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Chen R, Dai X, Dong B. Two birds with one stone: The multiple roles of hydrothermal treatment in dewatering municipal sludge and producing value-added products. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 896:165072. [PMID: 37364842 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Sludge dewatering and resource recovery are key steps in the sustainable treatment of municipal sludge (MS) owing to the high levels of moisture and nutrients. Among the treatment options available, hydrothermal treatment (HT) is promising to efficiently improve dewaterability and recover biofuels, nutrients, and materials from MS. However, hydrothermal conversion at different HT conditions generates multiple products. Integrating the characteristics of dewaterability and value-added products under different HT conditions facilitates the application of HT for the sustainable management of MS. Therefore, a comprehensive review of HT for its multiple roles in MS dewatering and value-added resource recovery is conducted. First, the impact of HT temperature on sludge dewaterability and key mechanisms are summarized. Then, this study elucidates the characteristics of biofuels produced (combustible gases, hydrochars, biocrudes, and H2-rich gases), nutrient recovery (proteins and phosphorus), and value-added materials under a wide range of HT conditions. Importantly, along with the integration and evaluation of HT product characteristics under different HT temperatures, this work proposes a conceptual sludge treatment system that integrates the different value-added products in different HT stages. Furthermore, a critical evaluation of the knowledge gaps in the HT for sludge deep dewatering, biofuels, nutrients, and materials recovery is provided along with recommendations for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renjie Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Xiaohu Dai
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Bin Dong
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, PR China; YANGTZE Eco-Environment Engineering Research Center, China Three Gorges Corporation, Beijing 100038, PR China.
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2
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Ćwiertniewicz-Wojciechowska M, Cema G, Ziembińska-Buczyńska A. Sewage sludge pretreatment: current status and future prospects. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:88313-88330. [PMID: 37453013 PMCID: PMC10412499 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28613-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Sewage sludge is regarded by wastewater treatment plants as problematic, from a financial and managerial point of view. Thus, a variety of disposal routes are used, but the most popular is methane fermentation. The proportion of macromolecular compounds in sewage sludges varies, and substrates treated in methane fermentation provide different amounts of biogas with various quality and quantity. Depending on the equipment and financial capabilities for methane fermentation, different methods of sewage sludge pretreatment are available. This review presents the challenges associated with the recalcitrant structure of sewage sludge and the presence of process inhibitors. We also examined the diverse methods of sewage sludge pretreatment that increase methane yield. Moreover, in the field of biological sewage sludge treatment, three future study propositions are proposed: improved pretreatment of sewage sludge using biological methods, assess the changes in microbial consortia caused with pretreatment methods, and verification of microbial impact on biomass degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Grzegorz Cema
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2A, 44-100, Gliwice, Poland
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3
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Zhang C, Lu Q, Li Y. A review on sulfur transformation during anaerobic digestion of organic solid waste: Mechanisms, influencing factors and resource recovery. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 865:161193. [PMID: 36581268 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion (AD) is an economical and environment-friendly technology for treating organic solid wastes (OSWs). OSWs with high sulfur can lead to the accumulation of toxic and harmful hydrogen sulfide (H2S) during AD, so a considerable amount of studies have focused on removing H2S emissions. However, current studies have found that sulfide induces phosphate release from the sludge containing iron‑phosphorus compounds (FePs) and the feasibility of recovering elemental sulfur (S0) during AD. To tap the full potential of sulfur in OSWs resource recovery, deciphering the sulfur transformation pathway and its influencing factors is required. Therefore, in this review, the sulfur species and distributions in OSWs and the pathway of sulfur transformation during AD were systematically summarized. Then, the relationship between iron (ferric compounds and zero-valent iron), phosphorus (FePs) and sulfur were analyzed. It was found that the