FertiCovery
Online catalogue of 25 case studies

Online catalogue showcasing examples of 25 best available technologies for nutrient recovery and bio-based fertiliser production.

Case Studies

Key technologies are assessed for their potential to close nutrient loops and reduce dependence on imports of mineral fertilisers. The FertiCovery project addresses the challenge of limited awareness and uptake of bio-based fertilisers, by equipping stakeholders and farmers with knowledge and data on effective technologies and sustainable practices.

Technology descriptions and datasheets for best available technologies are being developed, to support informed decision-making and wider use of bio-based fertilising products.

The following overview of 25 technology descriptions is illustrating how secondary raw materials can be converted into valuable bio-based fertilisers. 

List of 25 nutrient recovery and bio-based fertiliser technologies

Producing certified biochar from forest residues – the process Biomass is dried and subsequently heated at high temperatures (600–800°C) without oxygen and biochar is produced Excess heat is reused within the process   The final product: Certified biochar (EBC-certified), used as a soil amendment or substrate component

Producing both energy and soil improvers – the process Pyrolysis produces syngas and biochar by heating the biomass to over 600°C without oxygen. Part of the syngas will provide heat to the process whilst the other part is send to biological methanation reactors. Biological methanation converts syngas into biomethane using microorganisms. The biomethane is purified […]

Converting biomass into stable carbon for soils – the process The process includes: Biomass preparation and drying by hot flue gases to reduce moisture content to near-zero levels Thermal treatment without oxygen (pyrolysis) in the carbonization chamber where the biomass undergoes thermal decomposition into biochar products Energy recovery from produced gases (syngas). During the thermal […]

Producing fertilisers and clean water from manure – the process The process includes: Mechanical separation of the feedstock to separate the solid and liquid fraction. Advanced filtration of the liquid fraction via filtration Ammonia recovery through stripping and scrubbing which results in the ammonium sulphate product. Reverse osmosis for water purification   The final product: […]

Recovering nitrogen as a valuable fertiliser – the process The process is based on stripping and scrubbing: Pre-heating and pH adjustment through CO2 stripping The liquid stream is heated and conditioned to enhance ammonia release. Ammonia stripping Ammonia is transferred from the liquid into an air stream. Acid scrubbing The ammonia reacts with acid to […]

Recovering nutrients with biological and membrane treatment – the process The integrated system includes: Anaerobic digestion (AD) of livestock manure, animal-by-products such as slaughter house waste, food waste and cheese whey Solid–liquid separation of the digestate Biological treatment (MBBR) of the liquid digestate fraction to reduce organic load and nitrogen Ultrafiltration membrane reactor (UF-MBR) to […]

Producing tailored fertilisers from digestate – the process The process includes several integrated steps: Anaerobic digestion (AD) Organic feedstock is processed to produce biogas and digestate. Solid–liquid separation Digestate is divided into solid and liquid fractions. Evaporation of liquid fraction Ammonia is removed and recovered, while water is separated. Reverse osmosis (RO) The condensed water […]

Producing high-quality phosphorus fertiliser – the process The process relies on controlled crystallisation in a specialised reactor: Feedstock input Nutrient-rich liquid streams such as wastewater centrate or sludge liquors are introduced. Chemical conditioning Magnesium is added and pH is adjusted to trigger precipitation. Crystal formation in fluidized bed reactor Struvite crystals form and grow into […]

Recovering phosphorus from wastewater streams – the process The process is based on a two-stage system: conditioning (or stripping) followed by crystallisation, and can be adapted to different types of feedstock: Feedstock preparation Liquid streams such as wastewater centrate, digestate or sludge-derived liquids are directed into the system. Conditioning and stripping The liquid is adjusted […]

Enriching organic fertilisers with nitrogen from the air – the process The process combines plasma technology and nutrient stabilisation in several steps: Feedstock reception and homogenisation Liquid manure (slurry) or liquid digestate from manure digestion is collected and prepared for treatment. Plasma generation Air is converted into reactive nitrogen compounds (NOx) using an electricity-driven plasma […]

Turning digestate into organo-mineral fertiliser – the process The process is based on chemical hydrolysis under controlled aerobic conditions and includes: 1. Feedstock preparation Digestate from AD is used as the main input material. 2. Hydrolysis and mixing The digestate is treated with a combination of substances such as: Acids (sulfuric and phosphoric acid) Alkaline […]

