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Analysis of Sewage Sludge Alternatives Towards Circular Economy

Author

Listed:
  • A.V. Kiselev
  • E.R. Magaril
  • I.S. Glushankova
  • L.V. Rudakova

Abstract

The article describes ways to solve the urgent issue of the pollution of water sources due to the imperfection of the technical and technological equipment of municipal wastewater treatment plants. The subject matter is considered from the perspective of the transition to the circular economy. One of the key elements of a sustainable development strategy in a circular economy is the development and implementation of policies for the modernization of municipal wastewater treatment plants in order to reduce the negative impact on the environment. The goal of this research is to create a holistic assessment system of various technological solutions for the treatment of sewage sludge using life cycle assessment and material flow analysis methods for the transition towards the circular economy. The hypothesis of the present study assumes a specific set of technologies based on the waste-to-energy principle, in which it is possible to achieve net zero energy consumption in a wastewater treatment plant. A methodological framework for assessing the complete technological cycle of sewage sludge treatment and disposal using life cycle analysis and material flow analysis tools is proposed. The results are visualized using the Sankey chart. The authors test the proposed method according to data presented from real treatment facilities that operate in Ekaterinburg and Perm. As a result of the study, we found that the use of some waste-to-energy technologies for treating sewage sludge does not lead to the expected reduction in average net energy consumption along with a reduction in waste mass. Based on the research, leading techniques have been identified that make it possible to achieve net zero energy consumption of a wastewater treatment plant. The results of the study are clear and easy to interpret and can be used by managers of different levels to select the most optimal set of technological stages for the treatment and disposal of sewage sludge in accordance with the principles of the circular economy, including reference comparison through the national sectoral benchmarking system.

Suggested Citation

  • A.V. Kiselev & E.R. Magaril & I.S. Glushankova & L.V. Rudakova, 2020. "Analysis of Sewage Sludge Alternatives Towards Circular Economy," Journal of Applied Economic Research, Graduate School of Economics and Management, Ural Federal University, vol. 19(3), pages 329-347.
    • Handle: RePEc:aiy:jnjaer:v:19:y:2020:i:3:p:329-347
    DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15826/vestnik.2020.19.3.016
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Soundararajan, Kamal & Ho, Hiang Kwee & Su, Bin, 2014. "Sankey diagram framework for energy and exergy flows," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 1035-1042.
    2. Andrey Kiselev & Elena Magaril & Romen Magaril & Deborah Panepinto & Marco Ravina & Maria Chiara Zanetti, 2019. "Towards Circular Economy: Evaluation of Sewage Sludge Biogas Solutions," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-19, May.
    3. Alexey Paukov & Romen Magaril & Elena Magaril, 2019. "An Investigation of the Feasibility of the Organic Municipal Solid Waste Processing by Coking," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-13, January.
    4. Marco Ragazzi & Riccardo Catellani & Elena Cristina Rada & Vincenzo Torretta & Xavier Salazar-Valenzuela, 2016. "Management of Urban Wastewater on One of the Galapagos Islands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-19, February.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    sustainable development; economic security; assessment; wastewater treatment; sewage sludge; circular economy; key performance indicators; anaerobic digestion; pyrolysis; drying.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development
    • Q32 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - Exhaustible Resources and Economic Development

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