Biomass ash as a new potential rеsource of phosphorous for industry

Abstract

The content and modes of occurrence of phosphorous (P) in eight biomass ashes (BAs) were studied. It was found that BAs are enriched in P as its concentration varies in the range 0.3–4.4% (mean 1.7%). The highest contents of P (>2 %) are characteristic of ashes produced from agricultural residues, namely plum pits, sunflower shells and corn cobs. It was identified that the modes of P occurrence in BAs are related mostly to apatite and whitlockite. Hence, BAs having renewable and C-neutral origin could be alternative and very perspective resource for the potential recovery of P and its utilization in industry in contrast to finite and non-renewable phosphate rocks.