reaction of iron with sulfide during AD drove the conversion of sulfide to S0 and iron sulfide compounds (FeSx), and consequently iron was applied in sulfide abatement. In particular, ferric (hydr)oxide granules offer possibilities to improve the economic viability of hydrogen sulfide control by recovering S0. Sulfide is an interesting strategy to release phosphate from the sludge containing FePs for phosphorus recovery. Critical factors affecting sulfur transformation, including the carbon source, free ammonia and pretreatment methods, were summarized and discussed. Carbon source and free ammonia affected sulfur-related microbial diversity and enzyme activity and different sulfur transformation pathways in response to varying pretreatment methods. The study on S0 recovery, organic sulfur conversion, and phosphate release mechanism triggered by sulfur deserves further investigation. This review is expected to enrich our knowledge of the role of sulfur during AD and inspire new ideas for recovering phosphorus and sulfur resources from OSWs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Qinyuan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Yongmei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
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4
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Wurzer C, Oesterle P, Jansson S, Mašek O. Hydrothermal recycling of carbon absorbents loaded with emerging wastewater contaminants. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 316:120532. [PMID: 36323358 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Adsorption using carbon materials is one of the most efficient techniques for removal of emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals from wastewater. However, high costs are a major hurdle for their large-scale application in areas currently under economic constraints. While most research focuses on decreasing the adsorbent price by increasing its capacity, treatment costs for exhausted adsorbents and their respective end-of-life scenarios are often neglected. Here, we assessed a novel technique for recycling of exhausted activated biochars based on hydrothermal treatment at temperatures of 160-320 °C. While a treatment temperature of 280 °C was sufficient to fully degrade all 10 evaluated pharmaceuticals in solution, when adsorbed on activated biochars certain compounds were shielded and could not be fully decomposed even at the highest treatment temperature tested. However, the use of engineered biochar doped with Fe-species successfully increased the treatment efficiency, resulting in full degradation of all 10 parent compounds at 320 °C. The proposed recycling technique showed a high carbon retention in biochar with only minor losses, making the treatment a viable candidate for environmentally sound recycling of biochars. Recycled biochars displayed potentially beneficial structural changes ranging from an increased mesoporosity to additional oxygen bearing functional groups, providing synergies for subsequent applications as part of a sequential biochar system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Wurzer
- UK Biochar Research Centre, School of GeoSciences, Crew Building, The King's Buildings, University of Edinburgh, EH9 3FF Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Pierre Oesterle
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Stina Jansson
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ondřej Mašek
- UK Biochar Research Centre, School of GeoSciences, Crew Building, The King's Buildings, University of Edinburgh, EH9 3FF Edinburgh, UK
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5
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Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Sugarcane Leaves, Cow Dung and Food Waste: Focus on Methane Yield and Synergistic Effects. FERMENTATION 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/fermentation8080399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) of food waste (FW) and lignocellulose waste is a promising technology for methane production. This work investigated the methane generation from AcoD of FW, sugarcane leaves (SLs), and cow dung (CD) under mesophilic conditions in a batch test. As for AcoD of two feedstocks (SL and FW or CD and FW), introduction of SL and CD (25%, volatile solid (VS) basis) showed slight improvement in methane production from FW. In contrast, positive synergistic effect (synergy index = 1.03–1.14 > 1) was observed in all the AcoD reactors of the three feedstocks (SL, CD, and FW). The optimum mixing ratio of FW:SL:CD (VS basis) was 85:11.25:3.75 with a synergy index of 1.07, achieving a methane yield rate and methane content of 297.16 mL/g VS and 73.26%, respectively. This group cumulative methane production was an improvement of 110.45 and 444.72% higher than mono-digestion of SL and CD. The biodegradability, soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD), and VS removal rate were 56.44, 44.55 and 55.38%, respectively. The optimum results indicated that AcoD of FW, SL, and CD have higher potentials for energy recovery and provided forceful scientific evidence for their energy utilization.