Turning poultry feathers into a biostimulant – the process The process is based on chemical hydrolysis of keratin and includes the following steps: Feedstock preparation Poultry feathers are collected and prepared as the main raw material. Hydrolysis process The feathers are treated using a combination of: Acids (e.g. sulfuric and orthophosphoric acid) Alkaline compounds (e.g. […]

Transforming biosolids into a liquid fertiliser – the process The process combines thermal, chemical and mechanical treatment to transform organic waste: Feedstock input and preparation Biosolids and similar organic wastes from industrial, commercial and agricultural sources are prepared for treatment. Physical-chemical hydrolysis The material undergoes a patented process involving high-speed shearing, alkali addition and low-pressure […]

Turning wastewater sludge into valuable fertilisers – the process The process combines biothermal treatment, separation and recovery in several steps: Feedstock reception and conditioning Biosolids from wastewater treatment plants are stabilised to ensure consistent conditions, such as solids content and pH. Biothermal fermentation (acidogenic conversion) The material undergoes a controlled fermentation process, where organic matter […]

From food industry residues to energy and fertiliser – the process The process is based on anaerobic digestion and resource recovery and includes the following steps: Reception and pre-treatment Organic waste from the food industry is collected and prepared for processing. Anaerobic digestion (AD) The material is processed in sealed digesters, where microorganisms break it […]

Producing high-quality compost from green waste – the process The process combines pre-treatment, aerated composting and refining in several steps: Feedstock reception and preparation Green waste (branches, leaves, grass, woody materials) and, when needed, digestate are collected and prepared for processing. Shredding and screening The material is reduced in size and cleaned to ensure a […]

Faster and controlled composting for organic waste – the process The process is based on aerated windrow composting under a membrane cover and includes the following steps: Feedstock reception and preparation Organic waste is collected, inspected and prepared for processing. Shredding and mixing The material is shredded and homogenised to ensure proper structure and airflow. […]

Turning green waste into compost – the process The process is based on aerobic composting in open air and includes the following steps: Feedstock reception and quality control Green waste is collected and inspected to ensure that only suitable materials enter the process. Shredding and homogenisation The material is shredded and mixed to achieve a […]

Turning biowaste into high-quality compost – the process The process integrates pre-treatment, composting and refining in several steps: Feedstock reception and sorting Biowaste is collected and inspected to ensure only suitable materials are accepted, avoiding contaminants such as plastics, metals or non-biodegradable waste. Mechanical pre-treatment The material undergoes screening, shredding and magnetic separation to remove […]

From clean biowaste to energy, CO₂ and soil nutrients – the process The process combines anaerobic digestion, gas upgrading and nutrient recovery in several integrated steps: Collection and pre-treatment Biowaste is collected, inspected and cleaned to remove impurities such as plastics, metals and inert materials. The material is then shredded and homogenised. Anaerobic digestion (AD) […]

Turning organic waste into renewable energy and fertilisers – the process The process is based on mesophilic wet anaerobic digestion using continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTR) and includes the following steps: Pre-treatment and feeding Organic materials are prepared before being fed into the digester to ensure a stable and efficient process. Wet anaerobic co-digestion Inside […]

Recovering energy and nutrients from livestock manure – the process The process integrates anaerobic digestion, separation and membrane filtration in several steps: Manure transport and storage Pig manure is delivered from farms and stored before treatment. Anaerobic digestion (AD) The manure is processed in a digester, where microorganisms break down organic matter and produce biogas, […]

Turning Organic Waste into Energy and Compost: the process The system integrates anaerobic digestion and tunnel composting in several steps: Collection and inspection of biowaste from municipal separate collection (household bio-bins), including food scraps, garden waste and other biodegradable materials, as well as organic biogenic waste from small businesses. Feedstock quality requirements are applied before […]

Turning organic waste into biogas and high-quality compost: the process The process integrates dry anaerobic digestion and composting in several steps: Pre-treatment of organic waste The organic fraction is reduced to particles smaller than 40 mm. Large materials such as plastics and textiles are removed or shredded. Metals can be recovered for recycling, while inserts […]

Transforming organic waste into energy and high-quality compost – the process The process integrates wet anaerobic digestion, separation and composting in several steps: Hydro-mechanical pre-treatment Organic waste is mixed with water in a pulper to create a homogeneous, pumpable suspension (around 90% water content). During this stage: Organic material is broken down into fine particles […]