Title: Understanding energy saving and CO₂ reduction in wastewater treatment plants

Authors: X.D. Hao, F.G. Qiu, M.C.M. Van Loosdrecht

Addresses: The R∓D Center for Sustainable Environmental Biotechnology, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, 1 Zhanlanguan Road, Beijing 100044, China. ' The R&D Center for Sustainable Environmental Biotechnology, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, 1 Zhanlanguan Road, Beijing 100044, China. ' Department of Bio-technology, Delft University of Technology, Delft 2628 BC, The Netherlands

Abstract: Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) have to deal with the issue of energy saving and/or CO₂ reduction. Aeration, sludge return, chemical dosing, sludge reduction, sludge digestion, etc. could indeed have some function on this issue. On the other hand, controlled processes of COD and nutrient conversions could also be of benefit to the issue. With this paper, the relationship between energy consumption and CO₂ emission is firstly analysed. Applicable technologies of energy recovery via sludge are then evaluated. Finally, the function of denitrifying dephosphatation on energy saving and CO₂ reduction is demonstrated by modelling simulations.

Keywords: WWTPs; wastewater treatment plants; energy saving; CO2 reduction; carbon dioxide; methane; denitrifying dephosphatation; mathematical modelling; energy consumption; energy recovery; sludge; simulation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2011.039099

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2011 Vol.45 No.1/2/3, pp.237 - 248

Published online: 29 Apr 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article