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6
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Li J, Li L, Suvarna M, Pan L, Tabatabaei M, Ok YS, Wang X. Wet wastes to bioenergy and biochar: A critical review with future perspectives. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 817:152921. [PMID: 35007594 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.152921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The ever-increasing rise in the global population coupled with rapid urbanization demands considerable consumption of fossil fuel, food, and water. This in turn leads to energy depletion, greenhouse gas emissions and wet wastes generation (including food waste, animal manure, and sewage sludge). Conversion of the wet wastes to bioenergy and biochar is a promising approach to mitigate wastes, emissions and energy depletion, and simultaneously promotes sustainability and circular economy. In this study, various conversion technologies for transformation of wet wastes to bioenergy and biochar, including anaerobic digestion, gasification, incineration, hydrothermal carbonization, hydrothermal liquefaction, slow and fast pyrolysis, are comprehensively reviewed. The technological challenges impeding the widespread adoption of these wet waste conversion technologies are critically examined. Eventually, the study presents insightful recommendations for the technological advancements and wider acceptance of these processes by establishing a hierarchy of factors dictating their performance. These include: i) life-cycle assessment of these conversion technologies with the consideration of reactor design and catalyst utilization from lab to plant level; ii) process intensification by integrating one or more of the wet waste conversion technologies for improved performance and sustainability; and iii) emerging machine learning modeling is a promising strategy to aid the product characterization and optimization of system design for the specific to the bioenergy or biochar application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117585, Singapore
| | - Lanyu Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117585, Singapore
| | - Manu Suvarna
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117585, Singapore
| | - Lanjia Pan
- Xiamen Municipal Environment Technology Co.,Ltd, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Meisam Tabatabaei
- Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; Microbial Biotechnology Department, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), Agricultural Research, Extension, And Education Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Yong Sik Ok
- Korea Biochar Research Center, APRU Sustainable Waste Management Program, Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Xiaonan Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117585, Singapore; Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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Hammer L, Palmowski L. Fate of selected organic micropollutants during anaerobic sludge digestion. WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH : A RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION 2021; 93:1910-1924. [PMID: 34196072 DOI: 10.1002/wer.1603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Organic micropollutants are incompletely removed from wastewater in Water Resource Recovery Facilities using conventional methods and can therefore enter the anaerobic sludge treatment together with primary and secondary sludge. This review compiles literature data on the fate of selected micropollutants (Carbamazepine [CBZ], Diclofenac [DCF], Ibuprofen [IBP], Sulfamethoxazole [SMX], and Triclosan [TCS]) during anaerobic sludge treatment and how the fate is affected by chemical properties, phase distribution and operating conditions. CBZ was found to be persistent to anaerobic degradation in most studies, with some exceptions reporting a degradation efficiency of 60%. Removal efficiencies for DCF, IBP, and TCS varied widely (from no to [very] high removal). For SMX, most studies reported a removal above 80%. A correlation was found between the fate during anaerobic digestion and physicochemical properties (hydrophobicity and molecular structure). Sorption to sludge, affected in some cases by pH changes during digestion, is suggested to reduce bioavailability. IBP and TCS were mainly present in the liquid phase or solid phase, respectively, CBZ and DCF were present in similar proportions in both phases, while statements were contradictory for SMX. Parameters such as temperature and sludge age did not significantly influence the fate of investigated micropollutants during anaerobic digestion. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Most studies report no significant removal of CBZ during anaerobic sludge digestion. Removal efficiencies of DCF, IBP, and TCS vary from study to study between no removal and high or very high removal. Considering such heterogeneous removal efficiencies, it is recommended to conduct digestion trials to find out in which range the values will be for a specific sludge. SMX is very highly removed during anaerobic digestion in most studies. Parameters such as temperature and SRT do not significantly influence the fate of the five investigated micropollutants. Hydrophobicity, which has some effect on the liquid/solid phase distribution of micropollutants, and molecular structure influence the removal efficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisann Hammer
- Institute of Environmental Engineering (ISA), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Laurence Palmowski
