1
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Chen CX, Koskue V, Duan H, Gao L, Shon HK, Martin GJO, Chen GQ, Freguia S. Impact of nutrient deficiency on biological sewage treatment - Perspectives towards urine source segregation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174174. [PMID: 38925384 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174174] [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: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Human urine contains 9 g/L of nitrogen (N) and 0.7 g/L of phosphorus (P). The recovery of N and P from urine helps close the nutrient loop and increase resource circularity in the sewage treatment sector. Urine contributes an average of 80 % N and 50 % P in sewage, whereby urine source segregation could reduce the burden of nutrient removal in sewage treatment plants (STPs) but result in N and P deficiency and unintended negative consequences. This review examines the potential impacts of N and P deficiency on the removal of organic carbon and nutrients, sludge characteristics and greenhouse gas emissions in activated sludge processes. The details of how these impacts affect the operation of STPs were also included. This review helps foresee operational challenges that established STPs may face when dealing with nutrient-deficient sewage in a future where source separation of urine is the norm. The findings indicate that the requirement of nitrification-denitrification and biological P removal processes could shrink at urine segregation above 80 % and 100 %, respectively. Organic carbon, N and biological P removal processes can be severely affected under full urine segregation. The decrease in solid retention time due to urine segregation increases treatment capacity up to 48 %. Sludge flocculation and settleability would deteriorate due to changes in extracellular polymeric substances and induce various forms of bulking. Beneficially, N deficiency reduces nitrous oxide emissions. These findings emphasise the importance of considering and preparing for impacts caused by urine source segregation-induced nutrient deficiency in sewage treatment processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chee Xiang Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Veera Koskue
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Haoran Duan
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia; Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Li Gao
- South East Water Corporation, 2268, Seaford, VIC 3198, Australia
| | - Ho Kyong Shon
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater (CTWW), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Gregory J O Martin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - George Q Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Stefano Freguia
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
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2
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Zuo Z, Xing Y, Lu X, Liu T, Zheng M, Guo M, Liu Y, Huang X. Nitrite-dependent microbial utilization for simultaneous removal of sulfide and methane in sewers. WATER RESEARCH X 2024; 24:100231. [PMID: 39070728 PMCID: PMC11277765 DOI: 10.1016/j.wroa.2024.100231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Chemicals are commonly dosed in sewer systems to reduce the emission of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and methane (CH4), incurring high costs and environmental concerns. Nitrite dosing is a promising approach as nitrite can be produced from urine wastewater, which is a feasible integrated water management strategy. However, nitrite dosing usually requires strict conditions, e.g., relatively high nitrite concentration (e.g., ∼200 mg N/L) and acidic environment, to inhibit microorganisms. In contrast to "microbial inhibition", this study proposes "microbial utilization" concept, i.e., utilizing nitrite as a substrate for H2S and CH4 consumption in sewer. In a laboratory-scale sewer reactor, nitrite at a relatively low concentrations of 25-48 mg N/L was continuously dosed. Two nitrite-dependent microbial utilization processes, i.e., nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-DAMO) and microbial sulfide oxidation, successfully occurred in conjunction with nitrite reduction. The occurrence of both processes achieved a 58 % reduction in dissolved methane and over 90 % sulfide removal in the sewer reactor, with microbial activities measured as 15.6 mg CH4/(L·h) and 29.4 mg S/(L·h), respectively. High copy numbers of n-DAMO bacteria and sulfide-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) were detected in both sewer biofilms and sediments. Mechanism analysis confirmed that the dosed nitrite at a relatively low level did not cause the inhibition of sulfidogenic process due to the downward migration of activity zones in sewer sediments. Therefore, the proposed "microbial utilization" concept offers a new alternative for simultaneous removal of sulfide and methane in sewers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Zuo
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Yaxin Xing
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Xi Lu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Tao Liu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, PR China
| | - Min Zheng
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia
- Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Miao Guo
- Department of Engineering, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Yanchen Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Xia Huang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
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3
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Ranieri E, D'Onghia G, Ranieri F, Lopopolo L, Gregorio S, Ranieri AC. Performance of wastewater treatment plants in emission of greenhouse gases. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 404:130897. [PMID: 38797361 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130897] [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: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The present work has estimated greenhouse gas emissions in aerobic and anaerobic Wastewater Treatment Plants in Southern Italy. Greenhouse gases emissions from each treatment unit were calculated based on emission factors related to Chemical Oxygen Demand removal for biogenic CO2 and CH4 assessment and on Nitrogen removal for N2O. N2O, biogenic CO2, and CH4 emissions vary for aerobic and anaerobic-based WWTPs respectively from 73 kgCO2eq/PE*y for anaerobic plants to 91 kgCO2eq/PE*y for aerobic plants. In aerobic and anaerobic digestion systems WWTPs the contributions to CO2eq total emissions from N2O, CH4, biogenic CO2, and fossil CO2 are 30 %-33 %, 20 %-29 %, 22 %-25 %, and 26 %-16 %, respectively. N2O emissions from biological processes were found the most contributing sources of greenhouse gases while in the physical processes higher contribution is indirect carbon dioxide related to energy consumption. Compensatory measures are reported to reduce greenhouse gases emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezio Ranieri
- Universita' degli Studi di Bari, Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Biotecnologie ed Ambiente, Bari, Italy.
| | - Gianfranco D'Onghia
- Universita' degli Studi di Bari, Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Biotecnologie ed Ambiente, Bari, Italy
| | - Francesca Ranieri
- Universita' degli Studi di Foggia, Dipartimento di Dipartimento di Economia, Management e Territorio, Italy
| | - Luigi Lopopolo
- Universita' degli Studi di Bari, Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Biotecnologie ed Ambiente, Bari, Italy
| | - Sarah Gregorio
- Universita' degli Studi di Bari, Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Biotecnologie ed Ambiente, Bari, Italy
| | - Ada Cristina Ranieri
- Politecnico di Bari, Dipartimento Interateneo di Fisica, Bari, Italy; Universita' Internazionale Telematica Uninettuno, Roma, Italy
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4
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Yu Q, Li S, Chen N. Urbanization and greenhouse gas emissions from municipal wastewater in coastal provinces of China: Spatiotemporal patterns, driving factors, and mitigation strategies. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 259:119398. [PMID: 38942253 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Coastal cities, as hubs of social and economic activity, have witnessed rapid urbanization and population growth. This study explores the transformative changes in urban municipal wastewater treatment practices and their profound implications for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Chinese coastal provinces. The approach employed in this study integrates comprehensive data analysis with statistical modeling to elucidate the complex interplay between urbanization, wastewater treatment practices, and GHG emissions. Results reveal a substantial surge in GHG emissions from coastal wastewater treatment, rising from 3367.1 Gg CO2e/yr in 1990-23644.8 Gg CO2e/yr in 2019. Spatially, the top 20 cities contribute 56.0% of emissions, with hotspots in the Bohai Sea Region, Yangtze River Delta, and Pearl River Delta. Initially dominated by emissions from untreated wastewater, post-2004, GHG emissions from treatment processes became the primary source, tied to electricity use. Growing population and urbanization rates escalated wastewater discharge, intensifying GHG emissions. From 1990 to 2019, average GHG intensity ranged between 320.5 and 676.6 g CO2e/m3 wastewater, with an annual increase of 12.3 g CO2e/m3. GHG intensity variations relate to the wastewater treatment rate, impacting CH4, N2O, and CO2 emissions, underscoring the need for targeted strategies to mitigate environmental impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qibiao Yu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Shaobin Li
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Nengwang Chen
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environment Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
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5
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Zuo Z, Xing Y, Liu T, Zheng M, Lu X, Chen Y, Jiang G, Liang P, Huang X, Liu Y. Methane mitigation via the nitrite-DAMO process induced by nitrate dosing in sewers. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 257:121701. [PMID: 38733962 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121701] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Nitrate or nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-DAMO) is a microbial process that links carbon and nitrogen cycles as a methane sink in many natural environments. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that the nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (nitrite-DAMO) process can be stimulated in sewer systems under continuous nitrate dosing for sulfide control. In a laboratory sewer system, continuous nitrate dosing not only achieved complete sulfide removal, but also significantly decreased dissolved methane concentration by ∼50 %. Independent batch tests confirmed the coupling of methane oxidation with nitrate and nitrite reduction, revealing similar methane oxidation rates of 3.68 ± 0.5 mg CH4 L-1 h-1 (with nitrate as electron acceptor) and 3.57 ± 0.4 mg CH4 L-1 h-1 (with nitrite as electron acceptor). Comprehensive microbial analysis unveiled the presence of a subgroup of the NC10 phylum, namely Candidatus Methylomirabilis (n-DAMO bacteria that couples nitrite reduction with methane oxidation), growing in sewer biofilms and surface sediments with relative abundances of 1.9 % and 1.6 %, respectively. In contrast, n-DAMO archaea that couple methane oxidation solely to nitrate reduction were not detected. Together these results indicated the successful enrichment of n-DAMO bacteria in sewerage systems, contributing to approx. 64 % of nitrite reduction and around 50 % of dissolved methane removal through the nitrite-DAMO process, as estimated by mass balance analysis. The occurrence of the nitrite-DAMO process in sewer systems opens a new path to sewer methane emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Zuo
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Yaxin Xing
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Min Zheng
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Xi Lu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yan Chen
- School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Guangming Jiang
- School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Peng Liang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xia Huang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yanchen Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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Chong Y, Li H, Pan T, You L, Du H, Yu B, Chen J, Ren N, Lu L. More applicable quantification of non-CO 2 greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment plants by on-site plant-integrated measurements. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 929:172598. [PMID: 38642769 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment is an important source of non-CO2 greenhouse gases (GHGs). However, current quantification of these GHG emissions mainly employs unit-based measurements, where emissions from individual process units are identified, leading to large uncertainties of overall emissions. Here we introduce plant-integrated measurements, where emissions from the whole plant are measured through the off-gas pipelines of the enclosed facility, to quantify methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from an underground municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in southern China. Our results show that the primary oxic tank contributes the largest in total CH4 and N2O emissions, with an average fraction of over 80 % and over 90 %, respectively. This can be attributed to the vigorous aeration process, which facilitates the transfer of dissolved CH4 and N2O from the liquid phase to the atmosphere through intensive air stripping. The plant-integrated measurements yield around 3-9 times higher emission factors of CH4 and N2O than the unit-based measurements. This difference in emission accounting is attributed to both varying survey durations of the two approaches and the omission of uncertain emission sources during unit-based measurements. The comparison between these two approaches indicates that plant-integrated measurements are more applicable for emission quantification of the whole plant whereas unit-based measurements provide insights into the emission characteristics of individual process units. More plant-integrated measurements are needed in the future for more accurate emission accounting of WWTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutong Chong
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Haiyan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Tianyu Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Liangfang You
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - He Du
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Bowen Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Juanjuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Branch, Beijing General Municipal Engineering Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd, Guangzhou 510075, China
| | - Nanqi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Lu Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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7
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Yin Y, Qi X, Gao L, Lu X, Yang X, Xiao K, Liu Y, Qiu Y, Huang X, Liang P. Quantifying Methane Influx from Sewer into Wastewater Treatment Processes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:9582-9590. [PMID: 38780619 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c00820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment contributes substantially to methane (CH4) emissions, yet monitoring and tracing face challenges because the treatment processes are often treated as a "black box". Particularly, despite growing interest, the amount of CH4 carryover and influx from the sewer and its impacts on overall emissions remain unclear. This study quantified CH4 emissions from six wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across China, utilizing existing multizonal odor control systems, with a focus on Beijing and Guiyang WWTPs. In the Beijing WWTP, almost 90% of CH4 emissions from the wastewater treatment process were conveyed through sewer pipes, affecting emissions even in the aerobic zone of biological treatment. In the Guiyang WWTP, where most CH4 from the sewer was released at the inlet well, a 24 h online monitoring revealed CH4 fluctuations linked to neighborhood water consumption and a strong correlation to influent COD inputs. CH4 emission factors monitored in six WWTPs range from 1.5 to 13.4 gCH4/kgCODrem, higher than those observed in previous studies using A2O technology. This underscores the importance of considering CH4 influx from sewer systems to avoid underestimation. The odor control system in WWTPs demonstrates its potential as a cost-effective approach for tracing, monitoring, and mitigating CH4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijun Yin
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Xiang Qi
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Lan Gao
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Xi Lu
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Xufei Yang
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota 57007, United States
| | - Kang Xiao
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Yanchen Liu
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Yong Qiu
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Xia Huang
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Peng Liang
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
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8
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Chen J, Wang H, Yin W, Wang Y, Lv J, Wang A. Deciphering carbon emissions in urban sewer networks: Bridging urban sewer networks with city-wide environmental dynamics. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 256:121576. [PMID: 38608619 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121576] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
