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Zhang P, Ma B, Zheng G, Li F, Zhang W, Gu J, Liu Z, Li K, Wang H. Unveiling the greenhouse gas emissions of drinking water treatment plant throughout the construction and operation stages based on life cycle assessment. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 272:116043. [PMID: 38295736 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116043] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
The carbon peaking and carbon neutrality targets proposed by the Chinese government have initiated a green transformation that is full of challenges and opportunities and endowed sustainable development strategy for combating global warming issue. It is essential to execute comprehensive identification and carbon reduction measures across all industries that produce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Water supply system, as an energy-intensive sector, plays a crucial role in GHG reduction. This work conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) to account the GHG emissions associated with the construction and operation phases of the drinking water treatment plant (DWTP). During the construction phase, the total GHG emissions were 19,525.762 t CO2-eq, with concrete work and rebar project being the dominant contributors (87.712%). The promotion of renewable or recyclable green building materials and low-carbon construction methods, such as the utilization of prefabricated components and on-site assembly, holds significant importance in reducing GHG emissions during the construction phase of DWTP. Regarding the operation stage, the DWTP possessed an average annual GHG emission of 37,660.160 t CO2-eq and an average GHG intensity of 0.202 kg CO2-eq/m3. Most emissions were attributed to electricity consumption (67.388%), chemicals utilization (12.893%), and heat consumption (10.414%). By increasing the use of clean energy and implementing strict control measures in the water supply pumps, energy consumption and GHG emissions can be effectively reduced. This study offers valuable insights into the mapping of GHG emissions in the DWTP, facilitating the identification of key areas for targeted implementation of energy-saving and carbon-reducing measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Boru Ma
- Tianjin Pipeline Engineering Group Co., Ltd, Tianjin 300041, China
| | - Guolu Zheng
- Tianjin Pipeline Engineering Group Co., Ltd, Tianjin 300041, China
| | - Fukuan Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Jingwen Gu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Zehong Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Kexun Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Hao Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycles in River Basins, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
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Aumeier BM, Augustin A, Thönes M, Sablotny J, Wintgens T, Wessling M. Linking the effect of temperature on adsorption from aqueous solution with solute dissociation. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 429:128291. [PMID: 35236034 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Imperative decarbonization of water purification processes entails alternative regeneration methods for activated carbon. Regeneration based on changing dissociation equilibria, i.e. a major influencing factor on adsorption, usually requires the addition of acids/bases, but may also be triggered by temperature swing. Although adsorption and dissociation are both temperature-dependent phenomena, their conjunction has received little attention regarding trace organic compounds (TrOCs) and large temperature intervals, in particular above ΔT ≥ 50 ∘C. Therefore, we studied the adsorption equilibria of 16 TrOCs onto one granular activated carbon at temperatures ranging from 20 to 95 ∘C. The majority of compounds (12/16) exhibited an exothermic apparent adsorption enthalpy, while 3 out of 16 exhibited an endothermic apparent enthalpy. The range spanned from - 46 to + 50 kJ mol-1 (median at - 17 kJ mol-1). The possible origins of endothermic adsorption were discussed. A rationale of shifting pKa and thus changing dissociation of TrOCs was introduced and traded off against existing rationales, i.e. changing solute solubility, changing adsorption heat capacity, and saturation effects of the adsorbates. This knowledge may allow designing temperature swing adsorption processes that unlock the dissociation switch. The augmented process efficiency can thus provide the foundation for low-carbon emission, circular water purification processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt M Aumeier
- RWTH Aachen University, Aachener Verfahrenstechnik, Chemical Process Engineering, Forckenbeckstrasse 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany; RWTH Aachen University, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Mies-van-der-Rohe-Strasse 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Andreas Augustin
- RWTH Aachen University, Aachener Verfahrenstechnik, Chemical Process Engineering, Forckenbeckstrasse 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Maximilian Thönes
- RWTH Aachen University, Aachener Verfahrenstechnik, Chemical Process Engineering, Forckenbeckstrasse 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Julia Sablotny
- RWTH Aachen University, Aachener Verfahrenstechnik, Chemical Process Engineering, Forckenbeckstrasse 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Wintgens
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Mies-van-der-Rohe-Strasse 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Matthias Wessling
- RWTH Aachen University, Aachener Verfahrenstechnik, Chemical Process Engineering, Forckenbeckstrasse 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany; DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
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Bartholomew TV, Mauter MS. Energy and CO 2 Emissions Penalty Ranges for Geologic Carbon Storage Brine Management. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:4305-4313. [PMID: 33764042 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c06017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Safe and cost-effective geologic carbon storage will require active CO2 reservoir management, including brine extraction to minimize subsurface pressure accumulation. While past simulation and experimental efforts have estimated brine extraction volumes, carbon management policies must also assess the energy or emissions penalties of managing and disposing of this brine. We estimate energy and CO2 emission penalties of extracted brine management on a per tonne of CO2 stored basis by spatially integrating CO2 emissions from U.S. coal-fired electric generating units, CO2 storage reservoirs, and brine salinity data sets under several carbon and water management scenarios. We estimate a median energy penalty of 4.4-35 kWh/tonne CO2 stored, suggesting that brine management will be the largest post capture and compression energy sink in the carbon storage process. These estimates of energy demand for brine management are useful for evaluating end-uses for treated brine, assessing the cost of CO2 storage at the reservoir level, and optimizing national CO2 transport and storage infrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy V Bartholomew
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Meagan S Mauter