- Institute of Environmental Engineering (ISA), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Izydorczyk G, Mikula K, Skrzypczak D, Trzaska K, Moustakas K, Witek-Krowiak A, Chojnacka K. Agricultural and non-agricultural directions of bio-based sewage sludge valorization by chemical conditioning. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:47725-47740. [PMID: 34278553 PMCID: PMC8410704 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15293-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This literature review outlines the most important-agricultural and non-agricultural-types of sewage sludge management. The potential of waste sludge protein hydrolysates obtained by chemical sludge conditioning was reported. The discussed areas include acidic and alkaline hydrolysis, lime conditioning, polyelectrolyte dewatering and other supporting techniques such as ultrasounds, microwave or thermal methods. The legislative aspects related to the indication of the development method and admission to various applications based on specified criteria were discussed. Particular attention was devoted to the legally regulated content of toxic elements: cadmium, lead, nickel, mercury, chromium and microelements that may be toxic: copper and zinc. Various methods of extracting valuable proteins from sewage sludge have been proposed: chemical, physical and enzymatic. While developing the process concept, you need to consider extraction efficiency (time, temperature, humidity, pH), drainage efficiency of post-extraction residues and directions of their management. The final process optimization is crucial. Despite the development of assumptions for various technologies, excess sewage sludge remains a big problem for sewage treatment plants. The high costs of enzymatic hydrolysis, thermal hydrolysis and ultrasonic methods and the need for a neutralizing agent in acid solubilization limit the rapid implementation of these processes in industrial practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grzegorz Izydorczyk
- Department of Advanced Material Technologies, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Smoluchowskiego 25, 50-372, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Mikula
- Department of Advanced Material Technologies, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Smoluchowskiego 25, 50-372, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Dawid Skrzypczak
- Department of Advanced Material Technologies, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Smoluchowskiego 25, 50-372, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Krzystof Trzaska
- Department of Advanced Material Technologies, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Smoluchowskiego 25, 50-372, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Konstantinos Moustakas
- School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechniou Str., Zographou Campus, GR-15780, Athens, Greece
| | - Anna Witek-Krowiak
- Department of Advanced Material Technologies, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Smoluchowskiego 25, 50-372, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Chojnacka
- Department of Advanced Material Technologies, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Smoluchowskiego 25, 50-372, Wrocław, Poland
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9
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Liu H, Basar IA, Nzihou A, Eskicioglu C. Hydrochar derived from municipal sludge through hydrothermal processing: A critical review on its formation, characterization, and valorization. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 199:117186. [PMID: 34010736 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Additional options for the sustainable treatment of municipal sludge are required due to the significant amounts of sludge, high levels of nutrients (e.g., C, N, and P), and trace constituents it contains. Hydrothermal processing of municipal sludge has recently been recognized as a promising technology to efficiently reduce waste volume, recover bioenergy, destroy organic contaminants, and eliminate pathogens. However, a considerable amount of solid residue, called hydrochar, could remain after hydrothermal treatment. This hydrochar can contain abundant amounts of energy (with a higher heating value up to 24 MJ/kg, dry basis), nutrients, and trace elements, as well as surface functional groups. The valorization of sludge-derived hydrochar can facilitate the development and application of hydrothermal technologies. This review summarizes the formation pathways from municipal sludge to hydrochar, specifically, the impact of hydrothermal conditions on reaction mechanisms and product distribution. Moreover, this study comprehensively encapsulates the described characteristics of hydrochar produced under a wide range of conditions: Yield, energy density, physicochemical properties, elemental distribution, contaminants of concern, surface functionality, and morphology. More importantly, this review compares and evaluates the current state of applications of hydrochar: Energy production, agricultural application, adsorption, heterogeneous catalysis, and nutrient recovery. Ultimately, along with the identified challenges and prospects of valorization approaches for sludge-derived hydrochar, conceptual designs of sustainable municipal sludge management are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Liu
- UBC Bioreactor Technology Group, School of Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, 1137 Alumni Avenue, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 1V7, Canada.
| | - Ibrahim Alper Basar
- UBC Bioreactor Technology Group, School of Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, 1137 Alumni Avenue, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 1V7, Canada.
| | - Ange Nzihou
- Université de Toulouse, IMT Mines Albi, RAPSODEE CNRS UMR-5302, Campus Jarlard, Albi, 81013 Cedex 09, France.
| | - Cigdem Eskicioglu
- UBC Bioreactor Technology Group, School of Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, 1137 Alumni Avenue, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 1V7, Canada.