As urbanization accelerates, understanding and managing carbon emissions from urban sewer networks have become crucial for sustainable urban water cycles. This review examines the factors influencing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within urban sewage systems, analyzing the complex effects between water quality, hydrodynamics, and sewer infrastructure on GHG production and emission processes. It reveals significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity in GHG emissions, particularly under long-term scenarios where flow rates and temperatures exhibit strong impacts and correlations. Given the presence of fugitive and dissolved potential GHGs, standardized monitoring and accounting methods are deemed essential. Advanced modeling techniques emerge as crucial tools for large-scale carbon emission prediction and management. The review identifies that traditional definitions and computational frameworks for carbon emission boundaries fail to fully consider the inherent heterogeneity of sewers and the dynamic changes and impacts of multi-source pollution within the sewer system during the urban water cycle. This includes irregular fugitive emissions, the influence of stormwater systems, climate change, geographical features, sewer design, and the impacts of food waste and antibiotics. Key strategies for emission management are discussed, focusing on the need for careful consideration of approaches that might inadvertently increase global emissions, such as ventilation, chemical treatments, and water management practices. The review advocates for an overarching strategy that encompasses a holistic view of carbon emissions, stressing the importance of refined emission boundary definitions, novel accounting practices, and comprehensive management schemes in line with the water treatment sector's move towards carbon neutrality. It champions the adoption of interdisciplinary, technologically advanced solutions to mitigate pollution and reduce carbon emissions, emphasizing the importance of integrating cross-scale issues and other environmentally friendly measures in future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaji Chen
- Key Lab of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuangqing Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100085, China; Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China; Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Hongcheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Wanxin Yin
- College of the Environment, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
| | - Yuqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jiaqiang Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - AiJie Wang
- Key Lab of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuangqing Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100085, China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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9
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Yuan Y, Zhang G, Fang H, Peng S, Xia Y, Wang F. The ecology of the sewer systems: Microbial composition, function, assembly, and network in different spatial locations. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 359:121107. [PMID: 38728984 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121107] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Microbial induced concrete corrosion (MICC) is the primary deterioration affecting global sewers. Disentangling ecological mechanisms in the sewer system is meaningful for implementing policies to protect sewer pipes using trenchless technology. It is necessary to understand microbial compositions, interaction networks, functions, alongside assembly processes in sewer microbial communities. In this study, sewer wastewater samples and microbial samples from the upper part (UP), middle part (MP) and bottom part (BP) of different pipes were collected for 16S rRNA gene amplicon analysis. It was found that BP harbored distinct microbial communities and the largest proportion of unique species (1141) compared to UP and MP. The community in BP tended to be more clustered. Furthermore, significant differences in microbial functions existed in different spatial locations, including the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle and sulfur cycle. Active microbial sulfur cycling indicated the corrosion risk of MICC. Among the environmental factors, the oxidation‒reduction potential drove changes in BP, while sulfate managed changes in UP and BP. Stochasticity dominated community assembly in the sewer system. Additionally, the sewer microbial community exhibited numerous positive links. BP possessed a more complex, modular network with higher modularity. These deep insights into microbial ecology in the sewer system may guide engineering safety and disaster prevention in sewer infrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Yuan
- School of Water Conservancy and Transportation, Zhengzhou University. Zhengzhou 450001, China; Yellow River Laboratory, Zhengzhou University. Zhengzhou 450001, China; National Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Major Infrastructure Testing and Rehabilitation Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Water Conservancy and Transportation Infrastructure Safety, Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Guangyi Zhang
- School of Water Conservancy and Transportation, Zhengzhou University. Zhengzhou 450001, China.
| | - Hongyuan Fang
- School of Water Conservancy and Transportation, Zhengzhou University. Zhengzhou 450001, China; Yellow River Laboratory, Zhengzhou University. Zhengzhou 450001, China; National Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Major Infrastructure Testing and Rehabilitation Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Water Conservancy and Transportation Infrastructure Safety, Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
| | - Siwei Peng
- School of Water Conservancy and Transportation, Zhengzhou University. Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yangyang Xia
- School of Water Conservancy and Transportation, Zhengzhou University. Zhengzhou 450001, China; Yellow River Laboratory, Zhengzhou University. Zhengzhou 450001, China; National Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Major Infrastructure Testing and Rehabilitation Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Water Conservancy and Transportation Infrastructure Safety, Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Fuming Wang
- School of Water Conservancy and Transportation, Zhengzhou University. Zhengzhou 450001, China; Yellow River Laboratory, Zhengzhou University. Zhengzhou 450001, China; National Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Major Infrastructure Testing and Rehabilitation Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Water Conservancy and Transportation Infrastructure Safety, Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450001, China
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10
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Liu Z, Xu Z, Zhu X, Yin L, Yin Z, Li X, Zheng W. Calculation of carbon emissions in wastewater treatment and its neutralization measures: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169356. [PMID: 38110091 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
As the pursuit of "carbon neutrality" gains momentum, the emphasis on low-carbon solutions, emphasizing energy conservation and resource reuse, has introduced fresh challenges to conventional wastewater treatment approaches. Precisely evaluating carbon emissions in urban water supply and drainage systems, wastewater treatment plants, and establishing carbon-neutral operating models has become a pivotal concern in the future of wastewater treatment. Regrettably, limited research has been devoted to carbon accounting and the development of carbon-neutral strategies for wastewater treatment. In this review, to facilitate comprehensive carbon accounting, we initially recognizes direct and indirect carbon emission sources in the wastewater treatment process. We then provide an overview of several major carbon accounting methods and propose a carbon accounting framework. Furthermore, we advocate for a systemic perspective, highlighting that achieving carbon neutrality in wastewater treatment extends beyond the boundaries of wastewater treatment plants. We assess current technical measures both within and outside the plants that contribute to achieving carbon-neutral operations. Encouraging the application of intelligent algorithms for the multifaceted monitoring and control of wastewater treatment processes is paramount. Supporting resource and energy recycling is also essential, as is recognizing the benefits of synergistic wastewater treatment technologies. We advocate a systematic, multi-level planning approach that takes into account a wide range of factors. Our goal is to offer valuable insights and support for the practical implementation of water environment management within the framework of carbon neutrality, and to advance sustainable socio-economic development and contribute to a more environmentally responsible future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixin Liu
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, China.
| | - Ziyi Xu
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, China
| | - Xiaolei Zhu
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, China
| | - Lirong Yin
- Department of Geography and Anthropology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803, LA, USA.
| | - Zhengtong Yin
- College of Resource and Environment Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China.
| | - Xiaolu Li
- School of Geographical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Wenfeng Zheng
- School of Automation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China.
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11
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Joo J, Jeong S, Shin J, Chang DY. Missing methane emissions from urban sewer networks. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 342:123101. [PMID: 38072016 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123101] [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: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Methane emissions from sewer networks are an important source of anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs) but are not currently reflected in the national GHG inventory. We found significant CH4 emissions of approximately 573 [395-831] CH4 t y-1 from sewer networks in the old residential and commercial areas of Seoul (Gwanak district) using an electric vehicle-based atmospheric GHG monitoring platform. The majority of ethane-to-methane ratios (<0.005) from the observations further suggest that distinctive CH4 emissions from sewer networks are likely related to microbial activity rather than to simple natural gas leakage. Because over 90% of the sewer network in Seoul is a gravity drain type of combined sewer network, where both wastewater and stormwater flow through the same pipes, resulting in the generation of methane emissions from the microbial activity and the manholes and rain gutters, which are directly connected to the combined sewer networks are major sources of atmospheric methane emissions. This study suggests that appropriate treatment of sewer networks can mitigate missing methane emissions in cities that were not originally included in GHG inventory of South Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaewon Joo
- Environmental Planning Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Climate Tech Center, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
| | - Sujong Jeong
- Department of Environmental Planning, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea; Climate Tech Center, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jaewon Shin
- Environmental Planning Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Climate Tech Center, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Yeong Chang
- Department of Environmental Planning, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea; Climate Tech Center, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
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12
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Cen X, Duan H, Hu Z, Huang X, Li J, Yuan Z, Zheng M. Multifaceted benefits of magnesium hydroxide dosing in sewer systems: Impacts on downstream wastewater treatment processes. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 247:120788. [PMID: 37924683 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120788] [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: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Magnesium hydroxide [Mg(OH)2] is a non-hazardous chemical widely applied in sewer systems for managing odour and corrosion. Despite its proven effectiveness in mitigating these issues, the impacts of dosing Mg(OH)2 in sewers on downstream wastewater treatment plants have not been comprehensively investigated. Through a one-year operation of laboratory-scale urban wastewater systems, including sewer reactors, sequencing batch reactors, and anaerobic sludge digesters, the findings indicated that Mg(OH)2 dosing in sewer systems had multifaceted benefits on downstream treatment processes. Compared to the control, the Mg(OH)2-dosed experimental system displayed elevated sewage pH (8.8±0.1vs 7.1±0.1), reduced sulfide concentration by 35.1%±4.9% (6.7±0.9mgSL-1), and lower methane concentration by 58.0%±4.9% (19.1±3.6mgCODL-1). Additionally, it increased alkalinity by 16.3%±2.2% (51.9±5.4mgCaCO3L-1), and volatile fatty acids concentration by 207.4%±22.2% (56.6±9.0mgCODL-1) in sewer effluent. While these changes offered limited advantages for downstream nitrogen removal in systems with sufficient alkalinity and carbon sources, significant improvements in ammonium oxidation rate and NOx reduction rate were observed in cases with limited alkalinity and carbon sources availability. Moreover, Mg(OH)2 dosing in upstream did not have any detrimental effects on anaerobic sludge digesters. Magnesium-phosphate precipitation led to a 31.7%±4.1% reduction in phosphate concertation in anaerobic digester sludge supernatant (56.1±10.4mgPL-1). The retention of magnesium in sludge increased settleability by 13.9%±1.6% and improved digested sludge dewaterability by 10.7%±5.3%. Consequently, the use of Mg(OH)2 dosing in sewers could potentially reduce downstream chemical demand and costs for carbon sources (e.g., acetate), pH adjustment and sludge dewatering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Cen
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Haoran Duan
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Zhetai Hu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Xin Huang
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jiaying Li
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Zhiguo Yuan
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Min Zheng
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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13
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Xing X, Yuan X, Zhang Y, Men C, Zhang Z, Zheng X, Ni D, Xi H, Zuo J. Enhanced denitrification of the AO-MBBR system used for expressway service area sewage treatment: A new perspective on decentralized wastewater treatment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 345:118763. [PMID: 37683385 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118763] [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: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Decentralized wastewater treatment warrants considerable development in numerous countries and regions. Owing to the unique characteristics of high ammonia nitrogen concentrations and low carbon/nitrogen ratio, nitrogen removal is a key challenge in treating expressway service area sewage. In this study, an anoxic/oxic-moving bed biofilm reactor (A/O-MBBR) and a traditional A/O bioreactor were continuously operated for 115 days and their outcomes were compared to investigate the enhancement effect of carriers on the total nitrogen removal (TN) for expressway service area sewage. Results revealed that A/O-MBBR required lower dissolved oxygen, exhibited higher tolerance toward harsh conditions, and demonstrated better shock load resistance than traditional A/O bioreactor. The TN removal load of A/O-MBBR reached 181.5 g‧N/(m3‧d), which was 15.24% higher than that of the A/O bioreactor. Furthermore, under load shock resistance, the TN removal load of A/O-MBBR still reached 327.0 g‧N/(m3‧d), with a TN removal efficiency of above 80%. Moreover, kinetics demonstrated that the denitrification rate of the A/O-MBBR was 121.9% higher than that of the A/O bioreactor, with the anoxic tank biofilm contributing 60.9% of the total denitrification rate. Community analysis results revealed that the genera OLB8, uncultured_f_Saprospiraceae and OLB12 were the dominant in biofilm loaded on carriers, and OLB8 was the key for enhanced denitrification. FAPROTAX and PICRUSt2 analyses confirmed that more bacteria associated with nitrogen metabolism were enriched by the A/O-MBBR carriers through full denitrification metabolic pathway and dissimilatory nitrate reduction pathway. This study offers a perspective into the development of cost-effective and high-efficiency treatment solutions for expressway service area sewage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Xing
- Research Institute of Highway Ministry of Transport, Beijing, 100088, China; State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Xin Yuan
- Research Institute of Highway Ministry of Transport, Beijing, 100088, China; State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Yu Zhang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Cong Men
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Zhuowei Zhang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Xiaoying Zheng
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Dong Ni
- Research Institute of Highway Ministry of Transport, Beijing, 100088, China.
