doobloo AG – Phosphor
Food production without the addition of phosphorus in agriculture would not be sufficient. Phosphorus is on the list of critical raw materials and is one of the vital “strategic raw materials”.
Vanadium, titanium and the often overlooked mineral phosphorus are just a few examples of the “strategic raw materials” that are indispensable for numerous branches of industry. The increasing dependence on a few countries for the import of these raw materials poses a significant supply risk. Alternative sources and methods are needed to meet the demand for these commodities. In an interview with Heinz Muser, managing partner of doobloo AG, he explained that at the end of May 2014 the European Commission also included phosphorus as one of the 20 substances on the list of critical raw materials. “Phosphorus is considered a critical raw material with a future because phosphorus is essential for life. A hitherto almost unused raw material source for phosphorus is available: sewage sludge and sewage sludge ash,” adds Heinz Muser. The European Commission’s list is intended to help create incentives for the production of critical raw materials in Europe and to promote new recycling activities.
Phosphorus – importance in agriculture and food production
Phosphorus is an essential element in agriculture and food production. It is an important component of fertilizers and is also used in animal feed production. However, phosphorus is not an unlimited resource and is mainly imported from a few countries, such as Morocco. The EU Commission classifies the situation with phosphorus as particularly critical because it is considered indispensable as a fertilizer in agriculture and thus as the basis for food production. “Europe is dependent on imports,” explains Hein Muser. New deposits of phosphorus have been discovered in south-western Norway, at Storeknuten in the province of Rogaland near Stavanger. The mountain, with a round cap of anorthosite rock, consists of minerals such as magnetite, ilmenite and apatite in the substructure, in whose layers vanadium, titanium and phosphorus are stored. “These raw materials from the Storeknuten play an important role, not only economically for Norway, but strategically for the whole of Europe,” says Heinz Muser.
In addition, phosphorus in the form of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) is becoming more important as a component of batteries. Heinz Muser points out that there is therefore an increasing need for alternative sources and methods to meet the phosphorus requirement.
Recycling als Alternative
The extraction of such raw materials from nature can be very complex and expensive and requires significant investments. However, one way to meet the need for these raw materials is to rely on recycling and reuse. “Studies confirm that the recycling of sewage sludge and sewage sludge ash covers almost half of the demand for mineral phosphorus, so to speak as a ‘renewable’ source from sewage treatment plants,” adds Muser. A kilo of sewage sludge usually contains around 25 grams of phosphorus.
Many of the materials that make up the “Strategic Resources” should be recycled and reused. This is not only ecologically sensible, but also economically advantageous.
Vanadium and titanium, other strategic raw materials
The deposits of vanadium and titanium in Norway are of further importance for Europe as “strategic raw materials”. Vanadium is used in steelmaking, batteries, and the aerospace industry, and titanium is required in the aerospace, defense, and automotive industries. These commodities are often not readily available in nature and must be extracted from a stratified bedrock of minerals through mining and refining. “The extent to which such a mining project is successful and profitable must be specifically determined through planning processes and feasibility studies
alternative materials
Research is being carried out into ways of finding and using alternative materials that require fewer raw materials. In the construction industry, alternative materials such as wood, plastic or aluminum composites are used to reduce the use of steel. In battery production, alternatives such as lithium iron phosphate batteries are used instead of lithium ion batteries.
Sustainability, environmental impact and responsible use of raw materials
With the list of critical raw materials, the European Commission is also pursuing concerns about sustainability and environmental impacts when extracting and processing these raw materials. Mining and refining of critical raw materials must be done in an environmentally responsible manner, without significant impact on the environment. “The goal must be a responsible raw materials policy that ensures that raw materials are mined and used in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner,” says Heinz Muser.
To achieve this, measures such as promoting recycling and reuse, switching to alternative materials and carefully monitoring mining and refining practices are being implemented. Heinz Muser endorses the goals of the European Union, which, with the list of critical raw materials, relies on a responsible raw material security policy to ensure that raw materials are not only mined and used at a good level, but also to ensure future availability.
V.i.S.d.P.:
Maximilian Bausch
Management consultant & blogger
Maximilian loves automation as a tool to simplify work. Further development is his passion. Nothing works without automation, neither industry, trade nor services. Generations X, Y and Z are completely digitized and the future is being redesigned – borders are disappearing. Maximilian counts himself among the young Native Digitals with the idea of using automation across the board. In his blog bausch-enterprise.de he deals with artificial intelligence and digitization, builds on the future workshop to reduce prejudices and fears of automation. To positively accompany the way for profitability and efficiency of companies by taking up communication and discussion. You can reach us at abowi.com.
FAQs:
Question 1: Why are phosphorus, vanadium and titanium important strategic raw materials?
Phosphorus is an important component of fertilizers, which is used extensively in agriculture and food production. Vandium is used in steelmaking, batteries, and the aerospace industry. Titanium, in turn, is used in the automotive and aerospace industries. All three raw materials are essential for these industries and their limited availability poses a high supply risk.
Question 2: Why is it necessary to find alternative sources and methods to meet the demand for these raw materials?
The dependency on a few countries for the import of these raw materials entails a considerable supply risk. In addition, the extraction of these raw materials from nature can be very complex and expensive and often requires significant investments. Therefore, alternative sources and methods must be found to meet the demand for these raw materials and to ensure that these raw materials are mined and used in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.
Question 3: How to find alternative sources and methods to meet the demand for these raw materials?
One way is to embrace recycling and reuse, where many of the materials that contain these raw materials can be recycled and reused. Another option is to find and use alternative materials that require fewer raw materials. However, it is important to ensure that raw materials are mined and used in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner by adopting a responsible raw materials policy.
doobloo AG, based in the Principality of Liechtenstein, has specialized in the purchase of strategic metals. She is convinced that every investment portfolio should be expanded to include a tangible asset as a crisis and inflation-proof component. Technology metals and rare earths are urgently needed for almost all high-tech developments in recent years.
Contact
doobloo AG
dr. Peter Riedi
Meierhofstasse 2
FL-9490 Liechtenstein
+423 23 90 117
https://doobloo.com/