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Welch SA, Grung M, Madsen AL, Jannicke Moe S. Development of a probabilistic risk model for pharmaceuticals in the environment under population and wastewater treatment scenarios. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2024. [PMID: 38771172 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Preparing for future environmental pressures requires projections of how relevant risks will change over time. Current regulatory models of environmental risk assessment (ERA) of pollutants such as pharmaceuticals could be improved by considering the influence of global change factors (e.g., population growth) and by presenting uncertainty more transparently. In this article, we present the development of a prototype object-oriented Bayesian network (BN) for the prediction of environmental risk for six high-priority pharmaceuticals across 36 scenarios: current and three future population scenarios, combined with infrastructure scenarios, in three Norwegian counties. We compare the risk, characterized by probability distributions of risk quotients (RQs), across scenarios and pharmaceuticals. Our results suggest that RQs would be greatest in rural counties, due to the lower development of current wastewater treatment facilities, but that these areas consequently have the most potential for risk mitigation. This pattern intensifies under higher population growth scenarios. With this prototype, we developed a hierarchical probabilistic model and demonstrated its potential in forecasting the environmental risk of chemical stressors under plausible demographic and management scenarios, contributing to the further development of BNs for ERA. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-21. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A Welch
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway
| | - Merete Grung
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway
| | | | - S Jannicke Moe
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway
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2
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Tsangas M, Papamichael I, Banti D, Samaras P, Zorpas AA. LCA of municipal wastewater treatment. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 341:139952. [PMID: 37625488 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants play a significant role in minimizing environmental pollution by treating wastewater and reducing the release of contaminants into the environment. However, their operation can still have an environmental footprint. Therefore, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of wastewater treatment provides a comprehensive framework to quantify the environmental impact of plants across various categories. By conducting LCA assessments, the environmental impacts of different scenarios or treatment technologies can be compared, enabling decision-makers to identify the most environmentally friendly options. This information helps in optimizing the plant's design, operation, and resource allocation to minimize their environmental burden. The current research hypothesis was to conduct an LCA of a typical activated sludge plant in Greece, considering three different scenarios in order to provide an innovative take on wastewater treatment plant foam waste and utilize them for the production of biogas through anaerobic digestion. The assessment was carried out using OpenLCA software as well as EcoInvent v3.3. database. The study focused on the impact assessment of five categories (eutrophication potential, acidification potential, global warming potential, ozone depletion, and photochemical ozone creation). The results indicated that the baseline scenario had the highest impact on these categories, followed by Scenario I, while Scenario II had the least impact. Additionally, the cumulative energy demand assessment showed that the baseline scenario required significantly more energy compared to Scenarios I and II. However, Scenario II, which involved fine screens and utilization of biogas, exhibited the highest energy production, thereby reducing the overall energy demands for the system. Based on these findings, it is crucial for wastewater treatment facilities to actively pursue energy demand mitigation strategies by implementing energy-efficient technologies and utilizing biogas. These measures not only contribute to environmental protection but also promote a greener and more sustainable future for WWTP operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Tsangas
- Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sustainability, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, Giannou Kranidioti 89, 2231, Latsia, Nicosia, Cyprus.
| | - Iliana Papamichael
- Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sustainability, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, Giannou Kranidioti 89, 2231, Latsia, Nicosia, Cyprus.
| | - Dimitra Banti
- International Hellenic University, Department of Food Science and Technology, Laboratory of Technologies of Environmental Protection and Utilization of Food By-Products, 57400, Sindos, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Petros Samaras
- International Hellenic University, Department of Food Science and Technology, Laboratory of Technologies of Environmental Protection and Utilization of Food By-Products, 57400, Sindos, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Antonis A Zorpas
- Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sustainability, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, Giannou Kranidioti 89, 2231, Latsia, Nicosia, Cyprus.