| | - Huatian Xi
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Jiane Zuo
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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14
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Liu S, Guo H, Wang Y, Hou J, Zhu T, Liu Y. Peracetic acid activated by ferrous ion mitigates sulfide and methane production in rising main sewers. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 245:120584. [PMID: 37713794 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Iron-based peracetic acid (PAA) advanced oxidation process (AOP) is widely used in water purification because of its high efficiency and low toxicity. In this study, for the first time, ferrous iron (Fe2+) and PAA were dosed jointly into the rising main sewer reactor, to verify the feasibility of sulfide and methane control as well as investigate the comprehensive mechanism of Fe2+/PAA on sewer biofilm. Results demonstrated the superior biocidal effect of Fe2+/PAA dosing than that of PAA alone. Intermittent Fe2+/PAA dosing showed that the average inhibitory rate of sulfide production rate (SPR) and methane production rate (MPR) was 52.0% and 29.9%, respectively, at a Fe2+/PAA molar ratio of 1:1 and PAA concentration of 3 mmol/L (i.e., the mass-based concentrations of Fe2+ and PAA were 6.79 mg-Fe/L and 228 mg/L, respectively). Beside, sewer biofilm was found to be resistant to PAA during repeated dosing events. However, resistance could be alleviated by introducing sulfide in situ in the Fe2+/PAA process, and SPR and MPR were further reduced to 27.39% and 67.32% of the control, respectively. LIVE/DEAD Staining showed that Fe2+/PAA exhibited a strong destructive effect on microbial cells, with the proportion of viable cells being 26.34%. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and free radical quenching results indicated that the inhibitory order was R-O• > •OH > Fe(IV), which led to the disruption of cellular integrity (i.e., 17.24% increase in LDH) and intracellular enzyme system (i.e., cellular metabolic disorders). Microbial analysis revealed that long-term Fe2+/PAA dosing decreased the sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) abundance, and the dominant genus of methanogenic archaea (MA) shifted from Methanofastidiosum, Methanobacterium to Methanosaeta. The cost of Fe2+/PAA dosing on methane and sulfide control in rising main sewers was $1.81/kg-S, economically and environmental-friendly attractive for practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siru Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Haixiao Guo
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yufen Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Jiaqi Hou
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Tingting Zhu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yiwen Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
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15
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Liu Z, Xu B, Jiang YJ, Zhou Y, Sun X, Wang Y, Zhu W. Photocatalytic Conversion of Methane: Current State of the Art, Challenges, and Future Perspectives. ACS ENVIRONMENTAL AU 2023; 3:252-276. [PMID: 37743954 PMCID: PMC10515711 DOI: 10.1021/acsenvironau.3c00002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
With 28-34 times the greenhouse effect of CO2 over a 100-year period, methane is regarded as the second largest contributor to global warming. Reducing methane emissions is a necessary measure to limit global warming to below 1.5 °C. Photocatalytic conversion of methane is a promising approach to alleviate the atmospheric methane concentrations due to its low energy consumption and environmentally friendly characteristics. Meanwhile, this conversion process can produce valuable chemicals and liquid fuels such as CH3OH, CH3CH2OH, C2H6, and C2H4, cutting down the dependence of chemical production on crude oil. However, the development of photocatalysts with a high methane conversion efficiency and product selectivity remains challenging. In this review, we overview recent advances in semiconductor-based photocatalysts for methane conversion and present catalyst design strategies, including morphology control, heteroatom doping, facet engineering, and cocatalysts modification. To gain a comprehensive understanding of photocatalytic methane conversion, the conversion pathways and mechanisms in these systems are analyzed in detail. Moreover, the role of electron scavengers in methane conversion performance is briefly discussed. Subsequently, we summarize the anthropogenic methane emission scenarios on earth and discuss the application potential of photocatalytic methane conversion. Finally, challenges and future directions for photocatalytic methane conversion are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Liu
- State
Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Frontiers
Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, School of the
Environment and State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing
University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Biyang Xu
- State
Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Frontiers
Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, School of the
Environment and State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing
University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yu-Jing Jiang
- State
Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Frontiers
Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, School of the
Environment and State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing
University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Key
Laboratory for Organic Electronics & Information Displays (KLOEID),
Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing
University of Posts & Telecommunications (NJUPT), Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Xiaolian Sun
- State
Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Key Laboratory of Drug Quality
Control and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- State
Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Frontiers
Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, School of the
Environment and State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing
University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Wenlei Zhu
- State
Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Frontiers
Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, School of the
Environment and State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing
University, Nanjing 210023, China
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16
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Hu Z, Hu S, Hong PY, Zhang X, Prodanovic V, Zhang K, Ye L, Deletic A, Yuan Z, Zheng M. Impact of electrochemically generated iron on the performance of an anaerobic wastewater treatment process. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 875:162628. [PMID: 36889383 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic treatment of domestic wastewater has the advantages of lower biomass yield, lower energy demand and higher energy recover over the conventional aerobic treatment process. However, the anaerobic process has the inherent issues of excessive phosphate and sulfide in effluent and superfluous H2S and CO2 in biogas. An electrochemical method allowing for in-situ generation of Fe2+ in the anode and hydroxide ion (OH-) and H2 in the cathode was proposed to overcome the challenges simultaneously. The effect of electrochemically generated iron (e‑iron) on the performance of anaerobic wastewater treatment process was explored with four different dosages in this work. The results showed that compared to control, the experimental system displayed an increase of 13.4-28.4 % in COD removal efficiency, 12.0-21.3 % in CH4 production rate, 79.8-98.5 % in dissolved sulfide reduction, 26.0-96.0 % in phosphate removal efficiency, depending on the e‑iron dosage between 40 and 200 mg Fe/L. Dosing of the e‑iron significantly upgraded the quality of produced biogas, showing a much lower CO2 and H2S contents in biogas in experimental reactor than that in control reactor. The results thus demonstrated that e‑iron can significantly improve the performance of anaerobic wastewater treatment process, bringing multiple benefits with the increase of its dosage regarding effluent and biogas quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhetai Hu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Shihu Hu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Pei-Ying Hong
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, SA 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Xueqin Zhang
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Veljko Prodanovic
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Kefeng Zhang
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Liu Ye
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Ana Deletic
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Zhiguo Yuan
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Min Zheng
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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17
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Cen X, Li J, Jiang G, Zheng M. A critical review of chemical uses in urban sewer systems. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 240:120108. [PMID: 37257296 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Chemical dosing is the most used strategy for sulfide and methane abatement in urban sewer systems. Although conventional physicochemical methods, such as sulfide oxidation (e.g., oxygen/nitrate), precipitation (e.g., iron salts), and pH elevation (e.g., magnesium hydroxide/sodium hydroxide) have been used since the last century, the high chemical cost, large environmental footprint, and side-effects on downstream treatment processes demand a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to these approaches. In this paper, we aimed to review the currently used chemicals and significant progress made in sustainable sulfide and methane abatement technology, including 1) the use of bio-inhibitors, 2) in situ chemical production, and 3) an effective dosing strategy. To enhance the cost-effectiveness of chemical applications in urban sewer systems, two research directions have emerged: 1) online control and optimization of chemical dosing strategies and 2) integrated use of chemicals in urban sewer and wastewater treatment systems. The integration of these approaches offers considerable system-wide benefits; however, further development and comprehensive studies are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Cen
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jiuling Li
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Guangming Jiang
- School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Min Zheng
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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18
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Zuo Z, Xing Y, Duan H, Ren D, Zheng M, Liu Y, Huang X. Reducing sulfide and methane production in gravity sewer sediments through urine separation, collection and intermittent dosing. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 234:119820. [PMID: 36889087 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119820] [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: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Sulfide and methane production are a major concern in sewer management. Many solutions with the use of chemicals have been proposed yet incurring huge costs. Here, this study reports an alternative solution to reduce sulfide and methane production in sewer sediments. This is achieved through integration of urine source separation, rapid storage, and intermittent in situ re-dosing into a sewer. Based on a reasonable capacity of urine collection, an intermittent dosing strategy (i.e. 40 min per day) was designed and then experimentally tested using two laboratory sewer sediment reactors. The long-term operation showed that the proposed urine dosing in the experimental reactor effectively reduced sulfidogenic and methanogenic activities by 54% and 83%, compared to those in the control reactor. In-sediment chemical and microbial analyses revealed that the short-term exposure to urine wastewater was effective in suppressing sulfate-reducing bacteria and methanogenic archaea, particularly within a surface active zone of sediments (0-0.5 cm) likely attributed to the biocidal effect of urine free ammonia. Economic and environmental assessments indicated that the proposed urine approach can save 91% in total costs, 80% in energy consumption and 96% in greenhouse gas emissions compared to the conventional use of chemicals (including ferric salt, nitrate, sodium hydroxide, and magnesium hydroxide). These results collectively demonstrated a practical solution without chemical input to improve sewer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Zuo
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Yaxin Xing
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Haoran Duan
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Daheng Ren
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Min Zheng
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yanchen Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Xia Huang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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19
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Wang J, Zhang N, Xu S, Shao Z, Jiang C, Yuan H, Wang C, Zheng X, Chi Y, Zhang W, Wang D, Zhuang X. Carbon footprint analysis and comprehensive evaluation of municipal wastewater treatment plants under different typical upgrading and reconstruction modes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 880:163335. [PMID: 37030360 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
The issue of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from the upgrading and reconstruction of municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWWTPs) along with improved water quality is receiving attention and research. There is an urgent need to explore the impact of upgrading and reconstruction on carbon footprint (CF) in order to address concerns that the upgrading and reconstruction will increase GHG emissions while improving water quality. Here we accounted for the CF of five MWWTPs in Zhejiang Province, China, before and after three different upgrading and reconstruction models - "Improving quality and efficiency" ("Mode I"), "Upgrading and renovation" ("Mode U") and "Improving quality and efficiency plus Upgrading and renovation" ("Mode I plus U"). The upgrading and reconstruction was found to not necessarily result in more GHG emissions. In contrast, the "Mode I" had a more significant advantage in terms of CF reduction (1.82-12.6 % reduction in CF). Overall, the ratio of indirect emissions to direct emissions (indirect emissions/direct emissions) and the amount of GHG emitted per unit of pollutant removed (CFCOD、CFTN、CFTP) decreased, while both the carbon and energy neutral rates increased significantly (up to 33.29 % and 79.36 % respectively) after all three upgrading and reconstruction modes. In addition, the wastewater treatment efficiency and capacity are the main factors that affect the level of carbon emission. The results of this study can provide a calculation model that can be used for other similar MWWTPs during the upgrading and reconstruction processes. More importantly, it can provide a new research perspective as well as valuable information to revisit the impact of upgrading and reconstruction in MWWTPs on GHG emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinglin Wang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China; Yangtze River Delta Branch, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yiwu 322000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Shengjun Xu
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
| | - Zhiping Shao
- Yangtze River Delta Branch, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yiwu 322000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Cancan Jiang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Hongying Yuan
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Cong Wang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Xiaoxu Zheng
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yongzhi Chi
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Weijun Zhang
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Dongsheng Wang
- Yangtze River Delta Branch, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yiwu 322000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xuliang Zhuang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
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20
