Water - Wastewater treatment

Title

What are the costs and benefits of biodiversity recovery in a highly polluted estuary?

Reference

Water Research
Volume 46, Issue 1, 1 January 2012, Pages 205-217

Author(s)

M. Pascual, A. Borja, J. Franco, D. Burdon, J.P. Atkins, M. Elliott

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Biodiversity recovery measures have often been ignored when dealing with the restoration of degraded aquatic systems. Furthermore, biological valuation methods have been applied only spatially in previous studies, and not jointly on a temporal and spatial scale. The intense monitoring efforts carried out in a highly polluted estuary, in northern Spain (Nervión estuary), allowed for the economic valuation of the costs and the biological valuation of the benefits associated with a 21 years sewage scheme application. The analysis show that the total amount of money invested into the sewage scheme has contributed to the estuary's improvement of both environmental and biological features, as well as to an increase in the uses and services provided by the estuary. However, the inner and outer parts of the estuary showed different responses. An understanding of the costs and trajectories of the environmental recovery of degraded aquatic systems is increasingly necessary to allow policy makers and regulators to formulate robust, cost-efficient and feasible management decisions.

Policy theme(s)

Environmental economics >> Ecosystem services   
Marine ecosystems >> Marine pollution
Water >> Water quality >> Wastewater treatment

Keywords

Biodiversity valuation; Water treatment investment; Recovery of aquatic systems; Nervión estuary; Basque country

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Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135411006518
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mpascual@azti.es

Title

Long term change of nutrient concentrations of rivers discharging in European seas

Reference

Science of The Total Environment
Volume 409, Issue 23, 1 November 2011, Pages 4899-4916

Author(s)

Fayçal Bouraoui, Bruna Grizzetti

Study type

Peer Review Journal 

Abstract

Cases of severe eutrophication are still observed in European surface waters even though tough regulation has been in place since the beginning of the 1990s to control nutrient losses and inputs in the environment. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the evolution since 1991 of the quality of the water entering European seas in terms of the concentration of major nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), and to analyze the effectiveness of implemented national/international measures and EU legislation in reducing water nutrient pollution. Despite the reduction in large portions of the European territory of agricultural nutrient applications and nutrient point source emissions, the impact on water quality is limited. It is shown using two large river basins that this lack of response for nitrogen, and nitrate in particular, between the reduction of the nitrogen surplus and the recovery of water quality is partly explained by the lag time due to transfer of nitrates in the unsaturated and saturated zones and storage in the soils and aquifers. In order to monitor efficiently the impact of policy implementation on water quality, the Nitrates Directive and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive in particular, it is recommended to use long term permanent monitoring stations to be able to separate the impact of climate variability from that of policy implementation. It is also recommended to investigate and develop harmonized methodologies for estimating the lag time in order to come up with realistic estimates of response time of water bodies due to the implementation of measures.

Policy theme(s)

Water >> Water quality >> Water pollution and safety
Water >> Water quality >> Wastewater treatment

Keywords

Nitrates Directive; Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive; Trend analysis; Water quality; Monitoring network

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Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969711008394
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faycal.bouraoui@jrc.ec.europa.eu

Title

Uranium bioremediation in continuously fed upflow sand columns inoculated with anaerobic granules

Reference

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Volume 108, Issue 11, pages 2583–2591, November 2011
DOI: 10.1002/bit.23225

Author(s)

Aida Tapia-Rodriguez, Virginia Tordable-Martinez, Wenjie Sun, James A. Field, Reyes Sierra-Alvarez

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Reductive precipitation of soluble hexavalent uranium (U(VI)) to insoluble tetravalent uranium (U(IV)) containing minerals is one of the more promising approaches to uranium remediation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term performance of methanogenic granules for the continuous treatment of U(VI). For this purpose, three sand-packed columns inoculated with anaerobic biofilm were operated with or without ethanol and one column was exposed to nitrate co-contamination. The columns were operated for 373 days and efficiently removed U (24 mg L-1) in excess of 99.8%. No long-term benefit of ethanol addition was observed, suggesting that endogenous substrates in the biofilm were sufficient to drive the reduction reactions. Nitrate addition was found to inhibit U(VI) reduction and cause re-oxidation of some U(IV) deposited in the column. Taken as a whole, the results indicate that methanogenic biofilms can be reliably applied in bioreactor technology for sustained U removal from groundwater.