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3
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Razman KK, Hanafiah MM, Mohammad AW, Agashichev S, Sgouridis S, AlMarzooqi F. Environmental performance of a photovoltaic brackish water reverse osmosis for a cleaner desalination process: A case study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 896:165244. [PMID: 37394066 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Reverse osmosis (RO) membrane-based desalination system with various configurations has emerged as a critical option for reclaiming brackish water. This study aims to evaluate the environmental performance of the combination of photovoltaic-reverse osmosis (PVRO) membrane treatment system via life cycle assessment (LCA). The LCA was calculated using SimaPro v9 software with ReCiPe 2016 methodology and EcoInvent 3.8 database following the ISO 14040/44 series. The findings identified the chemical and electricity consumption at both the midpoint and endpoint level across all impact categories with terrestrial ecotoxicity (27.59 kg 1,4-DCB), human non-carcinogenic toxicity potential (8.06 kg 1,4-DCB) and GWP (4.33 kg CO2 eq) as the highest impacts for the PVRO treatment. As for the endpoint level, the desalination system affected human health, ecosystems and resources at 1.39 × 10-5 DALY, 1.49 × 10-7 species·year and 0.25 USD2013 respectively. The construction phase for the overall PVRO treatment plant was also assessed and impacted less significantly compared to the operational phase. Three different scenarios (i.e. S1: Grid input (Baseline); S2: Photovoltaic (PV)/Battery; S3: PV/Grid) based on different sources of electricity used were also compared as electricity consumption is one of the significant impacts in the operational phase. The study found that S2 had the lowest environmental impact, while S1 contributed the highest when both midpoint and endpoint approaches are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalisah Khairina Razman
- Department of Earth Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Marlia M Hanafiah
- Department of Earth Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Centre for Tropical Climate Change System, Institute of Climate Change, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Abdul Wahab Mohammad
- Chemical and Water Desalination Engineering Program, College of Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sergey Agashichev
- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) Research & Development Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sgouris Sgouridis
- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) Research & Development Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Faisal AlMarzooqi
- Centre for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Masdar Institute, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Department of Chemical Engineering, Masdar Institute, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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4
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Castillo-Suárez LA, Sierra-Sánchez AG, Linares-Hernández I, Martínez-Miranda V, Teutli-Sequeira EA. A critical review of textile industry wastewater: green technologies for the removal of indigo dyes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : IJEST 2023; 20:1-38. [PMID: 37360556 PMCID: PMC10041522 DOI: 10.1007/s13762-023-04810-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The denim textile industry represents an important productive sector. It generates wastewater with low biodegradability due to the presence of persistent pollutants, which can produce toxic and carcinogenic compounds; therefore, wastewater treatment reduces risks to aquatic life and public health. This paper presents a review of 172 papers regarding textile industry wastewater treatment for the removal of contaminants, especially indigo dyes used in the denim industry, in the context of green technologies. The physicochemical characteristics of textile wastewater, its environmental and health impacts, and the permissible limit regulations in different countries were reviewed. Biological, physicochemical and advanced oxidation processes for the removal of indigo dyes were reviewed. The goal of this study was to analyze the characteristics of green technologies; however, the research does not clearly demonstrate an effect on energy consumption savings, carbon footprint decreases, and/or waste generation. Advanced oxidation processes showed the highest color removal efficiency (95 and 97% in synthetic or real wastewater, respectively). Photocatalysis and Fenton reactions were the most efficient processes. None of the revised works presented results regarding upscaling for industrial application, and the results should be discussed in terms of the guidelines and maximum permissible limits established by international legislation. New technologies need to be developed and evaluated in a sustainable context with real wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. A. Castillo-Suárez
- Cátedras COMECYT. Consejo Mexiquense de Ciencia y Tecnología COMECYT, Paseo Colón Núm.: 112-A, Col. Ciprés, C.P. 50120 Toluca, Estado de México México
- Instituto Interamericano de Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua (IITCA), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Unidad San Cayetano, Km. 14.5, Carretera, Toluca-Atlacomulco, C.P. 50200 Toluca, Estado de México México
| | - A. G. Sierra-Sánchez