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Moško J, Pohořelý M, Cajthaml T, Jeremiáš M, Robles-Aguilar AA, Skoblia S, Beňo Z, Innemanová P, Linhartová L, Michalíková K, Meers E. Effect of pyrolysis temperature on removal of organic pollutants present in anaerobically stabilized sewage sludge. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 265:129082. [PMID: 33309446 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Sewage sludge was excluded from the list of component materials for the production of EU fertilizing products and it was banned as feedstock to produce pyrolysis & gasification materials in European Commission's technical proposals for selected new fertilizing materials under the Regulation 2019/1009 (STRUBIAS report). This exclusion of pyrolysis as a viable way to treat sewage sludge was mainly due to the lack of data on the fate of organic pollutants at pyrolysis conditions. In this work, we are addressing this knowledge gap. We studied slow pyrolysis as a potential process to efficiently treat organic pollutants present in stabilized sewage sludge. Sewage sludge was pyrolyzed in a quartz fixed bed reactor at temperatures of 400-800 °C for 2 h and the sludge and resulting sludge-chars were analyzed for the presence of four groups of organic pollutants, namely (i) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), (ii) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), (iii) pharmaceuticals, and (iv) endocrine-disrupting and hormonal compounds. Pyrolysis at ≥ 400 °C effectively removed pharmaceuticals (group iii) to below detection limits, whereas pyrolysis at temperatures higher than 600 °C was required to remove more than 99.8% of the compounds from groups i, ii and iv. Based on these findings, we propose, that high temperature (>600 °C) slow pyrolysis can satisfactory remove organic pollutants from the resulting sludge-char, which could be safely applied as soil improver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaroslav Moško
- Department of Power Engineering & Department of Gaseous and Solid Fuels and Air Protection, Faculty of Environmental Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28, Prague 6, Czech Republic; Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium; The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals, Rozvojová 135, 165 02, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Pohořelý
- Department of Power Engineering & Department of Gaseous and Solid Fuels and Air Protection, Faculty of Environmental Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28, Prague 6, Czech Republic; The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals, Rozvojová 135, 165 02, Prague 6, Czech Republic.
| | - Tomáš Cajthaml
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20, Prague 4, Czech Republic; Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, 128 01, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Jeremiáš
- Department of Power Engineering & Department of Gaseous and Solid Fuels and Air Protection, Faculty of Environmental Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28, Prague 6, Czech Republic; The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Plasma Physics, Za Slovankou 1782/3, 182 00, Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Ana A Robles-Aguilar
- Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - Siarhei Skoblia
- Department of Power Engineering & Department of Gaseous and Solid Fuels and Air Protection, Faculty of Environmental Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Zdeněk Beňo
- Department of Power Engineering & Department of Gaseous and Solid Fuels and Air Protection, Faculty of Environmental Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Innemanová
- Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, 128 01, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Linhartová
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20, Prague 4, Czech Republic; Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, 128 01, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Klára Michalíková
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20, Prague 4, Czech Republic; Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, 128 01, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Erik Meers
- Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium
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Dubey M, Mohapatra S, Tyagi VK, Suthar S, Kazmi AA. Occurrence, fate, and persistence of emerging micropollutants in sewage sludge treatment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 273:116515. [PMID: 33493756 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sludge generated at sewage treatment plants is of environmental concern due to the voluminous production and the presence of a high concentration of emerging contaminants (ECs). This review discusses the fate of ECs in sewage sludge treatment with an emphasis on fundamental mechanisms driving the degradation of compounds based on chemical properties of the contaminant and process operating conditions. The removal of ECs in sewage sludge through various treatment processes of sludge stabilization, such as anaerobic digestion (AD), composting, and pre-treatment methods (thermal, sonication, and oxidation) followed by AD, are discussed. Several transformation mechanisms and remediation strategies for the removal of ECs in sludge are summarized. The study concludes that pH, sludge type, and the types of functional groups are the key factors affecting the sorption of ECs to sludge. During conventional waste stabilization processes such as composting, the degradation of ECs depends on the type of feedstock (TOC, N, P, C/N, C/P) and the initial concentration of the contaminant. In AD, the degree of degradation depends on the hydrophilicity of the compound. The estrogenicity of the sludge may sometimes increase due to the conversion to estrogenic compounds. The pre-treatment techniques can increase the partitioning of ECs in the soluble fraction resulting in enhanced biodegradation up to 10-60%. However, the formation of by-products and loss of OH· to scavenging under high organic content during advanced oxidation processes can make the process uneconomical and require further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Dubey
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Sanjeeb Mohapatra
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 1-Create Way, #15-02 Create Tower, 138602, Singapore
| | - Vinay Kumar Tyagi
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India.
