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Anaerobic-Based Water Resources Recovery Facilities: A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Ahmed AlSayed

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada)

  • Moomen Soliman

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada)

  • Ahmed Eldyasti

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada)

Abstract

The concept of water resources recovery facilities (WRRFs) has gained more attention as a more sustainable substitute for the conventional activated sludge-based wastewater treatment plant (CAS-WWTPs). Anaerobic treatment is advantageous due to its lower energy use, limited sludge production, and higher recovery of the soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) from the received wastewater. In this article, a critical review of the proposed scheme for the anaerobic-based WRRF (An-WRRFs) is presented which is preceded with discussion of CAS-WWTPs limitations. In addition, the evolution of anaerobic treatment from being viewed as wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to WRRF is demonstrated. It is attained that, even though anaerobic WWTPs (An-WWTPs) have simple and low energy mainline and very limited sludge handling process, its limited removal and recovery capacity have been widely reported, especially in cold weather. On the other hand, in the An-WRRF, higher energy expenditures are employed by using membranes, dissolved methane recovery unit, and primary treatment (extra sludge handling). Yet, energy recovery in the form of biogas is notably increased, as well as the removal efficiency under moderate residence times. The three key challenges to be overcome are the low value of biogas, reducing the energy use associated with membranes, and maintaining high performance in full-scale, especially in cold weather.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmed AlSayed & Moomen Soliman & Ahmed Eldyasti, 2020. "Anaerobic-Based Water Resources Recovery Facilities: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:14:p:3662-:d:385188
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Pierie, F. & van Someren, C.E.J. & Benders, R.M.J. & Bekkering, J. & van Gemert, W.J.Th. & Moll, H.C., 2015. "Environmental and energy system analysis of bio-methane production pathways: A comparison between feedstocks and process optimizations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 456-466.
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    1. Vincenzo Torretta & Athanasia K. Tolkou & Ioannis A. Katsoyiannis & Francesca Maria Caccamo & Marco Carnevale Miino & Marco Baldi & Maria Cristina Collivignarelli, 2021. "Enhancement of Methanogenic Activity in Volumetrically Undersized Reactor by Mesophilic Co-Digestion of Sewage Sludge and Aqueous Residue," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-11, July.

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