- Cátedras COMECYT. Consejo Mexiquense de Ciencia y Tecnología COMECYT, Paseo Colón Núm.: 112-A, Col. Ciprés, C.P. 50120 Toluca, Estado de México México
| | - I. Linares-Hernández
- Cátedras COMECYT. Consejo Mexiquense de Ciencia y Tecnología COMECYT, Paseo Colón Núm.: 112-A, Col. Ciprés, C.P. 50120 Toluca, Estado de México México
| | - V. Martínez-Miranda
- Cátedras COMECYT. Consejo Mexiquense de Ciencia y Tecnología COMECYT, Paseo Colón Núm.: 112-A, Col. Ciprés, C.P. 50120 Toluca, Estado de México México
| | - E. A. Teutli-Sequeira
- Instituto Interamericano de Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua (IITCA), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Unidad San Cayetano, Km. 14.5, Carretera, Toluca-Atlacomulco, C.P. 50200 Toluca, Estado de México México
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5
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Collivignarelli MC, Todeschini S, Abbà A, Ricciardi P, Carnevale Miino M, Torretta V, Rada EC, Conti F, Cillari G, Calatroni S, Lumia G, Bertanza G. The performance evaluation of wastewater service: a protocol based on performance indicators applied to sewer systems and wastewater treatment plants. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 2022; 43:3426-3443. [PMID: 33900149 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2021.1922509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This research aimed to identify a tool to objectively analyse the performance and the environmental contextualisation of sewer systems (SwSs) and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This procedure performs assessment by calculating performance indices which could be subsequently applied to SwSs and WWTPs with different characteristics. The proposed tool can be applied conveniently over the years by managers of integrated urban water management systems for the analysis of different realities also allowing the evaluation of the effects of upgrades carried out during the management phases. The proposed analysis allows the optimisation of SwSs and can profitably guide the choice and the priority among possible interventions for the sewerage infrastructure and WWTPs providing a verification and evaluation protocol as well as a financial planning tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cristina Collivignarelli
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Interdepartmental Centre for Water Research, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Sara Todeschini
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Interdepartmental Centre for Water Research, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Abbà
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paola Ricciardi
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Vincenzo Torretta
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Insubria University, Varese, Italy
| | - Elena Cristina Rada
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Insubria University, Varese, Italy
| | - Fabio Conti
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Insubria University, Varese, Italy
| | - Giacomo Cillari
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Silvia Calatroni
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lumia
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Bertanza
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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6
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Martinez S, Delgado MDM, Martinez Marin R, Marchamalo M, Alvarez S. Pre-construction quantification of embodied environmental impacts to promote sustainable construction projects: The case study of a diversion dam. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 314:115061. [PMID: 35436709 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A quantitative assessment of the embodied environmental impacts of infrastructures can provide initial guidance to industry practitioners and engineers at the outset of the construction projects. This study presents the applicability of the Environmentally Extended Input-Output Analysis as a pre-construction evaluation tool for quantifying the embodied environmental impacts of a small diversion dam in Spain. Seven impact categories are assessed from a production-based and consumption-based perspective identifying the main sectors and regions contributing to the environmental impacts. From the consumption-based perspective, Spain is the only contributor to the environmental impacts, and from the production-based perspective, Spain is the main polluting country in all the impact categories contributing on average 68.9%. The use of high quantities of construction material leads to the sectors of steel and cement to significantly increase the environmental impacts. From the production-based perspective, steel and cement contribute on average 29.5% and 17.2%, respectively. From the consumption-based perspective, both sectors account for 74% of the overall environmental impacts. As observed in this case study, the application of the EEIOA model enables engineers and designers to focus during the early design stages on decisions that achieve high embodied impact reductions, such as prioritizing recycled materials for the construction of this infrastructure and, when possible, use materials from a less polluting origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Martinez
- Department of Land Morphology and Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain; Department of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, Saint Louis University Madrid, 28003, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Ruben Martinez Marin