| | - Surindra Suthar
- School of Environment & Natural Resources, Doon University, Dehradun, 248001, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Absar Ahmad Kazmi
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India
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Siwek M, Edgecock T. Application of electron beam water radiolysis for sewage sludge treatment-a review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:42424-42448. [PMID: 32892286 PMCID: PMC7603450 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10643-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A review of the applicability of electron beam water radiolysis for sewage sludge treatment is presented. Electron beam treatment has been proven to be a successful approach to the disinfection of both wastewater and sewage sludge. Nevertheless, before 2000, there were concerns about the perceived high capital costs of the accelerator and with public acceptance of the usage of radiation for water treatment purposes. Nowadays, with increased knowledge and technological development, it may be not only possible but also desirable to use electron beam technology for risk-free sewage sludge treatment, disposal and bio-friendly fertiliser production. Despite the developing interest in this method, there has been no attempt to perform a review of the pertinent literature relating to this technology. It appears that understanding of the mechanism and primary parameters of disinfection is key to optimising the process. This paper aims to reliably characterise the sewage sludge electron beam treatment process to elucidate its major issues and make recommendations for further development and research. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata Siwek
- University of Huddersfield, HD13DH, Queensgate, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire UK
| | - Thomas Edgecock
- University of Huddersfield, HD13DH, Queensgate, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire UK
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13
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Brisolara KB, Gentile B, Puszykowski K, Bourgeois J. Residuals, sludge, and biosolids: Advancements in the field. WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH : A RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION 2020; 92:1541-1551. [PMID: 32668078 DOI: 10.1002/wer.1402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Advancements in the field of residuals, sludge, and biosolids have been made in 2019. This review outlines the major contributions of researchers that have been published in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings throughout 2019 and includes brief summaries from over 125 articles. The review is organized in sections including life cycle and risk assessments; characteristics, quality, and measurement including micropollutants, nanoparticles, pathogens, and metals; sludge treatment technologies including dewatering, digestion, composting, and wetlands; disposal and reuse including adsorbents, land application and agricultural uses, nutrient recovery, and innovative uses; odor and air emissions; and energy issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari B Brisolara
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Bailey Gentile
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Kate Puszykowski
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - John Bourgeois
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
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14
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Liu J, Zhao M, Lv C, Yue P. The effect of microwave pretreatment on anaerobic co-digestion of sludge and food waste: Performance, kinetics and energy recovery. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 189:109856. [PMID: 32979990 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This paper studied the effect of microwave (MW) pretreatment on anaerobic co-digestion of sludge (SS) and food waste (FW). Using SS and FW as digestive substrates, the MW pretreatment method was used to determine the changes in the substrate matrix by means of batch anaerobic digestion at 37 °C. The kinetics of methane production were calculated, and the changes in organic matter during anaerobic co-digestion, the properties of the anaerobic-digested effluent, and the net energy output of the co-digestion system were determinated. The results showed that MW pretreatment was beneficial to the dissolution of organic matter, conversion of protein to NH4+-N, cumulative methane production, unit biomethane yield, and reaction rate of methane production in the SS and FW anaerobic co-digestion system. The highest cumulative methane production in the co-digestion system reached 3446.3 ± 172.3 mL (35 days), which was 19.93% higher than that of the control. Furthermore, MW pretreatment significantly increased the accumulation of VFAs and the content of butyric acid in the anaerobic-digested effluent, which was beneficial to the methanogenesis process. The MW pretreatment of all co-digested substrates produced a greater net energy output than the control, and the MW-SS + MW-FW group yielded the highest net energy output, which was 76.25 kJ/g Fed VS. The results indicated that MW pretreatment prior to SS and FW anaerobic co-digestion is an effective way to improve the anaerobic digestion efficiency and energy recovery rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianwei Liu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Sustainable Urban Sewage System Construction and Risk Control, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China; Key Laboratory of Urban Stormwater System and Water Environment, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China.
