Haskoning acquires patent for groundbreaking ViviMag water technology

Haskoning collaboration on technology to help water utilities create new opportunities for reuse of sewage sludge.

Haskoning has signed a patent transfer agreement with Kemira for ViviMag, a technology expected to set new standards for phosphorous recovery from sewage sludge.

ViviMag is a ‘plug and play’ solution for wastewater treatment systems that use iron as part of its existing phosphorous removal process. The technology recovers iron phosphate from sewage sludge, helping water utilities create new opportunities for reuse of this scarce resource.

Developed from research by Wetsus, the European centre of excellence for sustainable water technology and Delft University of Technology, ViviMag uses magnets to recover phosphate in the form of vivianite (iron phosphate).

ViviMag also offers the further opportunity to lower the level of iron and phosphorus in sludge, to ensure the continued use of sewage sludge as biosolids and to minimise costs for final sludge treatment. The recovery of the iron phosphate creates opportunities for water authorities to generate a potential income stream from both the iron and phosphorus, or to reuse the iron within their wastewater treatment plant.

Haskoning collaborated closely with former patent owner Kemira, a global leader in sustainable chemistry for water-intensive industries to further advance the technology, which has been piloted at several wastewater treatment sites in Europe. Haskoning now takes ownership of the patent as ViviMag moves into its next stage of roll out which will include a full-scale demonstration project. The first full-scale implementation is planned at the wastewater treatment plant in Breda, operated by the Brabantse Delta water authority.

Lucien Vogels, project manager at Brabantse Delta Water Authority, said: “Having been closely involved in ViviMag from the earliest test phases, we recognise the contribution it can make to circular phosphate recovery. Working with Haskoning, alongside our partners in the LIFE Phos4EU project and with support from the National Growth Fund’s Uppwater programme, the demonstration‑scale installation at our Nieuwveer wastewater treatment plant represents an important milestone for this technology.”

Recovering phosphorous from wastewater

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient, used in agricultural fertilisers and in the production of lithium-ion batteries. As a critical raw material, listed by the EU, its recovery and reuse is vital. Capturing phosphorus from wastewater also helps to reduce the contamination of lakes, canals and rivers caused by runoff from farmland.

Paul Roeleveld, leading professional in sludge treatment and phosphorus Recovery at Haskoning, said: “ViviMag is an incredibly exciting technology which offers a unique and highly effective approach to phosphorous recovery for wastewater treatment plants that rely on chemical phosphorus removal with iron. 80% of the Vivianite in sludge can be recovered using ViviMag and the technology makes it possible for operators to extract value from the phosphorus and iron in sewage sludge.”

With its ability to significantly increase phosphorous recovery beyond standard treatment methods, ViviMag has already attracted substantial interest from water authorities across Europe. This is mainly the case in countries where there is a driver to lower the phosphorus content in the sludge before it is used as biosolids on land.

“Our experience in bringing groundbreaking wastewater treatment products to market, positions us well to take ViviMag into this new chapter,” said Roeleveld. “Regulations such as the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive are placing greater pressure on water authorities to implement effective scalable solutions. ViviMag can be retrofitted into existing treatment plants to deliver rapid improvements in phosphorus recovery.”