From Farm to Table and Back Again: Circular Valorization of Biomass Ash and Sewage Sludge into Sustainable Material Blends

In the era of increasing generation of various waste streams, the possibility of utilizing them as secondary resources is of utmost importance and fully corresponds to the goals of the circular economy. Industrial residues from the pulp and paper industry, such as biomass combustion ash (FARP) and sludge from industrial wastewater treatment (PPWS), together with natural zeolite as a modifying additive, represent valuable sources enabling their integrated valorization. The present study aims to investigate the potential for their reuse through the development of sustainable material blends. A comprehensive analysis of the chemical composition and morphology of the obtained mixtures was carried out using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate a tendency for the formation of mineral matrices dominated by calcium-sulfur-oxygen (Ca-S-O) phases, with the presence of calcium sulfate and aluminosilicate structures. The blends are associated with the formation of stable crystalline structures exhibiting potential pozzolanic activity. In this way, carbon is captured and fixed in a stable mineral form. The obtained results suggest the potential of these blends for use in low-carbon systems focused on waste valorization and carbon retention. The materials may be suitable for applications in construction, soil remediation, and environmental technologies, contributing to closing the resource loop "from farm to table and back again".