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Song C, Zhu JJ, Willis JL, Moore DP, Zondlo MA, Ren ZJ. Methane Emissions from Municipal Wastewater Collection and Treatment Systems. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:2248-2261. [PMID: 36735881 PMCID: PMC10041530 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Municipal wastewater collection and treatment systems are critical infrastructures, and they are also identified as major sources of anthropogenic CH4 emissions that contribute to climate change. The actual CH4 emissions at the plant- or regional level vary greatly due to site-specific conditions as well as high seasonal and diurnal variations. Here, we conducted the first quantitative analysis of CH4 emissions from different types of sewers and water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). We examined variations in CH4 emissions associated with methods applied in different monitoring campaigns, and identified main CH4 sources and sinks to facilitate carbon emission reduction efforts in the wastewater sector. We found plant-wide CH4 emissions vary by orders of magnitude, from 0.01 to 110 g CH4/m3 with high emissions associated with plants equipped with anaerobic digestion or stabilization ponds. Rising mains show higher dissolved CH4 concentrations than gravity sewers when transporting similar raw sewage under similar environmental conditions, but the latter dominates most collection systems around the world. Using the updated data sets, we estimated annual CH4 emission from the U.S. centralized, municipal wastewater treatment to be approximately 10.9 ± 7.0 MMT CO2-eq/year, which is about twice as the IPCC (2019) Tier 2 estimates (4.3-6.1 MMT CO2-eq/year). Given CH4 emission control will play a crucial role in achieving net zero carbon goals by the midcentury, more studies are needed to profile and mitigate CH4 emissions from the wastewater sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuihong Song
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey08544United States
| | - Jun-Jie Zhu
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey08544United States
- Andlinger
Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton
University, Princeton, New Jersey08544, United States
| | - John L. Willis
- Brown
and Caldwell, Atlanta, Georgia30328, United States
| | - Daniel P. Moore
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey08544United States
| | - Mark A. Zondlo
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey08544United States
| | - Zhiyong Jason Ren
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey08544United States
- Andlinger
Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton
University, Princeton, New Jersey08544, United States
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21
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Noyer M, Bernard M, Verneau O, Palacios C. Insights on the particle-attached riverine archaeal community shifts linked to seasons and to multipollution during a Mediterranean extreme storm event. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:49685-49702. [PMID: 36780079 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25637-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
Even if Archaea deliver important ecosystem services and are major players in global biogeochemical cycles, they remain poorly understood in freshwater ecosystems. To our knowledge, no studies specifically address the direct impact of xenobiotics on the riverine archaeome. Using environmental DNA metabarcoding of the 16S ribosomal gene, we previously demonstrated bacterial communities significant shifts linked to pollutant mixtures during an extreme flood in a typical Mediterranean coastal watercourse. Here, using the same methodology, we sought to determine whether archaeal community shifts coincided with the delivery of environmental stressors during the same flood. Further, we wanted to determine how archaea taxa compared at different seasons. In contrast to the bacteriome, the archaeome showed a specific community in summer compared to winter and autumn. We also identified a significant relationship between in situ archaeome shifts and changes in physicochemical parameters along the flood, but a less marked link to those parameters correlated to river hydrodynamics than bacteria. New urban-specific archaeal taxa significantly related to multiple stressors were identified. Through statistical modeling of both domains, our results demonstrate that Archaea, seldom considered as bioindicators of water quality, have the potential to improve monitoring methods of watersheds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mégane Noyer
- Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Cefrem, UMR5110, F-66860, Perpignan, France.,Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, UMR 5110 CNRS-UPVD Université de Perpignan Via Domitia 52 Avenue Paul Alduy 66860, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Maria Bernard
- Univ. Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,INRAE, SIGENAE, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Olivier Verneau
- Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Cefrem, UMR5110, F-66860, Perpignan, France.,Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, UMR 5110 CNRS-UPVD Université de Perpignan Via Domitia 52 Avenue Paul Alduy 66860, Perpignan Cedex, France.,Unit. for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, ZA-2520, South Africa
| | - Carmen Palacios
- Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Cefrem, UMR5110, F-66860, Perpignan, France. .,Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, UMR 5110 CNRS-UPVD Université de Perpignan Via Domitia 52 Avenue Paul Alduy 66860, Perpignan Cedex, France.
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22
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Su Q, Dai H, Xie S, Yu X, Lin Y, Singh VP, Karthikeyan R. Water-Energy-Carbon Nexus: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Integrated Urban Drainage Systems in China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:2093-2104. [PMID: 36696288 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08583] [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] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from integrated urban drainage systems (IUDSs), including sewer, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and receiving water systems, have not yet been integrated due to the lack of modeling tools. Here, we updated the computable general equilibrium-based System Dynamics and Water Environmental Model (CGE-SyDWEM), a recently developed model simulating the water-energy-carbon nexus at the watershed level, to calculate the direct and indirect (electricity use and external) GHG emissions from IUDSs considering carbon mitigation strategies and water engineering practices. The updated CGE-SyDWEM was applied to an estuary watershed in Shenzhen, the fourth largest city in China. With increasing socio-economic development and water infrastructure systems upgrading, GHG emissions are projected to increase from 129.2 (95% CI: 95.9-162.5) kt in 2007 to 190.7 (144.8-236.6) kt in 2025, with 89% from WWTPs (direct: 17%; electricity use: 65%; and external: 7%), 10% from the sewer (direct: 1% and electricity use: 9%) and 1% from receiving waters (direct). Carbon mitigation can reduce GHG emissions by 7% and emission intensity by 6% by 2025, with 63% contributed by external emission reduction from chemical uses. The integrated model can aid water, energy, and carbon decision-makers in finding cost-effective solutions for water and energy security in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Su
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina29634, United States
| | - Hancheng Dai
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
- Institute for Global Health and Development, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
| | - Shuyan Xie
- China National Environmental Monitoring Center, Beijing100012, China
| | - Xiangying Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Guangzhou510045, China
| | - Yun Lin
- Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering and Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California90095, United States
| | - Vijay P Singh
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering & Zachry Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas77843, United States
- National Water and Energy Center, UAE University, Al Ain15551, UAE
| | - Raghupathy Karthikeyan
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina29634, United States
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23
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Wei H, Liu C, Wang Y, Tao Y, Lv W, Liu Q. Transformation trend of nitrogen and phosphorus in the sediment of the sewage pipeline and their distribution along the pipeline. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159413. [PMID: 36244476 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microorganisms transform nitrogen and phosphorus in the sediment of sewage pipelines. When the sediment was scoured by water flow, these elements migrate. This work studied the changes in biofilm morphology and microbial community structure, and focused on the differences in the transformation of nitrogen and phosphorus along the pipeline. The results showed that the nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations varied systematically with time and space (the front, middle, and posterior segments of the pipe). With time, amino acid nitrogen (AAN) concentration in the sediment gradually decreased, NH4+-N concentration slowly increased, NO3--N concentration began to increase after 25 days, and TP concentration continued to increase after 9 days. The AAN, NH4+-N, and TP concentrations were highest in the posterior segment of the pipe and lowest in the front segment. However, NO3--N showed two stages: its concentration was highest in the front segment and lowest in the posterior segment during the first 17 days, after which the opposite was observed. Changes in the nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were related to the microbial communities in the sediments. The abundances of Rhodobacter (0.001 <p ≤ 0.01), Trichococcus (p ≤ 0.001), Nakamurella (0.01 <p ≤ 0.05), and norank_f__norank_o__PeM15 (0.001 <p ≤ 0.01) in the terminal sediments were significantly higher than those in the initial sediments. Meanwhile, the abundances of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Rhodobacter, norank_f__norank_o__PeM15, and Brevundimonas were different in the front, middle, and posterior segments. Furthermore, nitrogen and phosphorus were easily adsorbed on the small particles and were scoured and re-deposited on the posterior segment of the pipe, resulting in enrichment. The temporal variation in nitrogen and phosphorus and its spatial distribution along the pipeline were due to the combination of biotransformation and migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haodong Wei
- College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, China
| | - Cuiyun Liu
- College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Industrial Water-Conservation & Emission Reduction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, China.
| | - Yiyang Wang
- College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, China
| | - Yang Tao
- College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, China
| | - Wenke Lv
- College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, China
| | - Qi Liu
- College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, China
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24
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Gao Y, Shi X, Jin X, Wang XC, Jin P. A critical review of wastewater quality variation and in-sewer processes during conveyance in sewer systems. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 228:119398. [PMID: 36436409 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In-sewer physio-biochemical processes cause significant variations of wastewater quality during conveyance, which affects the influent to a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and arguably the microbial community of biological treatment units in a WWTP. In wet weather, contaminants stored in sewer deposits can be resuspended and migrate downstream or be released during combined sewer overflows to the urban water bodies, posing challenges to the treatment facilities or endangering urban water quality. Therefore, in-sewer transformation and migration of contaminants have been extensively studied. The compiled results from representative research in the past few decades showed that biochemical reactions are both cross-sectionally and longitudinally organized in the deposits and the sewage, following the redox potential as well as the sequence of macromolecule/contaminant degradation. The sewage organic contents and sewer biofilm microorganisms were found to covary but more systematic studies are required to examine the temporal stability of the feature. Besides, unique communities can be developed in the sewage phase. The enrichment of the major sewage-associated microorganisms can be explained by the availability of biodegradable organic contents in sewers. The sewer deposits, including biofilms, harbor both microorganisms and contaminants and usually can provide longer residence time for in-sewer transformation than wastewater. However, the interrelationships among contaminant transformation, microorganisms in the deposits/biofilms, and those in the sewage are largely unclear. Specifically, the formation and migration of FOG (fat, oil, and grease) deposits, generation and transport of contaminants in the sewer atmosphere (e.g., H2S, CH4, volatile organic compounds, bioaerosols), transport and transformation of nonconventional contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products, and wastewater quality variation during the biofilm rehabilitation period after damages caused by rains/storms are some topics for future research. Moreover, systematic and standardized field analysis of real sewers under dynamic wastewater discharge conditions is necessary. We believe that an improved understanding of these processes would assist in sewer management and better prepare us for the challenges brought about by climate change and water shortage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaohuan Gao
- Institute of Global Environmental Change, School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xuan Shi
- Institute of Global Environmental Change, School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xin Jin
- Institute of Global Environmental Change, School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiaochang C Wang
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710055, China
| | - Pengkang Jin
- Institute of Global Environmental Change, School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
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25
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Solís B, Guisasola A, Pijuan M, Baeza JA. Exploring GHG emissions in the mainstream SCEPPHAR configuration during wastewater resource recovery. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 849:157626. [PMID: 35901871 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157626] [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: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The wastewater sector paradigm is shifting from wastewater treatment to resource recovery. In addition, concerns regarding sustainability during the operation have increased. In this sense, many water utilities have become aware of the potential GHG emissions during the operation of wastewater treatment. This study assesses the nitrous oxide and methane emissions during the long-term operation of a novel wastewater resource recovery facility (WRRF) configuration: the mainstream SCEPPHAR. The long-term N2O and CH4 emission factors calculated were in the low range of the literature, 1 % and 0.1 %, respectively, even with high nitrite accumulation in the case of N2O. The dynamics and possible sources of production of these emissions are discussed. Finally, different aeration strategies were implemented to study the impact on the N2O emissions in the nitrifying reactor. Results showed that operating the pilot-plant under different dissolved oxygen concentrations (between 1 and 3 g O2 m-3) did not have an effect on the N2O emission factor. Intermittent aeration was the aeration strategy that most mitigated the N2O emissions in the nitrifying reactor, obtaining a reduction of 40 % compared to the normal operation of the pilot plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Borja Solís
- GENOCOV, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Albert Guisasola
- GENOCOV, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Maite Pijuan
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; University of Girona, Girona, Spain.
