Systematic approach to evaluating environmental and ecological technologies for wastewater treatment

Xiaoling Su; Penchi Chiang; Shuyuan Pan; Guangjiao Chen; Yinren Tao; Gaojie Wu; Feifei Wang; Wenzhi Cao

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.11.108

Systematic approach to evaluating environmental and ecological technologies for wastewater treatment

Chemosphere. 2019 Mar:218:778-792. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.11.108. Epub 2018 Nov 17.

Authors

Xiaoling Su¹, Penchi Chiang², Shuyuan Pan³, Guangjiao Chen⁴, Yinren Tao⁵, Gaojie Wu⁶, Feifei Wang⁷, Wenzhi Cao⁸

Affiliations

¹ College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiang'an District, Xiamen City, Fujian, China. Electronic address: xlsu@stu.xmu.edu.cn.
² Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 106, Taiwan; Carbon Cycle Research Center, Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 106, Taiwan. Electronic address: pcchiang@ntu.edu.tw.
³ Energy Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, MS 90R-2121, Berkeley, United States. Electronic address: sypan@lbl.gov.
⁴ College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiang'an District, Xiamen City, Fujian, China. Electronic address: 15851899178@163.com.
⁵ College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiang'an District, Xiamen City, Fujian, China. Electronic address: taoyinren@stu.xmu.edu.cn.
⁶ College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiang'an District, Xiamen City, Fujian, China. Electronic address: wgj@stu.xmu.edu.cn.
⁷ College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiang'an District, Xiamen City, Fujian, China. Electronic address: feifeiw@xmu.edu.cn.
⁸ College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiang'an District, Xiamen City, Fujian, China. Electronic address: wzcao@xmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 30508796
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.11.108

Abstract

Evaluating the performance of wastewater treatment represents a challenging and complex task as it usually involves engineering, environmental and economic (3E) factors. In this study, we developed an 3E triangle model to evaluate the performance of environmental technologies (i.e., anaerobic-anoxic-oxic reactors, oxidation ditches, and membrane bioreactors) and ecological technologies (i.e., stabilization ponds, constructed wetlands, and slow-rate systems) for wastewater treatment. A total of 17 key performance indicators, such as energy consumption, pollutant removal, global warming potential and wastewater treatment fees, were considered in the 3E triangle model. The results indicated that, in terms of engineering performance, both the membrane bioreactors and constructed wetlands were stable, effective and reliable during their operating periods. When the environmental impacts of wastewater treatment technologies were compared via a life cycle assessment, the ecological technologies showed superior performance, in terms of environmental impacts, especially for the global warming potential and eutrophication potential. In general, environmental technologies exhibited higher treatment fees and unit construction costs because of their large power consumption and equipment costs. In contrast, ecological technologies had higher unit land use due to their large area requirements and low treatment capacity. In overall, both the membrane bioreactors and constructed wetlands showed excellent overall performance in the 3E triangle model. Wastewater treatment plant are typical case studies for addressing the interactions of water and energy elements. Reducing energy consumption is a hotspot for the research field of membrane bioreactors, while constructed wetlands are continually improved and optimized to have broad applications for rural wastewater treatment.

Keywords: 3E analysis; Economic costs; Engineering performance; Environmental impacts; Life cycle assessment; Water resource sustainability.

MeSH terms

Bioreactors / standards*
Ecology / standards
Global Warming
Models, Theoretical*
Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods
Wastewater / analysis*
Water Purification / methods*
Wetlands

Substances

Waste Water