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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Economic and environmental sustainability of submerged anaerobic MBR-based (AnMBR-based) technology as compared to aerobic-based technologies for moderate-/high-loaded urban wastewater treatment

María Victoria RuanoJosé FerrerÁNgel RoblesAurora SecoR. Pretel

subject

INGENIERIA HIDRAULICAEngineeringEnvironmental EngineeringCost-Benefit Analysis0208 environmental biotechnologySewageEnvironmental pollution02 engineering and technologyWastewater010501 environmental sciencesManagement Monitoring Policy and LawMembrane bioreactorGlobal Warming01 natural sciencesWater PurificationBioreactorsBioreactorAnaerobiosisWaste Management and DisposalTECNOLOGIA DEL MEDIO AMBIENTE0105 earth and related environmental sciencesLife cycle costing (LCC)SewageLife cycle analysis (LCA)Steadystate performance modellingbusiness.industryUrbanizationSubmerged anaerobic MBR (AnMBR)Environmental engineeringMembranes ArtificialGeneral MedicineModels TheoreticalGlobal warming potential (GWP)Aerobiosis020801 environmental engineeringActivated sludgeWastewaterSewage treatmentEnvironmental PollutionbusinessAnaerobic exercise

description

[EN] The objective of this study was to assess the economic and environmental sustainability of submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) in comparison with aerobic-based technologies for moderate-/high-loaded urban wastewater (UWW) treatment. To this aim, a combined approach of steady-state performance modelling, life cycle analysis (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) was used, in which AnMBR (coupled with an aerobic-based post-treatment) was compared to aerobic membrane bioreactor (AeMBR) and conventional activated sludge (CAS). AnMBR with CAS-based post-treatment for nutrient removal was identified as a sustainable option for moderate-/high-loaded UWW treatment: low energy consumption and reduced sludge production could be obtained at given operating conditions. In addition, significant reductions can be achieved in different aspects of environmental impact (global warming potential (GWP), abiotic depletion, acidification, etc.) and LCC over existing UWW treatment technologies.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2015-06-16Journal of Environmental Management
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.10.004