| | - Mengfei Zhao
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Sustainable Urban Sewage System Construction and Risk Control, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China; Key Laboratory of Urban Stormwater System and Water Environment, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Chen Lv
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Sustainable Urban Sewage System Construction and Risk Control, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China; Key Laboratory of Urban Stormwater System and Water Environment, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Peng Yue
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Sustainable Urban Sewage System Construction and Risk Control, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China; Key Laboratory of Urban Stormwater System and Water Environment, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China
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15
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Series of Combined Pretreatment Can Affect the Solubilization of Waste-Activated Sludge. ENERGIES 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/en13164165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Various pretreatment methods have been combined and employed for maximizing the solubilization of waste-activated sludge (WAS). However, the question “by changing the series of applied combined pretreatments (CPs), can the solubilization efficiency of WAS be affected?” has never been addressed. In this study, firstly, thermal (T), alkaline (A), and ultrasonic (U) pretreatments were individually applied at broad strengths (T = 80–120 °C for 30 min, A = pH 9–12, and U = 5–60 min at 300 W). Then, pretreatment conditions that caused similar solubilization (13.0%) (120 °C, pH 11, and 30 min for T, A, and U, respectively), were adopted for CP with reverse sequences of T&A, U&A, and T&U. A similar disintegration degree was observed in U→A and A→U, while a meaningful difference was found in T&A and T&U: T→A (28.3%), A→T (42.9%), T→U (22.9%), and U→T (27.1%). The difference in pretreatment series also affected the characteristics of soluble matters, which was analyzed by excitation emission matrix and molecular weight distribution. Due to these differences, the highest methane yield of 68.8% (based on (chemical oxygen demand) CODinput) was achieved at A→T, compared to T→A (62.3%). Our results suggested a simple strategy for increasing solubilization, at the same expense of energy, which might be beneficial in the following treatment process, such as dewatering and transportation.
