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Life Cycle Assessment of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Processes Regarding Energy Production from the Sludge Line

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  • Paulina Szulc

    (Aquanet S.A., 61-491 Poznań, Poland
    Institute of Environmental Engineering and Building Installations, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Energy, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznań, Poland)

  • Jędrzej Kasprzak

    (Institute of Transport, Faculty of Civil and Transport Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznań, Poland)

  • Zbysław Dymaczewski

    (Institute of Environmental Engineering and Building Installations, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Energy, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznań, Poland)

  • Przemysław Kurczewski

    (Institute of Transport, Faculty of Civil and Transport Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznań, Poland)

Abstract

The efficient and timely removal of organic matter and nutrients from water used in normal municipal functions is considered to be the main task of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Therefore, these facilities are considered to be essential units that are required to avoid pollution of the water environment and decrease the possibility of triggering eutrophication. Even though these benefits are undeniable, they remain at odds with the high energy demand of wastewater treatment and sludge processes. As a consequence, WWTPs have various environmental impacts, which can be estimated and categorized using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis. In this study, a municipal WWTP based in Poznań, Poland, was examined using the method defined in ISO 14040. ReCiPe Endpoint and Midpoint (v1.11), in a hierarchical approach, were used to evaluate the environmental impacts regarding 18 different categories. All calculations were conducted using a detailed database from 2019, which describes each chosen facility. It was found that the energy component, related to the wastewater treatment process demand and electricity production, is the main determinant of the sum of the environmental impact indicators in light of the modelled energy mix. Therefore, it determines the entire process as an environmentally friendly activity.

Suggested Citation

  • Paulina Szulc & Jędrzej Kasprzak & Zbysław Dymaczewski & Przemysław Kurczewski, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessment of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Processes Regarding Energy Production from the Sludge Line," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-29, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:2:p:356-:d:478566
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nils Thonemann & Anna Schulte & Daniel Maga, 2020. "How to Conduct Prospective Life Cycle Assessment for Emerging Technologies? A Systematic Review and Methodological Guidance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-23, February.
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    3. Zaborowska, Ewa & Czerwionka, Krzysztof & Mąkinia, Jacek, 2021. "Integrated plant-wide modelling for evaluation of the energy balance and greenhouse gas footprint in large wastewater treatment plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(PA).
    4. S. Revollar & R. Vilanova & P. Vega & M. Francisco & M. Meneses, 2020. "Wastewater Treatment Plant Operation: Simple Control Schemes with a Holistic Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-28, January.
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    1. Maktabifard, Mojtaba & Al-Hazmi, Hussein E. & Szulc, Paulina & Mousavizadegan, Mohammad & Xu, Xianbao & Zaborowska, Ewa & Li, Xiang & Mąkinia, Jacek, 2023. "Net-zero carbon condition in wastewater treatment plants: A systematic review of mitigation strategies and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).

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