Preliminary analysis of elements in water supply sludge at Rönneholms Mosse fields, southern Sweden

Sydvatten AB operates the water plant Ringsjö Agency in Stehag, Southern Sweden, and the company has since the 1970s deposited waterworks sludge in the sludge landfill at Rönneholms Mosse (bog), Sjöholmen (WGS84 55°48'46.1"N 13°18'25.6"E). In order to handle the produced future waterworks sludge from Ringsjö there was carried out a trenching and stratigraphic study of Ringsjö Agency waterworks sludge. The aim of the project was to roughly determine the mass balance for Fe and Al for the basis of the results to determine potential extraction and recycling opportunities for the iron and/or aluminum hydroxides of water treatment sludge. In addition trace elements and rare earth elements (REE) were studied. Analysis of 10 cores were characterized by technogenic stratigraphy, texture and color, results of geochemical studies of processed sludge recovered possible recycling opportunities to implement circular economy principles in sludge management. The Interreg Baltic Sea Region within the scope of project “Interactive Water Management” (IWAMA) has supported this study.