IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i4p1365-d1334319.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

AI Applied to the Circular Economy: An Approach in the Wastewater Sector

Author

Listed:
  • Vicent Hernández-Chover

    (Water Economics Group, Inter-University Institute for Local Development (IILD-WATER), University of Valencia, C/Serpis 29, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

  • Águeda Bellver-Domingo

    (Water Economics Group, Inter-University Institute for Local Development (IILD-WATER), University of Valencia, C/Serpis 29, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

  • Lledó Castellet-Viciano

    (Water Economics Group, Inter-University Institute for Local Development (IILD-WATER), University of Valencia, C/Serpis 29, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

  • Francesc Hernández-Sancho

    (Water Economics Group, Inter-University Institute for Local Development (IILD-WATER), University of Valencia, C/Serpis 29, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

Abstract

Water is one of the most basic and essential resources for life and is also a strategic component for the development of the economies of the different countries of the planet. The water sector in the context of ecological transition and the circular economy has enormous economic potential. However, the water resources present in a territory are, in many cases, very limited, and their availability is increasingly restricted. In this respect, current technologies make it possible to generate a whole range of renewable resources. In the case of wastewater treatment plants, in addition to obtaining clean water in sufficient quantity and quality, it is possible to take advantage of multiple other resources generated in the purification processes, such as fertilizers, biogas, bioplastics, and glass, and even recover adsorbents such as enzymes and proteins from wastewater. These resources represent a valuable social, environmental, and economic contribution. The scarcity of some of these resources causes continuous increases in market prices, generating economic tensions between producers and potential users. This work proposes to guide the potential of artificial intelligence (AI)-based methodologies in aspects related to the supply and demand of the resources generated in these infrastructures. Specifically, the use of machine learning (ML) allows for projecting economic scenarios based on multiple variables, such as the quality and quantity of the treated flows, the resources generated in the infrastructures, the current demands, and the prices of substitute goods. This aspect represents a substantial advance in terms of the circular economy since, beyond the technical aspects related to the processes, it ensures a sustainable balance between potential producers and end users. In conclusion, it brings sustainability to the urban water-cycle sector, ensuring the viability of the resources generated.

