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Phosphorus is an essential element for plant growth that cannot be replaced. As phosphate rock becomes scarcer, ICL is looking at various alternatives, including the possibility of reusing phosphate. Secondary phosphate is currently available, and is found in sewage sludge ashes, as well as in meat and bone meal ash, used for landfill. There is significant potential in using this resource.
ICL is advancing a process to develop suitable technologies and in parallel, is working with governments on relevant regulatory requirements.
In 2019, ICL The Netherlands Amfert initiated its first innovative phosphate recycling project unit aimed at using recycled phosphates from waste streams as a resource instead of raw material. This project was encouraged by a subsidy of €500,000 from the Dutch Province of Noord-Holland (Regional Government in the Netherlands). This collaboration demonstrates the growing need for circular economy innovation and investment.
To successfully use recycled phosphates in the plant, appropriate storage silos and other equipment were acquired to enable ashes from sewage sludge and bone meal to be fed into the plant’s acidulation unit. ICL Amfert’s goal is to substitute up to 100% of phosphate rock with recycled sources, depending on market demand and the availability of raw materials.
Currently, ICL Amfert replaces about 10% of the phosphate rock it uses with fertilizer products that use secondary phosphates from the pilot recycling unit. ICL Amfert is working on REACH registration of the new product in order to increase the recycled percentage.
In addition to the financial benefits to be gained from substituting phosphate rock with secondary phosphates, there are also substantial environmental benefits. Combining recycled phosphate with other ICL products, such as Polysulphate, will enable the production of fertilizers that have a very low carbon footprint.
The Dutch government’s investment in this project allows a circular phosphate economy, i.e. using a valuable ingredient more than once and increasing recycling rates for food production. This innovative effort is unprecedented in the global Phosphate industry. In 2021, ICL Amfert conducted its first trials for producing fertilizers from secondary phosphate, thus fully replacing its use of phosphate rock content.
Using secondary sources means less transport of raw materials for ICL Amfert’s production, and therefore a significant reduction in the site’s carbon footprint.
The project demonstrates ICL’s innovative culture, as well as its commitment to sustainability. This further strengthens its cooperation with local authorities in the environmental area.
Advancing a circular economy is a high priority in the Netherlands. As such, the government is supporting initiatives that incorporate a circular economy into the business sector. ICL Phosphate’s recycling unit was included on the short list for the Circular Award - for the Business sector.
Life on earth is dependent on nutrients. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N, P and K) constitute the three major nutrients required for plant growth and are crucial for the world’s food supply chain. Currently no artificial substitutes for phosphorus and potassium exist. On the other hand, excess phosphorus can cause environmental issues.
ICL is taking part in several initiatives that are focused on creating a circular economy and sustainably using phosphorus. ICL The Netherlands Amfert is a member of the European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform (ESPP), which brings together companies and stakeholders to address the global phosphorus challenge and its opportunities.
Sustainable management of phosphorus and other nutrients is crucial for agriculture, food, industry, water and the environment.” ESPP
ICL The Netherlands Amfert is also a member of the Nutrient Platform, a cross-sector network of Dutch organizations that believe in a pragmatic approach towards nutrient scarcity. The Nutrient Platform unites water, agriculture, waste and chemistry with the government, knowledge institutes and NGOs to achieve the goal of recovering phosphorus from waste streams, recycling it and using phosphorus more sustainably.
ICL is one of the leading companies in the Netherlands in recycling phosphates.
ICL The Netherlands Amfert site is one of the Nutrient Platform’s success stories. The site is one of the Netherlands leaders in recycling phosphates. A good example is co-operation between ICL’s phosphate plant in Amsterdam and the water company, Waternet, which is also a member of the platform. Waternet collects several residuals from the Amsterdam sewage system, among which is struvite, a phosphate mineral. ICL uses struvite as a raw material in its production process as a source for phosphorus, nitrogen and magnesium.
In October 2016, ICL, additional members of the Nutrient Platform, and the Dutch government signed an agreement called Ambition Nutrients 2018, to further increase nutrient recycling.
...an inspiring example of closing the phosphate loop''
Mrs. Sharon Dijksma, Dutch State Secretary for the Environment
In Germany, ICL Amfert Ludwigshafen is also a member of the DPP, the German Phosphate Platform. The DPP is a network that works toward the recovery of phosphorus and the sustainable use of recovered products. The DPP brings together knowledge and the experience of players from relevant industries, as well as public and private organizations and research and development institutions.
