PROSUMER – Techno-economic and environmental feasibility study of Phosphorus recovery and reuse in fertilizers (EIT CLIMATE-KIC)  

General concept

Prosumer aims to explore the potential of P loop closing in Italian food industry. A techno-economic feasibility study will be conducted to: (i) identify the main barriers and the necessary concrete interventions to implement drivers of change in this field; (ii) estimate the economic impact for a single Company and for EU economy reducing P imports; (iii) the environmental impact in terms of CO₂ emissions comparing the actual and the potential scenarios; (iv) identify requirements for successful activities, tested during following practical applications. Italian food industries and fertilizer producers, which own and use P, will be engaged to provide data for the feasibility study. 

The role of UNIVPM in PROSUMER

UNIVPM is responsible for the analysis of the regulatory framework and of the available technological solutions for P recovery as struvite (and other forms of P). The regulatory framework at several levels (Regional, National and European) will be deeply analyzed to identify the boundaries in which the technological solutions should be implemented. UNIVPM will also conduct techno-economic and environmental feasibility study of P recovery in Italian agro-food industry ‘waste’ streams and reuse of struvite (and other forms of P) for P fertilizer production.  

Expected impacts

The main expected impact is the awareness that new valuable opportunities exist rethinking what now is considered waste, generalizing an effective circular economy. In addition, other expected impacts and/or results include (i) increase awareness about phosphorus and disseminate information; (ii) evaluate business risks and opportunities (iii) deliver decision support tools for financial instruments and regulatory framework.