At the moment, all sludge generated from Sacyr’s wastewater treatment plants in Chile is transported to a sanitary landfill.
“Sacyr Water in Chile has turned this challenge into a solution that aims to boost the value of this waste 100% by developing a nutritionally and biologically enriched product through the incorporation of phosphate-solubilising microorganisms, struvite, and other mineral sources that serve as fertiliser for agriculture”, explains Ricardo Herrera, Technical Manager of Sacyr Water in Chile and LodoVerde Project Head.
Laboratory trials are currently underway at the Curauma Biotech Core (Núcleo Biotecnología Curauma, “NBC”), a branch of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, wherein the sludge passes through a laboratory-scale anaerobic digester and a fluidised bed reactor for the production of struvite.
“The project will last roughly two years, beginning with an initial phase in the lab, where actual conditions are simulated, and concluding with the implementation of the results obtained. Partner entities will provide support throughout the process, allowing us to take all the sludge generated at our plants to market as agricultural fertiliser. To achieve this, we rely on collaboration from the supplier Abonos San Francisco”, says Etienne Valdés, R&D Analyst for Sacyr Chile’s Innovation Department.
The idea is to treat as much as 8,000 tonnes of enriched sludge annually and bring it to market by the end of December 2026, which will increase crop productivity by 20% and promote environmental sustainability through more sustainable waste management practices.