| | - Juan Antonio Baeza
- GENOCOV, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
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26
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Sun Y, Ter Heijne A, Rijnaarts H, Chen WS. The effect of anode potential on electrogenesis, methanogenesis and sulfidogenesis in a simulated sewer condition. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 226:119229. [PMID: 36242938 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Methane emissions from the sewer system are considered to be a non-negligible source of aggravating the greenhouse effect. Meanwhile, the sewer system has long been plagued by sulfide-induced corrosion problems. This study explored the possibility of using a bioelectrochemical system to intensify the competition between electroactive bacteria, methanogens and sulfate-reducing bacteria, thereby reducing the production of methane and sulfide. Dual-chamber bioelectrochemical reactors were constructed and operated in fed-batch mode with the coexistence of Electroactive bacteria, Methanogenic archaea and Sulfate-reducing bacteria. Acetate was supplied as the sole carbon source. The results indicated that electrogenesis induced by the anode potentials of -0.42 V and -0.2 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) had advantages over methanogenesis and sulfidogenesis in consuming acetate. The stimulated electrogenesis by anode potentials resulted in a decrease in pH. Methane production was suppressed in the reactors with anode potentials of -0.42 and -0.2 V compared to open circuit controls. In contrast to methane, the capacity for sulfide production was facilitated in the reactors with the anode potentials of -0.42 V and -0.2 V compared to open circuit controls. 16s rRNA gene analysis showed that Geobacter was the most abundant genus on the anode biofilm in the anode potential-controlled reactor, while acetoclastic methanogens dominated in open circuit controls. Methanosaeta and Methanosarcina were the most abundant methanogens in open circuit controls. Collectively, our study demonstrates that the use of electrodes with anode potential control can help to control methane emissions, but could not yet prevent sulfide production, which requires further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Sun
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Annemiek Ter Heijne
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Huub Rijnaarts
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Wei-Shan Chen
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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27
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Hu Z, Zheng M, Hu S, Hong PY, Zhang X, Prodanovic V, Zhang K, Pikaar I, Ye L, Deletic A, Yuan Z. Electrochemical iron production to enhance anaerobic membrane treatment of wastewater. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 225:119202. [PMID: 36215837 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119202] [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: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Although iron salts such as iron(III) chloride (FeCl3) have widespread application in wastewater treatment, safety concerns limit their use, due to the corrosive nature of concentrated solutions. This study demonstrates that local, electrochemical generation of iron is a viable alternative to the use of iron salts. Three laboratory systems with anaerobic membrane processes were set up to treat real wastewater; two systems used the production of either in-situ or ex-situ electrochemical iron (as Fe2+ and Fe2+(Fe3+)2O4, respectively), while the other system served as a control. These systems were operated for over one year to assess the impact of electrochemically produced iron on system performance. The results showed that dosing of electrochemical iron significantly reduced sulfide concentration in effluent and hydrogen sulfide content in biogas, and mitigated organics-based membrane fouling, all of which are critical issues inherently related to sustainability of anaerobic wastewater treatment. The electrochemical iron strategy can generate multiple benefits for wastewater management including increased removal efficiencies for total and volatile suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand and phosphorus. The rate of methane production also increased with electrochemically produced iron. Economic analysis revealed the viability of electrochemical iron with total cost reduced by one quarter to a third compared with using FeCl3. These benefits indicate that electrochemical iron dosing can greatly enhance the overall operation and performance of anaerobic membrane processes, and this particularly facilitates wastewater management in a decentralized scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhetai Hu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Min Zheng
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Shihu Hu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Pei-Ying Hong
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, SA 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Xueqing Zhang
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Veljko Prodanovic
- Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Kefeng Zhang
- Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Ilje Pikaar
- School of Civil Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Liu Ye
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Ana Deletic
- Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Zhiguo Yuan
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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28
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Beelen B, Parker W. A probabilistic approach to the quantification of methane generation in sewer networks. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 320:115775. [PMID: 35932741 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the conveyance of wastewater is an essential part of emissions reduction as it can identify areas of high emissions that can be targeted for mitigative action. In this study, a Monte Carlo algorithm that employs a reach-based methane generation sub-model was developed and applied to a full-scale municipal sewer system in Ontario, Canada. The algorithm employed eight categories of random variables including sewage temperature, slope, and coefficients described in the sewer reach model. Using best estimates for the employed distributions and algorithm design choices, it was estimated that 2.1-3.0 g CH4/m3 (of total wastewater conveyed) is generated in the sewer system. Gravity reaches contributed 1.3-2.2 g CH4/m3, and force main reaches contributed 0.6-0.9 g CH4/m3, or 30% of total sewer-generated methane despite contributing only 4.4% of total network length. The results suggest that addressing force main methane generation (such as employing chemical addition) could reduce a large fraction of sewer-generated methane while only requiring action on a small fraction of sewer reaches which is consistent with literature. Extending the results from this study to all sewage generated in Canada indicates that anthropogenic emissions from the wastewater sector are increased by 28-40% if sewer-generated methane is included in the assessment. After testing alternative distributions and model designs, it was determined that replacing the fullness and temperature distributions with constant (no distribution) average conditions yielded identical results to that of the base case assessment, suggesting that these random variables can be excluded from future modelling exercises. It was also observed that treating model coefficients as random variables resulted in a significant increase in the standard deviation of estimates, indicating that much of the uncertainty in the results is due to the uncertainty associated with the model coefficients. The results were sensitive to the temperature correction coefficient in the methane generation model and the Manning's n used in flow calculations; indicating that dedicating resources to accurately characterize these values will increase model accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Beelen
- University of Waterloo, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 200 University Avenue W, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - Wayne Parker
- University of Waterloo, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 200 University Avenue W, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
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29
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Shrestha A, Bhattarai TN, Ghimire S, Mainali B, Treichel H, Paudel SR. Estimation of greenhouse gases emission from domestic wastewater in Nepal: A scenario-based analysis applicable for developing countries. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 300:134501. [PMID: 35395260 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Domestic wastewater and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are key emitters of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Quantifying these emissions in the present and future is crucial to tackle global climate change issues. As a developing country with few rural and urban wastewater treatment facilities, Nepal may have a unique opportunity to reduce future GHGs emissions by a proper selection of wastewater treatment technology. In this paper, the authors used Python programming to estimate the GHGs emissions from the domestic wastewater sector in Nepal under various technological development scenarios for 2020 to 2040 using the refined 2019 estimation methodology developed by Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Results show total equivalent CO2 emission of 3829.43 and 4523.65 Gigagrams in 2020 and 2040, respectively. The 2020 value is seven times greater than Nepal's 2017 national estimates because this study considered rural population and updated methodology. Comparing the technology development scenarios with the Business as Usual scenario, the highest GHGs reduction could be achieved by hybrid constructed wetlands (69.20%) followed by a combined anaerobic and aerobic system with biogas recovery for energy generation (61.72%). Further accuracy may be attained only through the actual measurement of WWTPs emissions and country-specific emission factors. Thus, this paper proposes GHGs estimation of future scenarios portraying urban and rural populations may be invaluable to policymakers of GHGs mitigation for selection of feasible WWTPs, especially in developing countries with limited wastewater treatment facilities and wastewater activity data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aman Shrestha
- Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Pulchowk, Lalitpur, 44700, Nepal
| | - Tek Narayan Bhattarai
- Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Pulchowk, Lalitpur, 44700, Nepal
| | - Swastik Ghimire
- Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Pulchowk, Lalitpur, 44700, Nepal
| | - Bandita Mainali
- School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; School of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC, 3550, Australia
| | - Helen Treichel
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Bioprocesses, Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Fronteira Sul - UFFS, Erechim, RS, Brazil
| | - Shukra Raj Paudel
- Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Pulchowk, Lalitpur, 44700, Nepal; Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Science and Technology, Korea University, Sejong, Republic of Korea.
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30
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Li L, Wang X, Miao J, Abulimiti A, Jing X, Ren N. Carbon neutrality of wastewater treatment - A systematic concept beyond the plant boundary. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 11:100180. [PMID: 36158752 PMCID: PMC9488052 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2022.100180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Recently, every industry has been working to achieve carbon neutrality, and the wastewater sector is no exception. However, little research focuses on the carbon accounting of wastewater treatment and the roadmap to carbon neutrality. Here, to systematically perform accounting, we provide a sketch that describes three boundaries of the wastewater system and propose that the carbon neutrality of the wastewater system is far beyond the plant boundary. Moreover, we identify the direct and indirect carbon emissions of wastewater treatment. In addition to direct emissions of CH4 and N2O, direct fossil CO2 emissions from wastewater treatment should be included in accounting to set accurate guidelines. Next, the technologies that assist in achieving carbon-neutral wastewater treatment both within-the-fence of wastewater treatment plants and beyond the plant boundary are summarized. All measurements of energy recovery, resource recovery, and water reuse contribute to reaching this goal. The concepts of energy neutrality and carbon neutrality are identified. Successful wastewater treatment cases in energy self-sufficiency may not achieve carbon neutrality. Meanwhile, resource recovery methods are encouraged, especially to produce carbon-based materials. Ultimately, the trend of preference for the decentralized sewage treatment system is pinpointed, and systematic thinking to set the urban infrastructure layout as a whole is advocated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, PR China
| | - Xiuheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, PR China
| | - Jingyu Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, PR China
| | - Aliya Abulimiti
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, PR China
| | - Xinsheng Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, PR China
| | - Nanqi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, PR China
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Corresponding author. State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, PR China.
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31
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González D, Colón J, Sánchez A, Gabriel D. Multipoint characterization of the emission of odour, volatile organic compounds and greenhouse gases from a full-scale membrane-based municipal WWTP. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 313:115002. [PMID: 35390658 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Different environmental and social concerns can arise due to the generation of gaseous emissions during the treatment of urban wastewater. However, there is not an extensive knowledge about which are the main potential odour and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission sources in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and their variability. In this study, a multipoint characterization of the gaseous emissions generated in a full-scale municipal WWTP located in Barcelona was conducted, aiming at identifying the main odour and GHG emission sources. The WWTP under study treats an average inlet flow of 33,000 m3 d-1 using a Ludzack-Ettinger system with Membrane BioReactor (MBR) technology, and it has installed a gas caption and treatment system consisting of a biotrickling filter followed by a conventional biofilter to treat part of the off-gases produced during the wastewater treatment. For this work, gaseous emissions characterization campaigns were conducted to assess the proper performance of the gas treatment unit and to estimate the emission factors referred to odorants and GHGs for the different emission sources and to assess the proper performance of the gas treatment system. Besides, a chemical characterization of the different volatile organic compounds (VOC) present in the gaseous emissions was performed through TD-GC/MS. The main potential odour sources were the reception tank, the barscreens building and the primary settler, where odour concentrations were in the range of 1300 and 2600 ou·m-3. Moreover, GHG emissions were found during the primary treatment and in the MBR units, ranging from 2.21 to 68,217.13 mg CO2eq·m-3. Different VOCs such as aromatic hydrocarbons, alkanes and ketones were found in the gaseous emissions with a high variability among all the emission sources. The results obtained are valuable indicators that can be used to develop odour and GHG mitigation strategies in WWTPs and to estimate the environmental impact of these facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel González
- Composting Research Group (GICOM) Dept. of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Group of Biological Treatment of Liquid and Gaseous Effluents (GENOCOV) Dept. of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Colón
- BETA Technology Centre: "U Science Tech", University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, 08500, Vic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antoni Sánchez
- Composting Research Group (GICOM) Dept. of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Gabriel
- Group of Biological Treatment of Liquid and Gaseous Effluents (GENOCOV) Dept. of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
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32
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Ren D, Zuo Z, Xing Y, Ji P, Yu T, Zhu D, Liu Y, Huang X. Simultaneous control of sulfide and methane in sewers achieved by a physical approach targeting dominant active zone in sediments. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 211:118010. [PMID: 35021123 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.118010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Sewer sediments not only induce sewer blockages, but also contributes to significant sulfide and methane productions in gravity sewer systems. Chemical control of sulfide and methane production is extremely expensive. This study aims to propose a novel physical control approach-intermittent surface sediment flushing to synchronously address sediment-induced multiple issues. The proposed approach was established investigating the suppression and recovery characteristics of sulfidogenic and methanogenic activities of sediments including the in-situ activity analysis by using the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT). The results showed that ∼70% of total sulfide and methane production in sediments was contributed by surface sediments (0-1.5 cm), which could be easily flushed away by a low shear stress (<0.1 N/m2). Surface sediment flushing resulted in an immediate reduction in sulfidogenic and methanogenic activities, which both required about one week to recover to 50% of the maximum. These novel insights hopefully provide a feasible approach, i.e., intermittent surface sediment flushing, to effectively reduce sulfide and methane production in sewers. Compared with chemical dosing methods, the proposed approach, which has no chemical input, greatly reduces operating cost and environment impact. Moreover, intermittent surface flushing is expected to keep sediment thickness within a certain range to alleviate sewer blockage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daheng Ren
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhiqiang Zuo
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yaxin Xing
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Penghui Ji
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Tong Yu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - David Zhu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Yanchen Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Xia Huang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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33
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Zan F, Tang W, Jiang F, Chen G. Diversion of food waste into the sulfate-laden sewer: Interaction and electron flow of sulfidogenesis and methanogenesis. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 202:117437. [PMID: 34298275 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Diverting food waste (FW) into the sulfate-laden sewer may pose a significant influence on the production of methane and sulfide in sewers. Identifying microbial electron utilization is essential to understanding the interaction of sulfidogenesis and methanogenesis in depth. Here, we reported sulfide and methane production from the sewer bioreactors receiving sulfate-laden wastewater (160 mg S/L), with and without FW addition. Long-term monitoring showed that the addition of FW (1 g/L) could boost both sulfide (by 39%) and methane (by 44%) production. As for the electrons used for sulfidogenesis and methanogenesis, about 98% flowed to sulfidogenesis. Cryosection-fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that high sulfate content suppressed the accumulation of methanogens in biofilm outer layer, whereas methanogens in the inner layer were enriched with FW addition. Moreover, the FW addition fostered the diversity of the fermentative bacteria and changed the type of methanogens in biofilms, and up-regulated the key enzymes expressions for sulfidogenesis and methanogenesis. A model-based investigation suggests that increased FW-to-sewage ratios would exert a significant impact on methane production than on sulfide production. The microbial electron flows were highly dependent on sulfate concentration and FW-to-sewage ratios. The findings of this study suggest that sulfate and substrate levels play a key role in microbial electron utilization for sulfide and methane production, and diverting FW into the sulfate-laden sewer may exert negative impacts on sewer management and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feixiang Zan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Water & Wastewater Treatment, MOHURD, and Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center for Water Quality Safety and Pollution Control, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution (Hong Kong Branch) and Water Technology Center, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wentao Tang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution (Hong Kong Branch) and Water Technology Center, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Feng Jiang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Guanghao Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution (Hong Kong Branch) and Water Technology Center, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
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34
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Bartosiewicz M, Coggins LX, Glaz P, Cortés A, Bourget S, Reichwaldt ES, MacIntyre S, Ghadouani A, Laurion I. Integrated approach towards quantifying carbon dioxide and methane release from waste stabilization ponds. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 202:117389. [PMID: 34274901 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Accurate estimations of gaseous emissions and carbon sequestration in wastewater processing are essential for the design, operation and planning of treatment infrastructure, particularly considering greenhouse gas reduction targets. In this study, we look at the interplay between biological productivity, hydrodynamics and evasion of carbon-based greenhouse gases (GHG) through diffusion and ebullition in order to provide direction for more accurate assessments of their emissions from waste stabilization ponds (WSPs). The ponds stratified in the day and mixed at night. Buoyancy flux contributed between 40 and 75% to turbulence in the water column during nocturnal cooling events, and the associated mixing lead to increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) concentrations by up to an order of magnitude in the surface. The onset of stratification and phytoplankton surface blooms, associated with high pH as well as low and variable CO2 partial pressure resulted in an overall reduction of CO2 efflux. Ebullition represented between 40 and 99% of the total CH4 efflux, and up to 95% of the integrated GHG release during wastewater treatment (in CO2 equivalents). Hydrodynamic conditions, diurnal variability and ebullition need to be accounted for reliable assessments of GHG emissions from WSPs. Our study is an important step towards gaining a deeper understanding in the functioning of these hot spots of carbon processing. The contribution of WSPs to atmospheric GHG budget is likely to increase with population growth unless their performance is improved in this regard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Bartosiewicz
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Western Australia, Australia; University of Basel, Department of Environmental Sciences, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Liah X Coggins
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Western Australia, Australia.