Suggested Citation

  • Vicent Hernández-Chover & Águeda Bellver-Domingo & Lledó Castellet-Viciano & Francesc Hernández-Sancho, 2024. "AI Applied to the Circular Economy: An Approach in the Wastewater Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:4:p:1365-:d:1334319
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/4/1365/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/4/1365/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jayet, Pierre-Alain & Petel, Elvire, 2015. "Economic valuation of the nitrogen content of urban organic residue by the agricultural sector," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 272-281.
    2. Clemens Driessen & Leonie Heutinck, 2015. "Cows desiring to be milked? Milking robots and the co-evolution of ethics and technology on Dutch dairy farms," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 32(1), pages 3-20, March.
    3. Casey Brown & Upmanu Lall, 2006. "Water and economic development: The role of variability and a framework for resilience," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 30(4), pages 306-317, November.
    4. Panepinto, Deborah & Fiore, Silvia & Zappone, Mariantonia & Genon, Giuseppe & Meucci, Lorenza, 2016. "Evaluation of the energy efficiency of a large wastewater treatment plant in Italy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 404-411.
    5. Tan, Daniel & Suvarna, Manu & Shee Tan, Yee & Li, Jie & Wang, Xiaonan, 2021. "A three-step machine learning framework for energy profiling, activity state prediction and production estimation in smart process manufacturing," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 291(C).
    6. Filipe, Jorge & Bessa, Ricardo J. & Reis, Marisa & Alves, Rita & Póvoa, Pedro, 2019. "Data-driven predictive energy optimization in a wastewater pumping station," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C), pages 1-1.
    7. Maaß, Oliver & Grundmann, Philipp, 2016. "Added-value from linking the value chains of wastewater treatment, crop production and bioenergy production: A case study on reusing wastewater and sludge in crop production in Braunschweig (Germany)," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 195-211.
    8. Radini, Serena & Marinelli, Enrico & Akyol, Çağrı & Eusebi, Anna Laura & Vasilaki, Vasileia & Mancini, Adriano & Frontoni, Emanuele & Bischetti, Gian Battista & Gandolfi, Claudio & Katsou, Evina & Fat, 2021. "Urban water-energy-food-climate nexus in integrated wastewater and reuse systems: Cyber-physical framework and innovations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    9. Manzoor Qadir & Pay Drechsel & Blanca Jiménez Cisneros & Younggy Kim & Amit Pramanik & Praem Mehta & Oluwabusola Olaniyan, 2020. "Global and regional potential of wastewater as a water, nutrient and energy source," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 44(1), pages 40-51, February.
    10. Qadir, M. & Drechsel, Pay & Cisneros, B. J. & Kim, Y. & Pramanik, A. & Mehta, P. & Olaniyan, O., 2020. "Global and regional potential of wastewater as a water, nutrient and energy source," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 44(1):40-51.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Odabaş Baş, Gözde & Aydınalp Köksal, Merih, 2022. "Environmental and techno-economic analysis of the integration of biogas and solar power systems into urban wastewater treatment plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 579-597.
    2. Vasileios A. Tzanakakis & Andrea G. Capodaglio & Andreas N. Angelakis, 2023. "Insights into Global Water Reuse Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-30, August.
    3. Drechsel, Pay & Qadir, M. & Galibourg, D., 2022. "The WHO guidelines for safe wastewater use in agriculture: a review of implementation challenges and possible solutions in the global south," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 1-14(6):864.
    4. Ascioti, Fortunato A. & Mangano, Maria Cristina & Marcianò, Claudio & Sarà, Gianluca, 2022. "The sanitation service of seagrasses – Dependencies and implications for the estimation of avoided costs," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    5. Chloé Grison & Stef Koop & Steven Eisenreich & Jan Hofman & I-Shin Chang & Jing Wu & Dragan Savic & Kees Leeuwen, 2023. "Integrated Water Resources Management in Cities in the World: Global Challenges," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 37(6), pages 2787-2803, May.
    6. Sylwia Myszograj & Dariusz Bocheński & Mirosław Mąkowski & Ewelina Płuciennik-Koropczuk, 2021. "Biogas, Solar and Geothermal Energy—The Way to a Net-Zero Energy Wastewater Treatment Plant—A Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-15, October.
    7. Konstantina Fotia & George Nanos & Pantelis Barouchas & Markos Giannelos & Aikaterini Linardi & Aikaterini Vallianatou & Paraskevi Mpeza & Ioannis Tsirogiannis, 2022. "Growth Development, Physiological Status and Water Footprint Assessment of Nursery Young Olive Trees ( Olea europaea L. ‘Konservolea’) Irrigated with Urban Treated Wastewater," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-14, April.
    8. Wirginia Tomczak & Marek Gryta, 2022. "Energy-Efficient AnMBRs Technology for Treatment of Wastewaters: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-40, July.
    9. Débora Cynamon Kligerman & Aline Stelling Zanatta & Graziella de Araújo Toledo & Joseli Maria da Rocha Nogueira, 2023. "Path toward Sustainability in Wastewater Management in Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(16), pages 1-19, August.
    10. Tawfik, Mohamed Hassan & Al-Zawaidah, Hadeel & Hoogesteger, J. & Al-Zu'bi, Maha & Hellegers, Petra & Mateo-Sagasta, Javier & Elmahdi, A., 2023. "Shifting waters: the challenges of transitioning from freshwater to treated wastewater irrigation in the northern Jordan Valley," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 15(7):1315..
    11. Simhayov, Reuven & Ohana-Levi, Noa & Shenker, Moshe & Netzer, Yishai, 2023. "Effect of long-term treated wastewater irrigation on soil sodium levels and table grapevines' health," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    12. Daniel Szopa & Paulina Wróbel & Beata Anwajler & Anna Witek-Krowiak, 2024. "Hydrogel Applications in Nitrogen and Phosphorus Compounds Recovery from Water and Wastewater: An Overview," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-29, July.
    13. Rezapour, Salar & Alamdari, Parisa & Kalavrouziotis, Ioannis K., 2023. "Response of soil health index to untreated wastewater irrigation in selected farms under different vegetable types," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    14. Alan Alvarez-Holguin & Gabriel Sosa-Perez & Omar Castor Ponce-Garcia & Carlos Rene Lara-Macias & Federico Villarreal-Guerrero & Carlos Gustavo Monzon-Burgos & Jesus Manuel Ochoa-Rivero, 2022. "The Impact of Treated Wastewater Irrigation on the Metabolism of Barley Grown in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-16, February.
    15. McGrath, Karen & Brown, Claire & Regan, Áine & Russell, Tomás, 2023. "Investigating narratives and trends in digital agriculture: A scoping study of social and behavioural science studies," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    16. Johanna Pfeiffer & Andreas Gabriel & Markus Gandorfer, 2021. "Understanding the public attitudinal acceptance of digital farming technologies: a nationwide survey in Germany," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(1), pages 107-128, February.
    17. Johnson, Hilary A. & Simon, Kevin P. & Slocum, Alexander H., 2021. "Data analytics and pump control in a wastewater treatment plant," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    18. Krieg, Thomas & Enzmann, Franziska & Sell, Dieter & Schrader, Jens & Holtmann, Dirk, 2017. "Simulation of the current generation of a microbial fuel cell in a laboratory wastewater treatment plant," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 942-949.
    19. Ivanov, Stanislav & Kuyumdzhiev, Mihail & Webster, Craig, 2020. "Automation fears: Drivers and solutions," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    20. Adam Masłoń & Joanna Czarnota & Paulina Szczyrba & Aleksandra Szaja & Joanna Szulżyk-Cieplak & Grzegorz Łagód, 2024. "Assessment of Energy Self-Sufficiency of Wastewater Treatment Plants—A Case Study from Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-19, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:4:p:1365-:d:1334319. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.