100% renewable wastewater treatment plants: Techno-economic assessment using a modelling and optimization approach

Campana, Pietro Elia; Mainardis, Matia; Moretti, Alessandro; Cottes, Mattia

doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2021.114214

Cited by 55 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…However, conventional activated sludge (CAS), still the most common technology for biological WW remediation [14], struggles to treat P&P WW up to the required standards for effluent discharge or reuse. CAS is characterized as well by high energy costs for tank aeration [15]. To solve these issues, alternative solutions have been proposed for secondary P&P WW treatment, such as membrane bioreactors (MBRs) [14], sequential batch reactors (SBRs), anaerobic filters, and aerated lagoons [16], each one with advantages and downsizes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable Alternatives for Tertiary Treatment of Pulp and Paper Wastewater

et al. 2022

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In this work, different alternatives to conventional tertiary treatment of pulp and paper (P&P) wastewater (WW), i.e., physicochemical coagulation-flocculation, were investigated to enhance the environmental and economic sustainability of industrial wastewater treatment. In particular, following a preliminary characterization of secondary effluents, cloth filtration and adsorption were studied, the former by pilot-scale tests, while the latter at laboratory scale. An economic analysis was finally accomplished to verify the full-scale applicability of the most promising technologies. Cloth filtration showed excellent total suspended solids (TSS) removal efficiency (mean 81% removal) but a very limited influence on chemical oxygen demand (COD) (mean 10% removal) due to the prevalence of soluble COD on particulate COD. Adsorption, instead, led to a good COD removal efficiency (50% abatement at powdered activated carbon—PAC—dosage of 400 mg/L). The economic analysis proved that adsorption would be convenient only if a local low-cost (100 €/ton) adsorbent supply chain was established. Ultrafiltration was considered as well as a potential alternative: its huge capital cost (19 M€) could be recovered in a relatively short timeframe (pay-back time of 4.7 years) if the ultrafiltrated effluent could be sold to local industries.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable Alternatives for Tertiary Treatment of Pulp and Paper Wastewater

et al. 2022

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“…Energy is the main operating cost of wastewater treatment. The North American Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) consume approximately 1-4% of the total energy production, and in Europe, the consumption is approximately 1% [1,2]. A financed project in the north of Portugal [3] identified the main energy consumers: the aeration equipment associated with biological treatment (58%), inlet pumping (9%), deodorization (8%) and sludge treatment equipment (6%).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Energy savings in WWTPs have been investigated in recent decades, but information on their operating costs is still scarce in the literature [4]. The focus is being placed on process optimization, rather than on cost-saving [2,5]. There is still a need for more information regarding nutrient removal, polishing treatments and operational costs of nature-based wastewater treatment technologies, as noted in studies [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic Assessment of Energy Consumption in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Applicability of Alternative Nature-Based Technologies in Portugal

Santos

Albuquerque²,

Lisboa³

et al. 2022

Water

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Understanding how to address today’s global challenges is critical to improving corporate performance in terms of economic and environmental sustainability. In wastewater treatment systems, such an approach implies integrating efficient treatment technologies with aspects of the circular economy. In this business field, energy costs represent a large share of operating costs. This work discusses technological and management aspects leading to greater energy savings in Portuguese wastewater treatment companies. A mixed methodology, involving qualitative and quantitative aspects, for collecting and analysing data from wastewater treatment plants was used. The qualitative aspects consisted of a narrative analysis of the information available on reports and websites for 11 wastewater management companies in Portugal (e.g., technologies, treated wastewater volumes and operating costs) followed by a review of several international studies. The quantitative approach involved calculating the specific energy consumption (kWh/m3), energy operating costs (EUR/m3) and energy operating costs per population equivalent (EUR/inhabitants) using data from the literature and from Portuguese companies collected from the SABI database. The results suggested that the most environmentally and economically sustainable solution is algae-based technology which might allow a reduction in energy operating costs between 0.05–0.41 EUR/m3 and 15.4-180.8 EUR/inhabitants compared to activated sludge and other conventional methods. This technology, in addition to being financially advantageous, provides the ability to eliminate the carbon footprint and the valorisation of algae biomass, suggesting that this biotechnology is starting to position itself as a mandatory future solution in the wastewater treatment sector.

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“…Methane (CH 4 ) is also an excellent potential energy delivery material but it can contribute to GHG emission, due to its carbon content, unless generated via a renewable energy conversion process [11,12]. A significant advantage of CH 4 as an energy carrier is the efficient and advanced storage and transport pipeline system developed for natural gas, the fossil and thus less environmentally friendly form of CH 4 [13,14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of Stable Mixed Microbiota for High Yield Power to Methane Conversion

et al. 2021

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The performance of a mixed microbial community was tested in lab-scale power-to-methane reactors at 55 °C. The main aim was to uncover the responses of the community to starvation and stoichiometric H2/CO2 supply as the sole substrate. Fed-batch reactors were inoculated with the fermentation effluent of a thermophilic biogas plant. Various volumes of pure H2/CO2 gas mixtures were injected into the headspace daily and the process parameters were followed. Gas volumes and composition were measured by gas-chromatography, the headspace was replaced with N2 prior to the daily H2/CO2 injection. Total DNA samples, collected at the beginning and end (day 71), were analyzed by metagenome sequencing. Low levels of H2 triggered immediate CH4 evolution utilizing CO2/HCO3− dissolved in the fermentation effluent. Biomethanation continued when H2/CO2 was supplied. On the contrary, biomethane formation was inhibited at higher initial H2 doses and concomitant acetate formation indicated homoacetogenesis. Biomethane production started upon daily delivery of stoichiometric H2/CO2. The fed-batch operational mode allowed high H2 injection and consumption rates albeit intermittent operation conditions. Methane was enriched up to 95% CH4 content and the H2 consumption rate attained a remarkable 1000 mL·L−1·d−1. The microbial community spontaneously selected the genus Methanothermobacter in the enriched cultures.

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100% renewable wastewater treatment plants: Techno-economic assessment using a modelling and optimization approach

Cited by 55 publications

References 56 publications

Sustainable Alternatives for Tertiary Treatment of Pulp and Paper Wastewater

Sustainable Alternatives for Tertiary Treatment of Pulp and Paper Wastewater

Economic Assessment of Energy Consumption in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Applicability of Alternative Nature-Based Technologies in Portugal

Development of Stable Mixed Microbiota for High Yield Power to Methane Conversion

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