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16
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Hu W, Tan J, Pan G, Chen J, Chen Y, Xie Y, Wang Y, Zhang Y. Direct conversion of wet sewage sludge to carbon catalyst for sulfamethoxazole degradation through peroxymonosulfate activation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 728:138853. [PMID: 32353802 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The high moisture content of wet sewage sludge generated from wastewater treatment process not only brings high cost of sewage disposal, but also limits its utilization as resource. In this study, an efficient strategy of directly utilizing wet sludge to develop advanced carbocatalyst via a hydrothermal coupled pyrolysis process was proposed. The possible application of as-synthesized carbocatalyst was evaluated by activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to degrade a model pollutant of sulfamethoxazole (SMX). Experimental results showed that about 100% of SMX and 59% of total organic carbon (TOC) could be removed within 15 min. Moisture content in wet sludge also affected the performances of as-obtained carbocatalysts. Further studies verified that singlet oxygen (1O2) dominated SMX degradation, which was generated in the process of PMS activation by CO groups on the surface of carbocatalyst. In the preliminary ecological test, a lower ecotoxicity of SMX degradation solution compared with the original solution was observed. This study demonstrated the feasibility of directly utilizing wet sludge for advanced carbocatalyst fabrication, which provided another solution for wet sludge treatment and utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanrong Hu
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Biological Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Jiangtao Tan
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Biological Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Guohua Pan
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Biological Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Biological Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Yundi Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Biological Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Yi Xie
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Biological Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Yabo Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Biological Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Yongkui Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Biological Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
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Díaz I, Díaz-Curbelo A, Pérez-Lemus N, Fdz-Polanco F, Pérez-Elvira SI. Traceability of organic contaminants in the sludge line of wastewater treatment plants: A comparison study among schemes incorporating thermal hydrolysis treatment and the conventional anaerobic digestion. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2020; 305:123028. [PMID: 32114300 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The traceability of conventional pollutants and 10 organic microcontaminants in the sludge line of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was evaluated. The application of thermal hydrolysis (TH) as pre-treatment to anaerobic digestion (AD) or as inter-treatment (between two AD stages) was considered and compared with the conventional digestion scheme. TH scenarios reduced the mass flow rate of biosolids (40-60%) as well as the ratio of solids (50-100%), organic matter (5-26%) and nitrogen (8-13%) destined to biosolids. Micropollutants showed a strong tendency to accumulate in the solid phase (more than 90% were sorbed) in spite of thermal and dewatering processes, but TH scenarios exhibited greater removal efficiency (80%) in comparison to conventional AD (50%), reducing the ratio of micropollutants destined to biosolids from a conventional 48% to 7-8%. These findings reveal that TH could increase the value of biosolids from sewage sludge treatment because of greater removal of pollutants and dewaterability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Israel Díaz
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Institute of Sustainable Processes, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Alina Díaz-Curbelo
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Institute of Sustainable Processes, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Nereida Pérez-Lemus
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Institute of Sustainable Processes, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Fernando Fdz-Polanco
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Institute of Sustainable Processes, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Sara Isabel Pérez-Elvira
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Institute of Sustainable Processes, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
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18
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Taboada-Santos A, Behera CR, Sin G, Gernaey KV, Mauricio-Iglesias M, Carballa M, Lema JM. Assessment of the fate of organic micropollutants in novel wastewater treatment plant configurations through an empirical mechanistic model. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 716:137079. [PMID: 32044492 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Novel wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are expected to be less energetically demanding than conventional ones. However, scarce information is available about the fate of organic micropollutants (OMPs) in these novel configurations. Therefore, the objective of this work is to assess the fate of OMPs in three novel WWTP configurations by using a plant-wide simulation that integrates multiple units. The difference among the three configurations is the organic carbon preconcentration technology: chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT), high-rate activated sludge (HRAS) combined or not with a rotating belt filter (RBF); followed by a partial-nitritation (PN-AMX) unit. The simulation results show that the three selected novel configurations lead mainly to comparable OMPs removal efficiencies from wastewater, which were similar or lower, depending on the OMP, than those obtained in conventional WWTPs. However, the presence of hydrophobic OMPs in the digested sludge noticeably differs among the three configurations. Whereas the configuration based on sole HRAS to recover organic carbon leads to a lower presence of OMPs in digested sludge than the conventional WWTP, in the other two novel configurations this presence is noticeable higher. In conclusion, novel WWTP configurations do not improve the OMPs elimination from wastewater achieved in conventional ones, but the HRAS-based WWTP configuration leads to the lowest presence in digested sludge so it becomes the most efficient alternative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Taboada-Santos
- Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, E-15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Chitta Ranjan Behera
- Process and Systems Engineering Center (PROSYS), Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Building 229, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Gürkan Sin
- Process and Systems Engineering Center (PROSYS), Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Building 229, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Krist V Gernaey
- Process and Systems Engineering Center (PROSYS), Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Building 229, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Miguel Mauricio-Iglesias
- Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, E-15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Marta Carballa
- Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, E-15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Juan M Lema
- Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, E-15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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