| | - Patricia Glaz
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Western Australia, Australia; Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, 490 rue de la Couronne, Quebec City, Quebec, G1K 9A9, Canada.
| | - Alicia Cortés
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-6150, USA.
| | - Sebastien Bourget
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, 490 rue de la Couronne, Quebec City, Quebec, G1K 9A9, Canada.
| | - Elke S Reichwaldt
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Western Australia, Australia.
| | - Sally MacIntyre
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-6150, USA; Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-6150, USA.
| | - Anas Ghadouani
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Western Australia, Australia.
| | - Isabelle Laurion
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, 490 rue de la Couronne, Quebec City, Quebec, G1K 9A9, Canada.
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35
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Wang J, Liu GH, Wang J, Xu X, Shao Y, Zhang Q, Liu Y, Qi L, Wang H. Current status, existent problems, and coping strategy of urban drainage pipeline network in China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:43035-43049. [PMID: 34125384 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14802-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Urban drainage pipeline systems collect and transport domestic sewage, industrial wastewater, and rainwater. They are important components of urban infrastructure. The quality of drainage facilities directly determines the level of urban development and affects the urban landscape and sanitary environment. In recent years, however, the phenomenon of "attaching importance to construction, despising management and maintenance" has prevailed in China's urban drainage pipeline network. The problems such as structural damage, corrosion, and blockage of the sewage pipelines are becoming increasingly prominent in China, causing a lot of operational challenges such as direct discharge of sewage, backward irrigation of river and lake water, infiltration of external water, and overflow pollution. To comprehensively acquire these information about China's urban drainage pipeline network, this paper reviews current status of construction, operation, management and maintenance, existent problems, and coping strategy of the sewage pipelines. Finally, future directions are also discussed in detail for rational construction and maintenance of sewage pipelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Wang
- Low-carbon Water Environmental Technology Center, School of Environment & Natural Resource, Renmin University of China, 59 Zhongguancun Street, Beijing, 100872, People's Republic of China
| | - Guo-Hua Liu
- Low-carbon Water Environmental Technology Center, School of Environment & Natural Resource, Renmin University of China, 59 Zhongguancun Street, Beijing, 100872, People's Republic of China.
| | - Junyan Wang
- Low-carbon Water Environmental Technology Center, School of Environment & Natural Resource, Renmin University of China, 59 Zhongguancun Street, Beijing, 100872, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianglong Xu
- Low-carbon Water Environmental Technology Center, School of Environment & Natural Resource, Renmin University of China, 59 Zhongguancun Street, Beijing, 100872, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuting Shao
- Low-carbon Water Environmental Technology Center, School of Environment & Natural Resource, Renmin University of China, 59 Zhongguancun Street, Beijing, 100872, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Low-carbon Water Environmental Technology Center, School of Environment & Natural Resource, Renmin University of China, 59 Zhongguancun Street, Beijing, 100872, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuchen Liu
- Low-carbon Water Environmental Technology Center, School of Environment & Natural Resource, Renmin University of China, 59 Zhongguancun Street, Beijing, 100872, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Qi
- Low-carbon Water Environmental Technology Center, School of Environment & Natural Resource, Renmin University of China, 59 Zhongguancun Street, Beijing, 100872, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hongchen Wang
- Low-carbon Water Environmental Technology Center, School of Environment & Natural Resource, Renmin University of China, 59 Zhongguancun Street, Beijing, 100872, People's Republic of China
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36
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Khabiri B, Ferdowsi M, Buelna G, Jones JP, Heitz M. Bioelimination of low methane concentrations emitted from wastewater treatment plants: a review. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2021; 42:450-467. [PMID: 34261394 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2021.1940830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Sewage from residents and industries is collected and transported to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with sewer networks. The operation of WWTPs results in emissions of greenhouse gases, such as methane (CH4), mostly due to sludge anaerobic digestion. Amounts of emissions depend on the source of influent, i.e. municipal and industrial wastewater as well as sewer systems (gravity and rising). Wastewater is the fifth-largest source of anthropogenic CH4 emissions in the world and represents 7-9% of total global CH4 emissions into the atmosphere. Global wastewater CH4 emission grew by approximately 20% from 2005 to 2020 and is expected to grow by 8% between 2020 and 2030, which makes wastewater an important CH4 emitter worldwide. This review initially considers the emission of CH4 from WWTPs and sewer networks. In the second part, biotechniques available for biodegradation of low CH4 concentrations (<5% v/v) encountered in WWTPs have been studied. The paper reviews major bioreactor configurations for the treatment of polluted air, i.e. biotrickling filters, bioscrubbers, two-liquid phase bioreactors, biofilters, and hybrid reactor configurations, after which it focuses on CH4 biofiltration systems. Biofiltration represents a simple and efficient approach to bio-oxidize CH4 in waste gases from WWTPs. Major factors influencing a biofilter's performance along with knowledge gaps in relation to its application for treating gaseous emissions from WWTPs are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahman Khabiri
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Milad Ferdowsi
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Gerardo Buelna
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - J Peter Jones
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Michèle Heitz
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
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37
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Cotovicz LC, Ribeiro RP, Régis CR, Bernardes M, Sobrinho R, Vidal LO, Tremmel D, Knoppers BA, Abril G. Greenhouse gas emissions (CO 2 and CH 4) and inorganic carbon behavior in an urban highly polluted tropical coastal lagoon (SE, Brazil). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:38173-38192. [PMID: 33723789 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13362-2] [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: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Increasing eutrophication of coastal waters generates disturbances in greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations and emissions to the atmosphere that are still poorly documented, particularly in the tropics. Here, we investigated the concentrations and diffusive fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) in the urban-dominated Jacarepagua Lagoon Complex (JLC) in Southeastern Brazil. This lagoonal complex receives highly polluted freshwater and shows frequent occurrences of anoxia and hypoxia and dense phytoplankton blooms. Between 2017 and 2018, four spatial surveys were performed (dry and wet conditions), with sampling in the river waters that drain the urban watershed and in the lagoon waters with increasing salinities. Strong oxygen depletion was found in the rivers, associated with extremely high values of partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2; up to 20,417 ppmv) and CH4 concentrations (up to 288,572 nmol L-1). These high GHG concentrations are attributed to organic matter degradation from untreated domestic effluents mediated by aerobic and anaerobic processes, with concomitant production of total alkalinity (TA) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). In the lagoon, GHG concentrations decreased mainly due to dilution with seawater and degassing. In addition, the phytoplankton growth and CH4 oxidation apparently consumed some CO2 and CH4, respectively. TA concentrations showed a marked minimum at salinity of ~20 compared to the two freshwater and marine end members, indicating processes of re-oxidation of inorganic reduced species from the low-salinity region, such as ammonia, iron, and/or sulfides. Diffusive emissions of gases from the entire lagoon ranged from 22 to 48 mmol C m-2 d-1 for CO2 and from 2.2 to 16.5 mmol C m-2 d-1 for CH4. This later value is among the highest documented in coastal waters. In terms of global warming potential (GWP) and CO2 equivalent emissions (CO2-eq), the diffusive emissions of CH4 were higher than those of CO2. These results highlight that highly polluted coastal ecosystems are hotspots of GHG emissions to the atmosphere, which may become increasingly significant in future global carbon budgets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz C Cotovicz
- Programa de Geoquímica, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
| | - Renato P Ribeiro
- Centro Experimental de Monitoramento e Mitigação Ambiental (CEMMA), Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio de Janeiro (IFRJ), Nilópolis, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - Marcelo Bernardes
- Programa de Geoquímica, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Sobrinho
- Programa de Geoquímica, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Luciana Oliveira Vidal
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
| | - Daniel Tremmel
- Programa de Geoquímica, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Bastiaan A Knoppers
- Programa de Geoquímica, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Gwenaël Abril
- Programa de Geoquímica, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
- Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), UMR 7208, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, IRD, SU, UCN, UA, Paris, France
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38
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Wang S, Liu Q, Li J, Wang Z. Methane in wastewater treatment plants: status, characteristics, and bioconversion feasibility by methane oxidizing bacteria for high value-added chemicals production and wastewater treatment. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 198:117122. [PMID: 33865027 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Methane is a type of renewable fuel that can generate many types of high value-added chemicals, however, besides heat and power production, there is little methane utilization in most of the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) all round the world currently. In this review, the status of methane production performance from WWTPs was firstly investigated. Subsequently, based on the identification and classification of methane oxidizing bacteria (MOB), the key enzymes and metabolic pathway of MOB were presented in depth. Then the production, extraction and purification process of high value-added chemicals, including methanol, ectoine, biofuel, bioplastic, methane protein and extracellular polysaccharides, were introduced in detail, which was conducive to understand the bioconversion process of methane. Finally, the use of methane in wastewater treatment process, including nitrogen removal, emerging contaminants removal as well as resource recovery was extensively explored. These findings could provide guidance in the development of sustainable economy and environment, and facilitate biological methane conversion by using MOB in further attempts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Biomass Energy and Carbon Reduction Technology, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu College of Water Treatment Technology and Material Collaborative Innovation Center, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Qixin Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Ji Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Biomass Energy and Carbon Reduction Technology, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu College of Water Treatment Technology and Material Collaborative Innovation Center, Suzhou 215009, China.
| | - Zhiwu Wang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Manassas, VA 20110, USA.
