The following article compares different ways of characterising sewage sludge. Against the background of sludge recycling in agriculture as well as treatment with subsequent phosphorus recovery in mind, the article starts by collating and evaluating the levels of phosphorus, heavy metals, chlorine and sulphur in sludge as reported in the literature. Sewage sludge from the sewage treatment plant at Kaditz in Dresden was analysed using standardised and adjusted methods, which produced different results. In the course of this analysis the results were produced by using elemental analysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (X-RFA) and ion chromatography (IC). The second part of the article therefore seeks reasons for the differences in the findings and tries to give solution statements. The article closes by calculating transfer coefficients for selected parameters during the incineration process and solid-liquid separation and weighing up the analysis techniques compared. Basically this article will show significant differences in sludge composition and the effects on the specific elements by ashing or mechanical dewatering of the different sludges. An essential attention obtains the analysis by using the X-RFA. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.