Home Contact Us News Careers Site Map Meet NEFCO Understand Biosolids Learn Our Process View Our Projects Let's Get Started Overview Dryers Sustainable Technologies Heat Sources LEARN OUR PROCESS SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES Beneficial Use Manufactured biosolids product have long been used as fertilizer. Depending on the pre-processing steps, dry biosolids from municipal sludge typically contain about 4 to 7 percent nitrogen and 4 to 6 percent APA* (expressed as P2O5). These are valuable plant nutrients. Biosolids also contain important plant micronutrients, including iron, copper, and zinc. Beneficial use of biosolids as fertilizer conserves several natural resources, making it a highly sustainable process compared to manufacturing chemical fertilizers from irreplaceable resources. *Available Phosphoric Acid For example: Synthetic nitrogen fertilizers are manufactured in a three-step process: Synthetic ammonia made from fossil fuel is the primary building block for almost all nitrogen fertilizers. Synthetic phosphate fertilizers are made from phosphate rock. The phosphate rock is mined and treated with sulfuric acid to make the phosphate soluble and available to plants. In sum, beneficial use of dry biosolids conserves precious natural gas, coal, phosphate and sulfur resources for future generations. Beneficial Use as Renewable Fuel In more recent times, biosolids are increasingly being used as renewable fuel, notably in cement kilns. The fuel value of dry biosolids can be quite high, and is attracting attention as a carbon-neutral substitute for coal in these energy-conscious times. The net energy balance depends on the fuel value of dry sludge and feed dryness. The amount of fuel energy obtained from dried solids is greater than the amount of energy used to prepare it. Thus, using dry biosolids as fuel is “energy positive” and carbon neutral. Home Contact Us Careers Site Map © 2021 New England Fertilizer Co. (NEFCO)