Advances in technological control of greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater in the context of circular economy

This review paper aims to identify the main sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and highlights the technologies developed for CO2 capture in this milieu. CO2 is emitted in all the operational units of conventional WWTPs and even after the disposal of treated effluents and sludges. CO2 emissions from wastewater can be captured or mitigated by several technologies such as the production of biochar from sludge, the application of constructed wetlands (CWs), the treatment of wastewater in microbial electrochemical processes (microbial electrosynthesis, MES; microbial electrolytic carbon capture, MECC; in microbial carbon capture, MCC), and via microalgal cultivation. Sludge-to-biochar and CW systems showed a high cost-effectiveness in the capture of CO2, while MES, MECC, MCC technologies, and microalgal cultivation offered efficient capture of CO2 with associate production of value-added by-products. At the state-of-the-art, these technologies, utilized for carbon capture and utilization from wastewater, require more research for further configuration, development and cost-effectiveness. Moreover, the integration of these technologies has a potential internal rate of return (IRR) that could equate the operation or provide additional revenue to wastewater management. In the context of circular economy, these carbon capture technologies will pave the way for new sustainable concepts of WWTPs, as an essential element for the mitigation of climate change fostering the transition to a decarbonised economy.

Informació addicional

  • Any: 2021
  • Autors: Pahunang R.R., Buonerba A., Senatore V., Oliva G., Ouda M., Zarra T., Muñoz R., Puig S., Ballesteros F.C., Jr., Li C.-W., Hasan S.W., Belgiorno V.
  • Referència: Science of the Total Environment, Volume 79220, October 2021, Article number 148479

Cercar articles

Nom/Títol

Any

Autors

Laboratori d’Enginyeria Química i Ambiental

Institut de Medi Ambient
Universitat de Girona
Campus Montilivi
17003 Girona

Parc Científic i Tecnològic de la UdG
Edifici Jaume Casademont, Porta B
Pic de Peguera, 15
17003 Girona
Tel. +34 972 41 98 59
info.lequia@udg.edu

 

Cercar

Xarxes socials

Segueix-nos a ...

Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin

NOTE! This site uses cookies and similar technologies. If you not change browser settings, you agree to it. Cookie Policy