- Department of Land Morphology and Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Miguel Marchamalo
- Department of Land Morphology and Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Sergio Alvarez
- Department of Land Morphology and Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
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7
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Nguyen TKL, Ngo HH, Guo W, Nghiem LD, Qian G, Liu Q, Liu J, Chen Z, Bui XT, Mainali B. Assessing the environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions from the common municipal wastewater treatment systems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 801:149676. [PMID: 34419905 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149676] [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: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This study measured the environmental impacts from three same-size wastewater treatment systems, specifically activated sludge, a constructed wetland, and a high rate algal pond. Detailed data inventories were employed using SimaPro 9 software to calculate the entire consequences by ReCiPe 2016 and Greenhouse Gas Protocol method. The environmental outcomes caused by substance emissions and resource extraction are presented in several impact categories at the endpoint level. For a better comparison, the single score tool was applied to aggregate all factors into three areas of protection: human health, ecosystem, and resource shortage. Results showed that concrete and steel are the main contributors to the construction phase, while electricity is responsible for the operation stage. The single score calculation indicates that the proportion of construction activities could be equal to or even higher than the operation stage for a small capacity plant. The total environmental impact of the conventional system was 2.3-fold and 3-fold higher than that of constructed wetland and high rate algal pond, respectively. High rate algal pond has the best environmental performance when generating the least burdens and greenhouse gas emissions of 0.72 kg CO2 equivalent per m3. Constructed wetland produces 5.69 kg CO2, higher than an algal pond but much lower than activated sludge plant, emitting 11.42 kg CO2 per m3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thi Kieu Loan Nguyen
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NWS 2007, Australia
| | - Huu Hao Ngo
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NWS 2007, Australia; NTT Institute of Hi-Technology, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
| | - Wenshan Guo
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NWS 2007, Australia
| | - Long Duc Nghiem
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NWS 2007, Australia
| | - Guangren Qian
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, No. 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Qiang Liu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, No. 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Jianyong Liu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, No. 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Zhuo Chen
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Xuan Thanh Bui
- Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Viet Nam
| | - Bandita Mainali
- School of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia
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Pham A, Moussavi S, Thompson M, Dvorak B. Environmental life cycle impacts of small wastewater treatment plants: Design recommendations for impact mitigation. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 207:117758. [PMID: 34731671 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to quantify potential mitigation of environmental impacts from the operation and construction of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) from implementing specific design recommendations. The study investigated small WWTPs, many of which are serving slow growing or declining populations. Life Cycle Assessment methodology was used to evaluate and compare the inventory and environmental impacts of nine small WWTP case studies. Detailed inventory data was collected from the facilities' engineering design plans and utility bills. One recommended practice was to avoid significant overdesign by planning for no lower than a 75% capacity utilization by the facilities' end-of-life. A theoretical correction to a 75% capacity utilization was estimated to mitigate 0.4% of lifetime electricity usage and 1% of secondary process concrete for every 1% reduction in design average flow rate. Relatedly, a 0.4% mitigation in the Carcinogenic and Global Warming impacts could be achieved for every 1% reduction in design average flow toward a 75% capacity utilization. Other suggested practices were focused on conveyance, namely, to minimize non-process facility area and to use polyvinyl chloride pipe instead of ductile iron pipe where possible. The latter practice was estimated to mitigate between 1.1 and 4.8% of the Carcinogenic impact in the nine case studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Pham
- HDR, 1917 S 67th Street, Omaha NE 68106, USA.
| | - Sussan Moussavi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Matthew Thompson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Bruce Dvorak
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln NE 68588, USA.
