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Environmental, Ecological, and Economic Benefits of Biofuel Production Using a Constructed Wetland: A Case Study in China

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  • Dong Liu

    (Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Nanjing 210042, China)

  • Changxin Zou

    (Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Nanjing 210042, China)

  • Mengjia Xu

    (Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Nanjing 210042, China)

Abstract

Here we show a constructed wetland (CW), a viable alternative wastewater treatment system, be used to produce biofuels from biomass by using nitrogen contained in domestic wastewater. We summarize the potential biomass yield evaluated as cellulosic ethanol bioenergy production, and combine the life cycle analysis with a mass balance approach to estimate the energetic, environmental, and economic performance of a CW biofuel system. The results showed that the annual aboveground biomass yield of a CW in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, China, averaged 37,813 kg ha −1 year −1 as the by-product of treating waste N, which is about one order of magnitude larger than traditional biofuel production systems. The biomass yield in the Zhoushan CW system had life cycle environment benefits of 8.8 Mg (1 Mg = 10 6 g) CO 2 equivalent ha −1 year −1 of greenhouse gas emission reduction. The CW in Zhoushan had a net energy gain of 249.9 GJ (1 GJ = 10 9 J) ha −1 year −1 while the wastewater treatment plant (WTP) consumes 7442.5 GJ ha −1 year −1 . Moreover, the CW reduced greenhouse gas emissions to 2714 times less than that of the WTP. The CW also provided various ecosystem services, such as regional climate regulation and habitat conservation. We suggest that the potential use of a CW as biofuel production and carbon sequestration via nitrogen-negative input can be explored more widely in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Dong Liu & Changxin Zou & Mengjia Xu, 2019. "Environmental, Ecological, and Economic Benefits of Biofuel Production Using a Constructed Wetland: A Case Study in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-12, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:5:p:827-:d:211809
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yang, Wu & Chang, Jie & Xu, Bin & Peng, Changhui & Ge, Ying, 2008. "Ecosystem service value assessment for constructed wetlands: A case study in Hangzhou, China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(1-2), pages 116-125, December.
    2. Smeets, Edward M.W. & Lewandowski, Iris M. & Faaij, André P.C., 2009. "The economical and environmental performance of miscanthus and switchgrass production and supply chains in a European setting," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(6-7), pages 1230-1245, August.
    3. Shilong Piao & Jingyun Fang & Philippe Ciais & Philippe Peylin & Yao Huang & Stephen Sitch & Tao Wang, 2009. "The carbon balance of terrestrial ecosystems in China," Nature, Nature, vol. 458(7241), pages 1009-1013, April.
    4. Zhou, Xinping & Xiao, Bo & Ochieng, Reccab M. & Yang, Jiakuan, 2009. "Utilization of carbon-negative biofuels from low-input high-diversity grassland biomass for energy in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 479-485, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. María J. López-Serrano & Fida Hussain Lakho & Stijn W.H. Van Hulle & Ana Batlles-delaFuente, 2023. "Life cycle cost assessment and economic analysis of a decentralized wastewater treatment to achieve water sustainability within the framework of circular economy," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 14(1), pages 103-133, March.

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