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39
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Lu L, Li X, Li Z, Chen Y, Sabio Y García CA, Yang J, Luo F, Zou X. Aerobic methanotrophs in an urban water cycle system: Community structure and network interaction pattern. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 772:145045. [PMID: 33770879 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) play an important role in reducing methane emissions in nature. Most current researches focus on the natural habitats (e.g., lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, paddy fields, etc.). However, methanotrophs and the methane-oxidizing process remain essentially unclear in artificial habitat, such as the urban water cycle systems. Here, high-throughput sequencing and qPCR were used to analyze the community structure and abundance of MOB. Six different systems were selected from Yunyang City, Chongqing, China, including the raw water system (RW), the water supply pipe network system (SP), the wastewater pipe network system (WP), the hospital wastewater treatment system (HP), the municipal wastewater treatment plant system (WT) and the downstream river system (ST) of a wastewater treatment plant. Results clearly showed that the MOB community structure and network interaction patterns of the urban water cycle system were different from those of natural water bodies. Type I MOB was the dominant clade in HP. Methylocysis in Type II was the most abundant genus among the whole urban water cycle system, indicating that this genus had a high adaptability to the environment. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and concentration significantly affected the MOB communities in the urban water cycle system. The network of MOB in WT was the most complicated, and there were competitive relationships among species in WP. The structure of the network in HP was unstable, and therefore, it was vulnerable to environmental disturbances. Methylocystis (Type II) and Methylomonas (Type I) were the most important keystone species in the entire urban water cycle system. Overall, these findings broaden the understanding of the distribution and interaction patterns of MOB communities in an urban water cycle system and provide valuable clues for ecosystem restoration and environmental management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lunhui Lu
- Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China
| | - Xinrui Li
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, China
| | - Zhe Li
- Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China.
| | - Yao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, China
| | - Carmen A Sabio Y García
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Depto. Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Int. Güiraldes 2620, Pabellón II, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 1428 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), Argentina
| | - Jixiang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China
| | - Fang Luo
- Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China; Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, China
| | - Xi Zou
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Impacts of Hydraulic-Projects and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystem of Ministry of Water Resources, Institute of Hydroecology, Ministry of Water Resources and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430079, PR China
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Guerrero-Cruz S, Vaksmaa A, Horn MA, Niemann H, Pijuan M, Ho A. Methanotrophs: Discoveries, Environmental Relevance, and a Perspective on Current and Future Applications. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:678057. [PMID: 34054786 PMCID: PMC8163242 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.678057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Methane is the final product of the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter. The conversion of organic matter to methane (methanogenesis) as a mechanism for energy conservation is exclusively attributed to the archaeal domain. Methane is oxidized by methanotrophic microorganisms using oxygen or alternative terminal electron acceptors. Aerobic methanotrophic bacteria belong to the phyla Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia, while anaerobic methane oxidation is also mediated by more recently discovered anaerobic methanotrophs with representatives in both the bacteria and the archaea domains. The anaerobic oxidation of methane is coupled to the reduction of nitrate, nitrite, iron, manganese, sulfate, and organic electron acceptors (e.g., humic substances) as terminal electron acceptors. This review highlights the relevance of methanotrophy in natural and anthropogenically influenced ecosystems, emphasizing the environmental conditions, distribution, function, co-existence, interactions, and the availability of electron acceptors that likely play a key role in regulating their function. A systematic overview of key aspects of ecology, physiology, metabolism, and genomics is crucial to understand the contribution of methanotrophs in the mitigation of methane efflux to the atmosphere. We give significance to the processes under microaerophilic and anaerobic conditions for both aerobic and anaerobic methane oxidizers. In the context of anthropogenically influenced ecosystems, we emphasize the current and potential future applications of methanotrophs from two different angles, namely methane mitigation in wastewater treatment through the application of anaerobic methanotrophs, and the biotechnological applications of aerobic methanotrophs in resource recovery from methane waste streams. Finally, we identify knowledge gaps that may lead to opportunities to harness further the biotechnological benefits of methanotrophs in methane mitigation and for the production of valuable bioproducts enabling a bio-based and circular economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Guerrero-Cruz
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Girona, Spain
- Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Annika Vaksmaa
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, ’t Horntje, Netherlands
| | - Marcus A. Horn
- Institute of Microbiology, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Helge Niemann
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, ’t Horntje, Netherlands
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Centre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate, Department of Geosciences, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Maite Pijuan
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Girona, Spain
- Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Adrian Ho
- Institute of Microbiology, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Hannover, Germany
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
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Wang J, Xu X, Liu S, Shao Y, Zhang J, Wang J, Li Q, He Y, Wang Y, Sun W, Luo F, Qi W, Liu G, Qi L, Wang H. Modeling sulfide production in full flow concrete sewers based on the HRT variation of sewerage. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2021; 83:2063-2074. [PMID: 33989176 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2021.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The corrosion and odor in concrete sewers are mainly related to the sulfide production, which is, under certain circumstances, directly proportional to the hydraulic retention time (HRT) of the sewer. To reduce the corrosion and control the odor in concrete sewers, it is necessary to model the production of sulfide in the concrete sewers with different HRTs. However, previous researches were mostly carried out in simulated Perspex-made sewers, and the obtained theoretical formulas based on the Monod equation were impractical because of the complexity. An actual concrete pipe with domestic sewage was employed in this study to obtain a simple but practical model, which can be applied to quantitively describe the sulfide production according to the HRT of the sewer and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the sewage. The empirical equation obtained was rs = (0.045 × lnHRT + 0.071) × ([COD] - b)0.6, the coefficient is a logarithmic function of the HRT, and the sulfide production rate and COD have a power relationship. Based on the data of COD and HRT obtained in the realistic sewer, the production of sulfide in the sewer can be predicted for better maintaining sewers through sulfide control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyan Wang
- Low-Carbon Water Environment Technology Research Center, School of Environment & Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China E-mail: ; † These two authors are co-first authors
| | - Xianglong Xu
- Low-Carbon Water Environment Technology Research Center, School of Environment & Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China E-mail: ; † These two authors are co-first authors
| | - Shuai Liu
- Low-Carbon Water Environment Technology Research Center, School of Environment & Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China E-mail:
| | - Yuting Shao
- Low-Carbon Water Environment Technology Research Center, School of Environment & Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China E-mail:
| | - Jingbing Zhang
- Low-Carbon Water Environment Technology Research Center, School of Environment & Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China E-mail:
| | - Jian Wang
- Low-Carbon Water Environment Technology Research Center, School of Environment & Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China E-mail:
| | - Qinyu Li
- Low-Carbon Water Environment Technology Research Center, School of Environment & Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China E-mail:
| | - Yuanpu He
- Low-Carbon Water Environment Technology Research Center, School of Environment & Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China E-mail:
| | - Yue Wang
- Low-Carbon Water Environment Technology Research Center, School of Environment & Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China E-mail:
| | - Wenzhuo Sun
- Low-Carbon Water Environment Technology Research Center, School of Environment & Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China E-mail:
| | - Fangzhou Luo
- Low-Carbon Water Environment Technology Research Center, School of Environment & Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China E-mail:
| | - Wei Qi
- Low-Carbon Water Environment Technology Research Center, School of Environment & Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China E-mail:
| | - Guohua Liu
- Low-Carbon Water Environment Technology Research Center, School of Environment & Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China E-mail:
| | - Lu Qi
- Low-Carbon Water Environment Technology Research Center, School of Environment & Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China E-mail:
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Chen H, Wang Z, Liu H, Nie Y, Zhu Y, Jia Q, Ding G, Ye J. Variable sediment methane production in response to different source-associated sewer sediment types and hydrological patterns: Role of the sediment microbiome. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 190:116670. [PMID: 33296733 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Production of methane (CH4), an essential anthropogenic greenhouse gas, from municipal sewer sediment is a problem deserving intensive attention. Based on long-term laboratory batch tests in conjunction with 16 s rRNA gene sequencing and metagenomics, this study provides the first detailed assessment of the variable sediment CH4 production in response to different pollution source-associated sewer sediment types and hydrological patterns, while addressing the role of the sediment microbiome. The high CH4-production capability of sanitary sewer sediment is shaped by enriched biologically active substrate and dominated by acetoclastic methanogenesis (genus Methanosaeta). Moreover, it involves syntrophic interactions among fermentation bacteria, hydrogen-producing acetogens and methanogens. Distinct source-associated microbial species, denitrifying bacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria occur in storm sewer and illicit discharge-associated (IDA) storm sewer sediments. This reveals their insufficient microbial function capabilities to support efficient methanogenesis. Hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis (genus Methanobacterium) prevails in both these sediments. In this context, storm sewer sediment has an extremely low CH4-production capability, while IDA storm sewer sediment still shows significant carbon emission through a possibly unique mechanism. Hydrological connections promote the sewer sediment biodegradability and CH4-production capability. In contrast, hydrological disconnection facilitates the prevalence of acetoclastic methanogenesis, sulfate-reducing enzymes, denitrification enzymes and the sulfur-utilizing chemolithoautotrophic denitrifier, which drastically decreases CH4 production. Turbulent suspension of sediments results in relative stagnation of methanogenesis. This work bridges the knowledge gap and will help to stimulate and guide the resolution of 'bottom-up' system-scale carbon budgets and GHG sources, as well as the target CH4 abatement interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, 200233, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongning Wang
- Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, 200233, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, 200233, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunhan Nie
- Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, 200233, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Zhu
- Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, 200233, Shanghai, China
| | - Qilong Jia
- Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, 200233, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoping Ding
- Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, 200233, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianfeng Ye
- Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, 200233, Shanghai, China.
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Mohsenpour SF, Hennige S, Willoughby N, Adeloye A, Gutierrez T. Integrating micro-algae into wastewater treatment: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 752:142168. [PMID: 33207512 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 197] [Impact Index Per Article: 65.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Improving the ecological status of water sources is a growing focus for many developed and developing nations, in particular with reducing nitrogen and phosphorus in wastewater effluent. In recent years, mixotrophic micro-algae have received increased interest in implementing them as part of wastewater treatment. This is based on their ability to utilise organic and inorganic carbon, as well as inorganic nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) in wastewater for their growth, with the desired results of a reduction in the concentration of these substances in the water. The aim of this review is to provide a critical account of micro-algae as an important step in wastewater treatment for enhancing the reduction of N, P and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) in wastewater, whilst utilising a fraction of the energy demand of conventional biological treatment systems. Here, we begin with an overview of the various steps in the treatment process, followed by a review of the cellular and metabolic mechanisms that micro-algae use to reduce N, P and COD of wastewater with identification of when the process may potentially be most effective. We also describe the various abiotic and biotic factors influencing micro-algae wastewater treatment, together with a review of bioreactor configuration and design. Furthermore, a detailed overview is provided of the current state-of-the-art in the use of micro-algae in wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyedeh Fatemeh Mohsenpour
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
| | - Sebastian Hennige
- School of Geosciences, The King's Buildings, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FE, UK
| | - Nicholas Willoughby
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
| | - Adebayo Adeloye
- Institute for Infrastructure and Environment, School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK
| | - Tony Gutierrez
- Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK.