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9
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Nguyen TKL, Ngo HH, Guo W, Nguyen TLH, Chang SW, Nguyen DD, Varjani S, Lei Z, Deng L. Environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions assessment for energy recovery and material recycle of the wastewater treatment plant. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 784:147135. [PMID: 33894605 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the environmental burdens concerning the recycling/recovery process of a wastewater treatment plant's construction material waste and biogas. Detailed data inventories of case studies were employed in several scenarios to explore the role of end-of-life treatment methods. The ReCiPe 2016 and the Greenhouse gas Protocol life cycle impact methods were conducted to measure the impact categories. The construction and demolition phases were considered for recycling potential assessment, while the operational phase was examined for assessing the advantages of energy recovery. Metal and concrete recycling show environmental benefits. Increasing the reprocessing rate requires more water consumption but results in: firstly, a decrease of 18.8% in total damage; secondly, reduces problematic mineral scarcity by 3.9%; and thirdly, a shortfall in fossil fuels amounting to 11.6%. Recycling concrete helps to reduce the amount of GHG emissions 1.4-fold. Different biogas treatment methods contribute to various outcomes. Biogas utilization for on-site energy purposes has more advantages than flaring and offsite consumption. Electricity and heat generation originating from biogas can provide 70% of the energy requirement and replace 100% natural gas usage. Biomethane production from biogas requires extreme power and more resources. Meanwhile, producing heat and electricity can offset 102.9 g of fossil CO2, and manufacturing biomethane contributes the equivalent of 101.2 g of fossil fuel-derived CO2. Reducing 10% of recovered electricity creation could rise 19.19% global warming indicator of the wastewater treatment plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thi Kieu Loan Nguyen
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NWS 2007, Australia
| | - Huu Hao Ngo
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NWS 2007, Australia; NTT Institute of Hi-Technology, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
| | - Wenshan Guo
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NWS 2007, Australia
| | - Thuy Le Hong Nguyen
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NWS 2007, Australia
| | - Soon Woong Chang
- Department of Environmental Energy Engineering, Kyonggi University, 442-760, Republic of Korea
| | - Dinh Duc Nguyen
- Department of Environmental Energy Engineering, Kyonggi University, 442-760, Republic of Korea; Institution of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Viet Nam
| | - Sunita Varjani
- Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 382 010, India
| | - Zhongfang Lei
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoidai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
| | - Lijuan Deng
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NWS 2007, Australia
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10
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Moussavi S, Thompson M, Li S, Dvorak B. Assessment of small mechanical wastewater treatment plants: Relative life cycle environmental impacts of construction and operations. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 292:112802. [PMID: 34023791 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112802] [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: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Many slow growing and shrinking rural communities struggle with aging or inadequate wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and face challenges in constructing and operating such facilities. Although existing literature has provided insight into the environmental sustainability of large facilities, including both the construction and operational phases, these studies have not examined small, rural facilities treating less than 7000 m3/d (1.8 MGD) of wastewater in adequate depth and breadth. In this study, a detailed inventory of the construction and operational data for 16 case studies of small WWTPs was developed to elucidate their environmental life cycle impacts. An attributional LCA framework was followed. The results show that the environmental impacts of both the construction and operational phases are considerable. Energy use was the dominant contributor to the operational environmental impact, and improving energy efficiency of a plant may reduce the environmental impacts of a small WWTP. Construction impacts can vary considerably between facilities (e.g., coefficient of variation for the construction impacts ranged from 60% to 78% depending on the impact category). Process-related factors (e.g., concrete and reinforcing steel used in basins) are typically sized using the design flow; thus, much of the variability in construction impacts among plants stems from the non-process related infrastructure. Multiple regression analysis was used as an exploratory tool to identify which non-process related plant aspects contribute to the variable environmental impact of small WWTPs. These factors include aluminum, cast iron, and the capacity utilization ratio (defined as the ratio of average flow to design flow). Thus, industry practitioners should consider these factors when aiming to reduce the environmental impacts of a small WWTP related to construction. Scenario sensitivity analyses found that the environmental impact of construction became smaller with longer design life, and the end-of-life consideration does not heavily influence the environmental sustainability of a WWTP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sussan Moussavi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE, 68588, United States
| | - Matthew Thompson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE, 68588, United States
| | - Shaobin Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, United States
| | - Bruce Dvorak
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE, 68588, United States; Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE, 68588, United States.