- Civil & Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, 473 Via Ortega, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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Tarpeh WA, Chen X. Making wastewater obsolete: Selective separations to enable circular water treatment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2021; 5:100078. [PMID: 36158609 PMCID: PMC9488079 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2021.100078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/25/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
By 2050, the societal needs and innovation drivers of the 21st century will be in full swing: mitigating climate change, minimizing anthropogenic effects on natural ecosystems, navigating scarcity of natural resources, and ensuring equitable access to quality of life will have matured from future needs to exigent realities. Water is one such natural resource, and will need to be treated and transported to maximize resource efficiency. In particular, wastewater will be mined for the valuable product precursors it contains, which will require highly selective separation processes capable of capturing specific target compounds from complex solutions. As a case study, we focus on the nitrogen cycle because it plays a central role in both natural and engineered systems. Nitrogen occurs as several species, including ammonia, a fertilizer and precursor to many nitrogen products, and nitrate, a fertilizer and component of explosives. We describe two applications of selective separations: selective materials and electrochemical processes. Ultimately, this perspective outlines the next thirty years of modular, selective, resource-efficient separations that will play a major role in enabling element-specific circular economies and redefining wastewater as a resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- William A. Tarpeh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Engineering Research Center for Re-inventing the Nation’s Urban Water Infrastructure (ReNUWIt), Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Corresponding author. 443 Via Ortega, Room 387, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
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Liu F, Wienke C, Fiencke C, Guo J, Dong R, Pfeiffer EM. Biofilter with mixture of pine bark and expanded clay as packing material for methane treatment in lab-scale experiment and field-scale implementation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:31297-31306. [PMID: 30194576 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-3102-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Low methane (CH4) emission reduction efficiency (< 25%) has been prevalent due to inefficient biological exhaust gas treatment facilities in mechanic biological waste treatment plants (MBTs) in Germany. This study aimed to quantify the improved capacity of biofilters composed of a mixture of organic (pine bark) and inorganic (expanded clay) packing materials in reducing CH4 emissions in both a lab-scale experiment and field-scale implementation. CH4 removal performance was evaluated using lab-scale biofilter columns under varied inflow CH4 concentrations (70, 130, and 200 g m-3) and corresponding loading rates of 8.2, 4.76, and 3.81 g m-3 h-1, respectively. The laboratory CH4 removal rates (1.2-2.2 g m-3 h-1) showed positive correlation with the inflow CH4 loading rates (4-8.2 g m-3 h-1), indicating high potential for field-scale implementation. Three field-scale biofilter systems with the proposed mixture packing materials were constructed in an MBT in Neumünster, northern Germany. A relatively stable CH4 removal efficiency of 38-50% was observed under varied inflow CH4 concentrations of 28-39 g m-3 (loading rates of 1120-2340 g m-3 h-1) over a 24-h period. The CH4 removal rate was approximately 500-700 g m-3 h-1, which was significantly higher than relevant previously reported field-scale biofilter systems (16-50 g m-3 h-1). The present study provides a promising configuration of biofilter systems composed of a mixture of organic (pine bark) and inorganic (expanded clay) packing materials to achieve high CH4 emission reduction. Graphic abstract ᅟ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Liu
- College of Engineering (Key Laboratory for Clean Renewable Energy Utilization Technology, Ministry of Agriculture), China Agricultural University, Qinghua East Road 17, Beijing, 100083, China
- Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Institute of Soil Science, Universität Hamburg, Allende-Platz 2, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Cindy Wienke
- Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Institute of Soil Science, Universität Hamburg, Allende-Platz 2, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Fiencke
- Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Institute of Soil Science, Universität Hamburg, Allende-Platz 2, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jianbin Guo
- College of Engineering (Key Laboratory for Clean Renewable Energy Utilization Technology, Ministry of Agriculture), China Agricultural University, Qinghua East Road 17, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Renjie Dong
- College of Engineering (Key Laboratory for Clean Renewable Energy Utilization Technology, Ministry of Agriculture), China Agricultural University, Qinghua East Road 17, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Eva-Maria Pfeiffer
- Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Institute of Soil Science, Universität Hamburg, Allende-Platz 2, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
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Gingerich DB, Mauter MS. Air Emission Reduction Benefits of Biogas Electricity Generation at Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:1633-1643. [PMID: 29090572 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b04649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Conventional processes for municipal wastewater treatment facilities are energy and materially intensive. This work quantifies the air emission implications of energy consumption, chemical use, and direct pollutant release at municipal wastewater treatment facilities across the U.S. and assesses the potential to avoid these damages by generating electricity and heat from the combustion of biogas produced during anaerobic sludge digestion. We find that embedded and on-site air emissions from municipal wastewater treatment imposed human health, environmental, and climate (HEC) damages on the order of $1.63 billion USD in 2012, with 85% of these damages attributed to the estimated consumption of 19 500 GWh of electricity by treatment processes annually, or 0.53% of the US electricity demand. An additional 11.8 million tons of biogenic CO2 are directly emitted by wastewater treatment and sludge digestion processes currently installed at plants. Retrofitting existing wastewater treatment facilities with anaerobic sludge digestion for biogas production and biogas-fueled heat and electricity generation has the potential to reduce HEC damages by up to 24.9% relative to baseline emissions. Retrofitting only large plants (>5 MGD), where biogas generation is more likely to be economically viable, would generate HEC benefits of $254 annually. These findings reinforce the importance of accounting for use-phase embedded air emissions and spatially resolved marginal damage estimates when designing sustainable infrastructure systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel B Gingerich
- Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Meagan S Mauter
- Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
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