Title:
Life Cycle Assessment of an SBR-Based Sewage Treatment Plant and Development of Algae-Based Improvement Scenario
Author(s):
Bhatt, A., Prajapati, S.K., Arora, P.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
The rapid rise in population and urbanization has led to an increase in wastewater generated. The appropriate wastewater treatment (WWT) has become challenging, particularly in developing/underdeveloped countries. Moreover, existing sewage treatment plants (STPs) are based on conventional methods that are expensive and energy-intensive. Recently, phycoremediation approaches have gained substantial attention as they demonstrate high nutrient and pathogen removal rates. However, the applicability and economic feasibility of these methods are a central issue of present-day research. The present work evaluates the greenhouse gas (GHG) implications of replacing conventional ultraviolet (UV) with an algae-based system for wastewater disinfection (A-WWD). Life cycle assessment (LCA) was employed to evaluate the sustainability of proposed A-WWD. As a reference, data from an existing STP based on sequential batch reactor and UV for disinfection (UV-STP) operational in Uttarakhand, India, was considered. The lifecycle GHG emissions for 1 m3 treated water were 0.759 tCO2e for A-WWD-STP vs. 0.878 tCO2e for UV-STP. Regarding disinfection, the UV treatment utilized 101.294 kWh.d-1, while the A-WWD utilized only 4.256 kWh.d-1. Based on our analysis, more research is needed to investigate the A-WWD feasibility with the inclusion of pathogen removal efficiencies as well. Moreover, the sustainability of attached growth systems for A-WWD could also be explored.
Keywords:
algae, sustainability, wastewater treatment, environmental impact, disinfection
Topic:
Sustainable Resources for Decarbonising the Economy
Subtopic:
Algae and Aquatic Biomass Production Systems
Event:
29th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
1BV.1.11
Pages:
137 - 139
ISBN:
978-88-89407-21-9
Paper DOI:
10.5071/29thEUBCE2021-1BV.1.11
Price:
FREE
