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Scenario Analysis for Selecting Sewage Sludge-to-Energy/Matter Recovery Processes

Author

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  • Francesco Facchini

    (Department of Mechanics, Mathematics, and Management, Polytechnic University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy)

  • Giovanni Mummolo

    (Department of Mechanics, Mathematics, and Management, Polytechnic University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy)

  • Micaela Vitti

    (Department of Mechanics, Mathematics, and Management, Polytechnic University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy)

Abstract

The sewage sludges are the byproducts of the wastewater treatment. The new perspective of the wastewater value chain points to a sustainable circular economy approach, where the residual solid material produced by sewage sludge treatments is a resource rather than a waste. A sewage sludge treatment system consists of five main phases; each of them can be performed by different alternative processes. Each process is characterized by its capability to recover energy and/or matter. In this paper, a state of the art of the sludge-to-energy and sludge-to-matter treatments is provided. Then, a scenario analysis is developed to identify suitable sewage sludge treatments plants that best fit the quality and flowrate of sewage sludge to be processed while meeting technological and economic constraints. Based on the scientific literature findings and experts’ opinions, the authors identify a set of reference initial scenarios and the corresponding best treatments’ selection for configuring sewage sludge treatment plants. The scenario analysis reveals a useful reference technical framework when circular economy goals are pursued. The results achieved in all scenarios ensure the potential recovery of matter and/or energy from sewage sludges processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Facchini & Giovanni Mummolo & Micaela Vitti, 2021. "Scenario Analysis for Selecting Sewage Sludge-to-Energy/Matter Recovery Processes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-21, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:2:p:276-:d:475716
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Salah Jellali & Antonis A. Zorpas & Sulaiman Alhashmi & Mejdi Jeguirim, 2022. "Recent Advances in Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sewage Sludge," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-6, September.
    2. Ihsan Hamawand, 2023. "Energy Consumption in Water/Wastewater Treatment Industry—Optimisation Potentials," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-3, March.
    3. Natalia Iwaszczuk & Jacek Wolak & Aleksander Iwaszczuk, 2021. "Turkmenistan’s Gas Sector Development Scenarios Based on Econometric and SWOT Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-18, May.
    4. Jakub Mukawa & Tadeusz Pająk & Tadeusz Rzepecki & Marian Banaś, 2022. "Energy Potential of Biogas from Sewage Sludge after Thermal Hydrolysis and Digestion," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-15, July.
    5. Nicola Di Costanzo & Alessandra Cesaro & Francesco Di Capua & Giovanni Esposito, 2021. "Exploiting the Nutrient Potential of Anaerobically Digested Sewage Sludge: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-25, December.

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