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Emergy Analysis for the Sustainable Utilization of Biosolids Generated in a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant
Citation:
Cano Londoño, N., D. Gallego Suarez, H. Velasquez, AND G. Ruiz-Mercado. Emergy Analysis for the Sustainable Utilization of Biosolids Generated in a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant. JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION. Elsevier, AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, 141:182-193, (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.09.033
Impact/Purpose:
This work aims to identify the best option for the use and management of biosolids generated in a wastewater treatment plant of the city of Medellin-Colombia. The best process alternative was defined as one that is economically profitable, energetically sustainable, and minimizes or eliminate negative environmental impacts. The current alternative for biosolids management was evaluated and compared to another management alternative referenced as appropriate in the literature by using emergy-based sustainability indicators. In addition, the GREENSCOPE methodology and evaluation tool was employed for calculating the sustainability indicators as relative indicator percentage scores (0-100%) between well-defined absolute limits for best and worst case process scenarios. This allows a clear visualization and comparison between many process alternatives. This work explores emergy evaluation as a tool that not only allows to assess the sustainability of a process, but also to correct its unsustainable practices.
Description:
This contribution describes the application of an emergy-based methodology for comparing two management alternatives of biosolids produced in a wastewater treatment plant. The current management practice of using biosolids as soil fertilizers was evaluated and compared to another alternative, the recovery of energy from the biosolid gasification process. This emergy assessment and comparison approach identifies more sustainable processes which achieve economic and social benefits with a minimal environmental impact. In addition, emergy-based sustainability indicators and the GREENSCOPE methodology were used to compare the two biosolid management alternatives. According to the sustainability assessment results, the energy production from biosolid gasification is energetically profitable, economically viable, and environmentally suitable. Furthermore, it was found that the current use of biosolids as soil fertilizer does not generate any considerable environmental stress, has the potential to achieve more economic benefits, and a post-processing of biosolids prior to its use as soil fertilizer improves its sustainability performance. In conclusion, this emergy analysis provides a sustainability assessment of both alternatives of biosolid management and helps waste water treatment plant operators and governmental decision-makers to identify opportunities for improvement in biosolid management.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Emergy Analysis for the Sustainable Utilization of Biosolids Generated in a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant
Emergy Analysis for Sustain Util Biosolids
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