Japanese Gov't Launches Study Group to Research Recovery of Phosphorus from Sewage

Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) announced on January 16, 2009, the launch of a research group to study the recovery and utilization of phosphorus from sewage water and sludge. The study group was organized by the MLIT's Sewerage and Wastewater Management Department, with the aim of understanding the current status and problems of phosphorus recovery in municipalities, as well as to explore future directions in recovery efforts through identifying the circumstances and needs of phosphorus users.

As it is, Japan is fully dependent on foreign imports for phosphorus, a major raw material for making fertilizer, and domestic prices of fertilizers have soared in recent years. Meanwhile, about 40 to 50 percent of phosphorus imported in the form of mineral phosphate ends up in wastewater, but only 10 percent of it is recoverable.

Among the research participants are representatives from five local municipalities, fertilizer users such as the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations, and research institutes including the Tokyo University of Agriculture, who attended the group's first meeting on January 20, 2009. Starting with inviting discussion topics from municipalities and users, the MLIT expects to collect information and hold fruitful discussions in the meetings ahead.

MLIT official website
http://www.mlit.go.jp/index_e.html

Posted: 2009/05/20 06:00:15 AM