Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Wastewater Treatment Plants and By-Product Operations—A Comprehensive Review

Ritter, William F.; Chitikela, S. Rao

doi:10.1061/9780784413548.217

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…N2O is very stable, and may persist in the atmosphere for over 120 years (Kampschreur et al 2009;Schreiber et al 2012). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that U.S. wastewater treatment plants emit around 5.2 Tg N2O yr -1 as CO2 equivalents (Ritter 2014), and these amounts are expected to increase with time (Law et al 2012;Okabe et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrous oxide emissions from biofilm processes for wastewater treatment

Sabba

Terada

Wells

et al. 2018

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol

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This paper discusses the microbial basis and the latest research on nitrous oxide (NO) emissions from biofilms processes for wastewater treatment. Conditions that generally promote NO formation in biofilms include (1) low DO values, or spatial DO transitions from high to low within the biofilm; (2) DO fluctuations within biofilm due to varying bulk DO concentrations or varying substrate concentrations; (3) conditions with high reaction rates, which lead to greater formation of intermediates, e.g., hydroxylamine (NHOH) and nitrite (NO), that promote NO formation; and (4) electron donor limitation for denitrification. Formation of NO directly results from the activities of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), and heterotrophic denitrifying bacteria. More research is needed on the roles of AOA, comammox, and specialized denitrifying microorganisms. In nitrifying biofilms, higher bulk ammonia (NH) concentrations, higher nitrite (NO) concentrations, lower dissolved oxygen (DO), and greater biofilm thicknesses result in higher NO emissions. In denitrifying biofilms, NO accumulates at low levels as an intermediate and at higher levels at the oxic/anoxic transition regions of the biofilms and where COD becomes limiting. NO formed in the outer regions can be consumed in the inner regions if COD penetrates sufficiently. In membrane-aerated biofilms, where nitrification takes place in the inner, aerobic biofilm region, the exterior anoxic biofilm can serve as a NO sink. Reactors that include variable aeration or air scouring, such as denitrifying filters, trickling filters, or rotating biological contactors (RBCs), can form peaks of NO emissions during or following a scouring or aeration event. NO emissions from biofilm processes depend on the microbial composition, biofilm thickness, substrate concentrations and variability, and reactor type and operation. Given the complexity and difficulty in quantifying many of these factors, it may be difficult to accurately predict emissions for full-scale treatment plants. However, a better understanding of the mechanisms and the impacts of process configurations can help minimize NO emission from biofilm processes for wastewater treatment.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrous oxide emissions from biofilm processes for wastewater treatment

Sabba

Terada

Wells

et al. 2018

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol

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“…According to the literature, the energy consumed in wastewater treatment plants varies between 0.243-0.89 Kwh/m 3 depending on population, location and size of the plant, treatment processes, age of the plant and wastewater standards (Ritter and Chitikela, 2014;Gu., 2017;Maktabifard 2018;Kadam 2023).…”

Section: Indirect Emissionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of the Role of Photovoltaic Systems in Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Wastewater Treatment Plants

2023

Global NEST: The International Journal

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<p>Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) consume large amounts of energy and thus cause an increase in carbon footprint. For this reason, it has become important not only to meet the discharge criteria in treatment plants, but also to reduce the carbon footprint resulting from treatment processes and energy use. In this study, the effect of supplying the energy required by a real domestic biological wastewater treatment plant from a photovoltaic (PV) system on the reduction of its carbon footprint was investigated. For this purpose, the annual energy consumption profile of the plant was prepared, and direct emissions from treatment processes and indirect emissions from electricity consumption were calculated for 2020 and 2021. Indirect emissions contribute 54% and 69% to the total carbon footprint of the plant for 2020 and 2021, respectively, while direct emissions contribute 46% and 31%. With the partial transition of the plant to a PV system in 2021, annual electricity consumption decreased by 401,000 kWh/year and the carbon footprint decreased by 21% to 819 tCO2e. In this way, the plant also achieved 40% economic savings. If the plant meets all the energy it needs from the PV system, it will reduce its carbon footprint by 45%.</p>

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Energy Resilient Municipal Water and Wastewater Operations—A One Water System Review

Chitikela

2021

World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2021

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Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Wastewater Treatment Plants and By-Product Operations—A Comprehensive Review

Cited by 3 publications

References 1 publication

Nitrous oxide emissions from biofilm processes for wastewater treatment

Nitrous oxide emissions from biofilm processes for wastewater treatment

Assessment of the Role of Photovoltaic Systems in Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Wastewater Treatment Plants

Energy Resilient Municipal Water and Wastewater Operations—A One Water System Review

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