microencapsulation of Bacillus megaterium in cationic starch/ PVA-based matrices. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 303, p. 12-pg., 2025-04-01. (23/01549-8, 24/09631-8, 20/12210-3, 23/09673-0)

MACHADO, RAQUEL CARDOSO.; VALLE, STELLA FORTUNA DO; SENA, THAIS BEATRIZ MIQUELETI; PERRONY, PAUL ESTEBAN PHEREZ; BETTIOL, WAGNER; RIBEIRO, CAUE. Aluminosilicate and zeolitic materials synthesis using alum sludge from water treatment plants: Challenges and perspectives. WASTE MANAGEMENT, v. 186, p. 15-pg., 2024-06-13. (22/09773-1, 20/12210-3, 23/02665-1, 23/01549-8)

LODI, LUDIMILA A.; BORGES, ROGER; BORTOLETTO-SANTOS, RICARDO; DE OLIVEIRA-PAIVA, CHRISTIANE ABREU; RIBEIRO, CAUE; FARINAS, CRISTIANE S.. Biodegradable PVA-based films for delivery of Bacillus megaterium as seed coating. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, v. 12, n. 6, p. 12-pg., 2024-10-29. (23/09673-0, 20/12210-3, 23/01549-8)

MACHADO, RAQUEL CARDOSO; VALLE, STELLA F.; CHAO, ZARA REGINA SOARES; RIBEIRO, CAUE. Valorization of Alum Sludge Waste through Zeolite Synthesis for Sustainable Fertilizer Production. MATERIALS RESEARCH-IBERO-AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MATERIALS, v. 27, p. 9-pg., 2024-01-01. (22/09773-1, 20/12210-3, 23/01549-8)

BORGES, ROGER; GIROTO, AMANDA S.; OHREM, BENEDICT; BECKMANN, SILAS; ADEMI, ALI; BOECKEM, VERA; BOCHMANN, HELENA; MUELLER-LINOW, MARK; LENZ, HENNING; RIBEIRO, CAUE; et al. Optimizing Cassava Growth with Localized Struvite Application: Root Proliferation and Fertilization Efficiency. AGRONOMY-BASEL, v. 15, n. 2, p. 23-pg., 2025-02-01. (20/12210-3, 23/01549-8)

LODI, LUDIMILA ARAUJO; BORGES, ROGER; LOPES, MARINA MOMESSO; GRACIANO, VANESSA ARAUJO; BORTOLETTO-SANTOS, RICARDO; BARUD, HERNANE S.; DE OLIVEIRA-PAIVA, CHRISTIANE ABREU; RIBEIRO, CAUE; FARINAS, CRISTIANE SANCHEZ. Spray-Drying Microencapsulation of Bacillus megaterium in PVA/Cationic Starch/Zinc Oxide for Promoting Growth and Zinc Availability in Soybean Plants. ACS AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, v. N/A, p. 13-pg., 2024-11-11. (17/50334-3, 23/09673-0, 20/12210-3, 21/11965-3, 24/09631-8, 23/01549-8)