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Carbon Footprint and Energy Recovery Potential of Primary Wastewater Treatment in Decentralized Areas: A Critical Review on Septic and Imhoff Tanks

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  • Riccardo Boiocchi

    (Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Via Vitaliano Brancati 48, 00144 Rome, Italy)

  • Matia Mainardis

    (Polytechnic Department of Engineering and Architecture (DPIA), University of Udine, Via del Cotonificio 108, 33100 Udine, Italy)

  • Elena Cristina Rada

    (Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Via J.H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy)

  • Marco Ragazzi

    (Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy)

  • Silvana Carla Salvati

    (Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Via Vitaliano Brancati 48, 00144 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

The present work is a critical review on the carbon footprint and energy recovery potential of septic and Imhoff tanks for primary wastewater treatment. From an online search of research papers, a lack of up-to-date research about gas emissions from Imhoff tanks emerged. Additionally, available literature data should be extended to incorporate the effect of seasonal variations, which may be relevant due to the fact that both systems work under environmental conditions. The literature generally agrees on the positive effect of temperature increase on biogas and methane production from both septic and Imhoff tanks. Additionally, sludge withdrawal is an important operational feature for gas production in these reactors. More recently, the application of electrochemical technologies and the installation of photovoltaic modules have been studied to enhance the sustainability of these decentralized solutions; in addition, sludge pretreatment has been investigated to raise the obtainable methane yields due to limited sludge biodegradability. Further research is needed to assess the effective sustainability of biogas collection and valorization from existing septic and Imhoff tanks, considering the limited biogas generation and the implementation of these systems in decentralized wastewater treatment scenarios (rural or mountain areas). Contrary to the intensive research on greenhouse gas mitigation strategies applied to centralized systems, solutions specifically designed for gas emission mitigations from septic and Imhoff tanks have not attracted the same scientific interest up to now. More generally, given the widespread application of these two options and their potential significant contribution to the overall carbon footprint of wastewater treatment technologies, much more research must be performed in the future both on the quantification of gas production and on the applicable strategies to reduce their carbon footprint.

Suggested Citation

  • Riccardo Boiocchi & Matia Mainardis & Elena Cristina Rada & Marco Ragazzi & Silvana Carla Salvati, 2023. "Carbon Footprint and Energy Recovery Potential of Primary Wastewater Treatment in Decentralized Areas: A Critical Review on Septic and Imhoff Tanks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-23, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:24:p:7938-:d:1295314
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dek Vimean Pheakdey & Vongdala Noudeng & Tran Dang Xuan, 2023. "Landfill Biogas Recovery and Its Contribution to Greenhouse Gas Mitigation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-19, June.
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