KTH Develops Innovative Method to Recover Phosphorus from Baltic Sea Sediments

Swedish researchers at KTH have devised a groundbreaking technology aimed at recovering phosphorus from sediments in the Baltic Sea, tackling the pressing environmental issue of overfertilization while promoting sustainable nutrient reuse in agriculture.

Phosphorus is a vital nutrient for crop production but Europe heavily relies on imported sources, which raises environmental and supply concerns. The new method addresses this by extracting phosphorus already present in the Baltic Sea sediments, transforming a pollution problem into a valuable resource.

The technology uses a two-step biochemical approach: first, microorganisms dissolve phosphorus from the sediments; second, a metal-binding agent is added to enhance phosphorus recovery. Laboratory tests demonstrated an 80% dissolution rate of phosphorus, with 99% of that phosphorus successfully recoverable. This high efficiency offers promising potential for reducing Europe's dependency on imported phosphorus fertilizers.

Zeynep Cetecioglu, KTH lecturer specializing in microbiology and wastewater technology, emphasized the significance of this innovation in promoting circular nutrient flows and mitigating environmental risks linked to excessive phosphorus runoff in the Baltic Sea.

Currently, the method is still under development and has not yet been tested in marine environments. Researchers stress the importance of conducting further trials in closed, land-based facilities to avoid any unintended release of microorganisms or chemicals into the sea. Additionally, the team is investigating sustainable alternatives to the current metal-binding agent, exploring biologically produced organic acids to improve environmental sustainability.

If successfully scaled and implemented, this phosphorus recovery technology could play a critical role in protecting the Baltic Sea ecosystem, reducing eutrophication, and enhancing agricultural resilience across Europe.