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11
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Life-Cycle Assessment of the Wastewater Treatment Technologies in Indonesia’s Fish-Processing Industry. ENERGIES 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/en13246591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, a comprehensive life-cycle assessment (LCA) is carried out in order to evaluate the multiple environmental-health impacts of the biological wastewater treatment of the fish-processing industry throughout its life cycle. To this aim, the life-cycle impact assessment method based on endpoint modeling (LIME) was considered as the main LCA model. The proposed methodology is based on an endpoint modeling framework that uses the conjoint analysis to calculate damage factors for human health, social assets, biodiversity, and primary production, based on Indonesia’s local data inventory. A quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) is integrated with the LIME modeling framework to evaluate the damage on human health caused by five major biological treatment technologies, including chemical-enhanced primary clarification (CEPC), aerobic-activated sludge (AS), up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB), ultrafiltration (UF) and reverse osmosis (RO) in this industry. Finally, a life-cycle costing (LCC) is carried out, considering all the costs incurred during the lifetime. The LCA results revealed that air pollution and gaseous emissions from electricity consumption have the most significant environmental impacts in all scenarios and all categories. The combined utilization of the UF and RO technologies in the secondary and tertiary treatment processes reduces the health damage caused by microbial diseases, which contributes significantly to reducing overall environmental damage.
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Banti DC, Tsangas M, Samaras P, Zorpas A. LCA of a Membrane Bioreactor Compared to Activated Sludge System for Municipal Wastewater Treatment. MEMBRANES 2020; 10:membranes10120421. [PMID: 33327549 PMCID: PMC7765054 DOI: 10.3390/membranes10120421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems are connected to several advantages compared to the conventional activated sludge (CAS) units. This work aims to the examination of the life cycle environmental impact of an MBR against a CAS unit when treating municipal wastewater with similar influent loading (BOD = 400 mg/L) and giving similar high-quality effluent (BOD < 5 mg/L). The MBR unit contained a denitrification, an aeration and a membrane tank, whereas the CAS unit included an equalization, a denitrification, a nitrification, a sedimentation, a mixing, a flocculation tank and a drum filter. Several impact categories factors were calculated by implementing the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, including acidification potential, eutrophication potential, global warming potential (GWP), ozone depletion potential and photochemical ozone creation potential of the plants throughout their life cycle. Real data from two wastewater treatment plants were used. The research focused on two parameters which constitute the main differences between the two treatment plants: The excess sludge removal life cycle contribution—where GWPMBR = 0.50 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 and GWPCAS = 2.67 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 without sludge removal—and the wastewater treatment plant life cycle contribution—where GWPMBR = 0.002 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 and GWPCAS = 0.14 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 without land area contribution. Finally, in all the examined cases the environmental superiority of the MBR process was found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitra C. Banti
- Laboratory of Technologies of Environmental Protection and Utilization of Food By-Products, Department of Food Science and Technology, International Hellenic University, GR-57400 Thessaloniki, Greece; (D.C.B.); (P.S.)
| | - Michail Tsangas
- Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sustainability, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Environmental Conservation and Management, Open University of Cyprus, Latsia P.O. Box 12794, Nicosia 2252, Cyprus;
- Correspondence:
| | - Petros Samaras
- Laboratory of Technologies of Environmental Protection and Utilization of Food By-Products, Department of Food Science and Technology, International Hellenic University, GR-57400 Thessaloniki, Greece; (D.C.B.); (P.S.)
| | - Antonis Zorpas
- Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sustainability, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Environmental Conservation and Management, Open University of Cyprus, Latsia P.O. Box 12794, Nicosia 2252, Cyprus;
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