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Li J, Gao J, Thai PK, Mueller JF, Yuan Z, Jiang G. Transformation of Illicit Drugs and Pharmaceuticals in Sewer Sediments. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:13056-13065. [PMID: 32951431 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c04266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In-sewer stability of human excreted biomarkers is a critical factor of wastewater-based epidemiology in back-estimating illicit drug and pharmaceutical use in the community. Biomarker stability has been investigated in sewers with the presence of biofilms, but the understanding in sewer sediments is still lacking. This study for the first time employed a laboratory sediment reactor to measure 18 illicit drug and pharmaceutical biomarkers under gravity sewer environments with the presence of sediments. Biomarkers exhibited various stability patterns due to transformation processes occurring in the bulk wastewater and sediments. The attenuation of a biomarker by sediments is driven by complex processes involving biodegradation, diffusion, and sorption, which is directly proportional to the ratio of sediment surface area against wastewater volume. The sediment-driven transformation coefficients of biomarkers are higher than the accordingly biofilm-mediated rates because of stronger microbial activities in sediments. Additionally, the stability of most biomarkers was insensitive to the natural pH variation in sewers, except for a few compounds (e.g., methadone, ketamine, and paracetamol) susceptible to pH changes. In general, this study delineates the stability data of various biomarkers in gravity sewers with sediments, which are novel and long-missing information for wastewater-based epidemiology and improve the reliability of back-estimation in complex sewer networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaying Li
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jianfa Gao
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, 1066 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Phong K Thai
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Zhiguo Yuan
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Guangming Jiang
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2522, Australia
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Zuo Z, Song Y, Ren D, Li H, Gao Y, Yuan Z, Huang X, Zheng M, Liu Y. Control sulfide and methane production in sewers based on free ammonia inactivation. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 143:105928. [PMID: 32673907 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Emissions of hydrogen sulfide and methane are two of the major concerns in sewers, causing corrosion, odour and health problems. This study proposed a new free ammonia (FA)-based approach for controlling the biological production of sulfide and methane in sewers. This is based on the discovery that the FA contained in urine wastewater is strongly biocidal to anaerobic sewer biofilms. Long-term operation of two laboratory sewer reactors, with one being dosed with urine wastewater and the other being dosed with raw sewage as a control, revealed the effectiveness of the proposed FA approach. The results showed that dosing of real urine wastewater at FA concentration of 154 mg NH3-N/L with exposure for 24 h immediately reduced over 80% sulfide and methane in the experimental sewer reactor, while the time for recovering 50% sulfide and methane production were 6 days and 28 days, respectively. It also showed that intermittent dosing with an interval time of 5-15 days reduced around 60% sulfide on average. As suggested by community analysis, the remaining sulfide might be produced by a sulfate-reducing bacterial genus Desulfobulbus. Collectively, urine is a part of municipal sewage, and thus separation and re-dosing of the urine wastewater into the sewer for sulfide and methane control should enable the minimization of operational costs and environmental impacts, compared with the previous dosing of chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Zuo
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yarong Song
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Daheng Ren
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - He Li
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ying Gao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhiguo Yuan
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Xia Huang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Min Zheng
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Yanchen Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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Choi PM, Bowes DA, O'Brien JW, Li J, Halden RU, Jiang G, Thomas KV, Mueller JF. Do food and stress biomarkers work for wastewater-based epidemiology? A critical evaluation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 736:139654. [PMID: 32497888 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Dietary characteristics and oxidative stress are closely linked to the wellbeing of individuals. In recent years, various urinary biomarkers of food and oxidative stress have been proposed for use in wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), in efforts to objectively monitor the food consumed and the oxidative stress experienced by individuals in a wastewater catchment. However, it is not clear whether such biomarkers are suitable for wastewater-based epidemiology. This study presents a suite of 30 urinary food and oxidative stress biomarkers and evaluates their applicability for WBE studies. This includes 22 biomarkers which were not previously considered for WBE studies. Daily per capita loads of biomarkers were measured from 57 wastewater influent samples from nine Australian catchments. Stability of biomarkers were assessed using laboratory scale sewer reactors. Biomarkers of consumption of vitamin B2, vitamin B3 and fibre, as well as a component of citrus had per capita loads in line with reported literature values despite susceptibility of degradation in sewer reactors. Consumption biomarkers of red meat, fish, fruit, other vitamins and biomarkers of stress had per capita values inconsistent with literature findings, and/or degraded rapidly in sewer reactors, indicating that they are unsuitable for use as WBE biomarkers in the traditional quantitative sense. This study serves to communicate the suitability of food and oxidative stress biomarkers for future WBE research.
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Affiliation(s)
- P M Choi
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Australia.
| | - D A Bowes
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, United States of America; OneWaterOneHealth, Arizona State University Foundation, United States of America
| | - J W O'Brien
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - J Li
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - R U Halden
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, United States of America; OneWaterOneHealth, Arizona State University Foundation, United States of America
| | - G Jiang
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, Australia; School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Australia
| | - K V Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - J F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Australia
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Chen H, Ye J, Zhou Y, Wang Z, Jia Q, Nie Y, Li L, Liu H, Benoit G. Variations in CH 4 and CO 2 productions and emissions driven by pollution sources in municipal sewers: An assessment of the role of dissolved organic matter components and microbiota. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 263:114489. [PMID: 32298939 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Variations in methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in municipal sewer driven by pollution sources are complex and multifaceted. It is important to investigate the role of dissolved organic matter (DOM) components and microbiota to better understand what and how those variations occurred. For this purpose, this study provides a systematic assessment based on short-term in-sewer conditioned cultivations, in conjunction with a field survey in four typical sewers in Shanghai Megacity. The results are as follows: (1) Sediment plays a main role in driving the sewer carbon emission behavior owing to its strong associations with the utilized substrates and predominant microbes that significantly promoted the gas fluxes (genera Bacteroidete_vadinHA17, Candidatus_competibacter, and Methanospirillum). (2) Aquatic DOM in overlying water is an indispensable factor in promoting total carbon emissions, yet the dominant microbes present there inversely correlated with gas fluxes (genera Methanothermobacter and Bacteroides). (3) The total fluxes of both CH4 and CO2 enhanced by pavement runoff were limited. Its high COD-CH4/CO2 conversion efficiencies can be ascribed to its dominant anthropogenic humic-like components and the emerged aquatic tyrosine-like components. (4) Domestic sewage can significantly enhance the total fluxes because of its high concentration of bioavailable DOM. However, these substrates, which were more suitable for supporting microbial growth, as well as the substrate competition caused by sulfate reduction and the nitrogen cycle (revealed by the dominant functional microbes genera Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Dechloromona, and Candidatus_competibacter and their correlations with indicators), seemed to be responsible for the low COD-CH4/CO2 conversion efficiencies of domestic sewage. (5) A field survey indicated the distinct features of carbon emissions of sewer sewage discharged from different catchments. An extreme hydraulic condition in a sewer in the absence of influent showed unexpectedly high levels of CO2, while a small amount of CH4 emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, 200233, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianfeng Ye
- Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, 200233, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yafei Zhou
- Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, 200233, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongning Wang
- Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, 200233, Shanghai, China
| | - Qilong Jia
- Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, 200233, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunhan Nie
- Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, 200233, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Li
- Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, 200233, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, 200233, Shanghai, China
| | - Gaboury Benoit
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, 06511 CT, United States
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Zan F, Dai J, Jiang F, Ekama GA, Chen G. Ground food waste discharge to sewer enhances methane gas emission: A lab-scale investigation. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 174:115616. [PMID: 32145553 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.115616] [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: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Emission of sulfide and methane from sewerage system has been a major concern for a long time. Sewers are now facing emerging challenges, such as receiving food waste (FW) to relieve the burdens on solid waste treatment. However, the knowledge of the direct impact of FW addition on sulfide and methane production in and emission from sewers is still lacking. In this study, two lab-scale sewer reactors, one without and one with FW addition, were continuously operated to investigate the production of sulfide and methane and microbial communities arising from FW discharge to freshwater sewerage system. The 190-day long-term monitoring and the batch tests on days 69 and 124 suggest that the FW addition has little impact on sulfide production possibly due to the limited sulfate concentration (40 mg S/L) but enhanced methane production by up to 60%. Moreover, cryosection-fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed that the FW addition significantly stimulated the accumulation of methanogenic archaea (MA) in sewer biofilms and altered the spatial distributions of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and MA. Moreover, the relative abundance of MA in biofilms with FW addition was higher than that without FW addition, whereas the relative abundance of SRB was similar. Metabolic pathway analysis for sulfidogenesis and methanogenesis indicates that sufficient substrates derived from the FW addition were biodegraded during fermentation to produce acetate and hydrogen, and consequently facilitate methanogenesis. These findings shed light on the impacts of changes in wastewater compositions (e.g., FW addition) on sulfide and methane production in the freshwater sewerage system for improved policy-making on sewer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feixiang Zan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution (Hong Kong Branch) and Water Technology Center, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ji Dai
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution (Hong Kong Branch) and Water Technology Center, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Feng Jiang
- School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - George A Ekama
- Water Research Group, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Guanghao Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution (Hong Kong Branch) and Water Technology Center, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China.
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Choi PM, Li J, Gao J, O'Brien JW, Thomas KV, Thai PK, Jiang G, Mueller JF. Considerations for assessing stability of wastewater-based epidemiology biomarkers using biofilm-free and sewer reactor tests. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 709:136228. [PMID: 31887516 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology is an increasingly popular method for analysing drugs or metabolites excreted by populations. The in-sewer transformation of biomarkers is important but often receives little consideration in published studies. Many studies publish stability under biofilm-free conditions only, which do not represent actual sewer conditions. This study aims to fill a gap in the field by comparing the wastewater stability of 33 licit drug and pharmaceutical biomarkers in biofilm-free (BFF) conditions to stability in sewer biofilm reactors. All but one biomarker was stable under BFF conditions, whereas most transformed in sewer biofilm reactors. Sewer reactor results tended to overestimate the degradation in pilot and actual sewers, whereas BFF stability had no clear relationship to stability in pilot and actual sewers. Our results provide additional basis for more informed interpretation of biofilm-free and sewer reactor stability results for past and future WBE studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phil Min Choi
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia.
| | - Jiaying Li
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Jianfa Gao
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Jake William O'Brien
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Kevin Victor Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Phong Khanh Thai
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Guangming Jiang
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia; School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Australia
| | - Jochen Friedrich Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
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Rebosura M, Salehin S, Pikaar I, Kulandaivelu J, Jiang G, Keller J, Sharma K, Yuan Z. Effects of in-sewer dosing of iron-rich drinking water sludge on wastewater collection and treatment systems. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 171:115396. [PMID: 31877476 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.115396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The use of coagulants and flocculants in the water and wastewater industry is predicted to increase further in the coming years. Alum is the most widely used coagulant, however, the use of ferric chloride (FeCl3) is gaining popularity. Drinking water production that uses FeCl3 as coagulant produces waste sludge rich in iron. We hypothesised that the iron-rich drinking water sludge (DWS) can potentially be used in the urban wastewater system to reduce dissolved sulfide in sewer systems, aid phosphate removal in wastewater treatment and reduce hydrogen sulfide in the anaerobic digester biogas. This hypothesis was investigated using two laboratory-scale urban wastewater systems, one as an experimental system and the other as a control, each comprising sewer reactors, a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) for wastewater treatment, sludge thickeners and anaerobic digestion reactors. Both were fed with domestic wastewater. The experimental system received in-sewer DWS-dosing at 10 mgFe L-1 while the control had none. The sulfide concentration in the experimental sewer effluent decreased by 3.5 ± 0.2 mgS L-1 as compared with the control, while the phosphate concentration decreased by 3.6 ± 0.3 mgP L-1 after biological wastewater treatment in the experimental SBR. The dissolved sulfide concentration in the experimental anaerobic digester also decreased by 15.9 ± 0.9 mgS L-1 following the DWS-dosing to the sewer reactors. The DWS-doing also enhanced the settleability of the mixed liquor suspended sludge (MLSS) (SVI decreased from 193.2 ± 22.2 to 108.0 ± 7.7 ml g-1), and the dewaterability of the anaerobically digested sludge (the cake solids concentration increased from 15.7 ± 0.3% to 19.1 ± 1.8%). The introduction of DWS into the experimental system significantly increased the COD and TSS concentrations in the wastewater, and consequently the MLSS concentration in the SBR, however, this did not affect normal operation. The results demonstrated that iron-rich waste sludge from drinking water production can be used in the urban wastewater system achieving multiple benefits. Therefore, an integrated approach to urban water and wastewater management should be considered to maximise the benefits of iron use in the system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Rebosura
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Sirajus Salehin
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; The School of Civil Engineering, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Ilje Pikaar
- The School of Civil Engineering, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | | | - Guangming Jiang
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; School of Civil, Mining & Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Jürg Keller
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Keshab Sharma
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Zhiguo Yuan
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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