Article: Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment plants Journal: International Journal of Environmental Engineering (IJEE) 2015 Vol.7 No.1 pp.1 - 10 Abstract: Besides its great potential in controlling water pollution from different sources, wastewater treatment system generates significant amount of greenhouse gases. Hence, reducing the emission of greenhouse gases from the wastewater treatment plants is the major concern. The correct understanding and estimation of the greenhouse gases emitted from different points of the plant is essential to tackle this challenge. This research has attempted to evaluate and quantify the emissions of greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide from the wastewater treatment system. Anaerobic wastewater treatment is more environmental friendly treatment technology than aerobic treatment due to its low solids generation rate, low energy consumption and the production of a usable biogas. In this study, IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories are followed for calculating GHG emissions from wastewater treatment plants. This paper discusses the GHG emissions for wastewater treatment and compares the environmental benefits and GHG contributions of anaerobic and aerobic treatment technologies. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment plants

Authors: Diksha Gupta; S.K. Singh

Addresses: Department of Environmental Engineering, Delhi Technological University, (Formerly Delhi College of Engineering), Bawana Road, Delhi-110042, India ' Department of Environmental Engineering, Delhi Technological University, (Formerly Delhi College of Engineering), Bawana Road, Delhi-110042, India

Abstract: Besides its great potential in controlling water pollution from different sources, wastewater treatment system generates significant amount of greenhouse gases. Hence, reducing the emission of greenhouse gases from the wastewater treatment plants is the major concern. The correct understanding and estimation of the greenhouse gases emitted from different points of the plant is essential to tackle this challenge. This research has attempted to evaluate and quantify the emissions of greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide from the wastewater treatment system. Anaerobic wastewater treatment is more environmental friendly treatment technology than aerobic treatment due to its low solids generation rate, low energy consumption and the production of a usable biogas. In this study, IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories are followed for calculating GHG emissions from wastewater treatment plants. This paper discusses the GHG emissions for wastewater treatment and compares the environmental benefits and GHG contributions of anaerobic and aerobic treatment technologies.

Keywords: anaerobic treatment; aerobic treatment; greenhouse gases; GHG emissions; IPCC; Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories; climate change; energy use; wastewater treatment plants; carbon dioxide; CO2; methane; nitrous oxide.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEE.2015.069251

International Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2015 Vol.7 No.1, pp.1 - 10

Accepted: 06 Jan 2014
Published online: 06 May 2015 *

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Title: Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment plants

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