Innovative Green Solutions: Sludge-Derived Fertilizers Free from PFAS and Antibiotics

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and antibiotics contaminate the excess sludge from wastewater treatment plants, potentially preventing its sustainable use for circular economy purposes. Sludge Treatment Reed Bed (STRB) is a nature-based technology for sludge dewatering and stabilization, converting it into high-value agricultural fertilizer, provided it is not compromised by hazardous chemicals. Two biotechnological innovations are postulated to result in a higher control of PFAS and antibiotics in sludge, earthworms and bioelectrochemical systems. FERTIPAS will i) measure PFAS and antibiotics in full-scale STRB in Denmark, ii) study the transformation processes, iii) explore a novel configuration of a hybrid microbial-fuel cell with earthworms and iv) implement machine learning to identify patterns and forecast reactor performance. Ultimately,
FERTIPAS will provide an assessment of both the problem and potential solution for hazardous chemicals in sludge.