Policy theme(s)

Environmental technologies >> Pollution control >> Water treatment
Water >> Water quality >> Wastewater treatment

Keywords

uranium reduction;methanogenic biomass;ethanol;bioreactor;precipitation;uraninite

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N/A

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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bit.23225/abstract
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jimfield@email.arizona.edu

Title

Effect of oxic and anoxic conditions on nitrous oxide emissions from nitrification and denitrification processes

Reference

Biotechnology and bioengineering, DOI: 10.1002/bit.23147

Author(s)

Varit Rassamee, Chakkrid Sattayatewa, Krishna Pagilla, Kartik Chandran

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

A lab-scale sequencing batch reactor fed with real municipal wastewater was used to study nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from simulated wastewater treatment processes. The experiments were performed under four different controlled conditions as follows: (1) fully aerobic, (2) anoxic-aerobic with high dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration, (3) anoxic-aerobic with low DO concentration, and 4) intermittent aeration. The results indicated that N₂O production can occur from both incomplete nitrification and incomplete denitrification. N₂O production from denitrification was observed in both aerobic and anoxic phases. However, N₂O production from aerobic conditions occurred only when both low DO concentrations and high nitrite concentration existed simultaneously. The magnitude of N₂O produced via anoxic denitrification was lower than via oxic denitrification and required the presence of nitrite. Changes in DO, ammonium, and nitrite concentrations influenced the magnitude of N₂O production through denitrification. The results also suggested that N₂O can be produced from incomplete denitrification and then released to the atmosphere during aeration phase due to air stripping. Therefore, biological nitrogen removal systems should be optimized to promote complete nitrification and denitrification to minimize N₂O emissions.

Policy theme(s)

Biotechnology >> Pollution remediation
Environmental technologies >> Pollution control >> Water treatment
Water >> Water quality >> Water pollution and safety
Water >> Water quality >> Wastewater treatment

Keywords

nitrous oxide (N₂O), biological nitrogen removal (BNR), greenhouse gas (GHG), nitrification, denitrification

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N/A

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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bit.23147/abstract
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pagilla@iit.edu

Title

Biofiltration of wastewater treatment plant effluent: Effective removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products and reduction of toxicity

Reference

Water Research
Volume 45, Issue 9, April 2011, Pages 2751-2762

Author(s)

J. Reungoat , B.I. Escher, M. Macova and J. Keller

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

This study investigates biofiltration for the removal of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and for the reduction of non-specific toxicity expressed as baseline toxicity equivalent concentration (baseline-TEQ). Two filtering media, sand and granular activated carbon, were tested. The influence of pre-ozonation and empty-bed contact time (EBCT, from 30 to 120 min) was determined. The experiments were performed at a pilot-scale with real WWTP effluent. A previous study showed that biological activity had developed on the filtering media and dissolved organic removal had reached a steady state before sampling commenced. The results show that biological activated carbon (BAC) has a good potential for the removal of DOC (35-60%), PPCPs (>90%) and baseline-TEQ (28-68%) even without pre-ozonation. On the contrary, the sand shows limited improvement of effluent quality. Varying the EBCT does not influence the performance of the BAC filters; however, dissolved oxygen concentration could be a limiting factor. The performances of the BAC filters were stable for over two years suggesting that the main mechanism of organic matter and PPCPs removal is biodegradation. It is concluded that BAC filtration without pre-ozonation could be implemented as a low cost advanced treatment option to improve WWTP effluent chemical quality.

Policy theme(s)

Biotechnology >> Pollution remediation
Environmental technologies >> Pollution control >> Water treatment
Water >> Water quality >> Water pollution and safety
Water >> Water quality >> Wastewater treatment

Keywords

Organic micropollutants, Biological activated carbon filtration, Sand filtration,  Baseline toxicity equivalent concentrations, Wastewater reclamation

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N/A

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135411000698
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j.reungoat@awmc.uq.edu.au

Title

Phosphate treatment to reduce plumbosolvency of drinking water also reduces discharges of copper into environmental surface waters

Reference

Water and Environment Journal
Volume 25, Issue 2, pages 266-270, June 2011
DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-6593.2010.00219.x

Author(s)

Sean Comber, Franck Cassé, Bruce Brown, John Martin, Peter Hillis,
Mike Gardner

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

The majority of drinking water supply zones in the United Kingdom are currently dosed with phosphate in order to meet the drinking water quality standards for lead. Consequent reductions in other metals released from domestic plumbing might be expected. Lead, copper, zinc and nickel concentrations in the tap water of supply zones and in effluents from related sewage works were examined to assess reductions in the concentrations of these metals associated with the dosing of orthophosphate. This paper provides an analysis of the impact of phosphate dosing of drinking water on the metal concentrations in drinking water and sewage work effluents and the potential impacts in relation to the Water Framework Directive. Phosphate treatment the reduced average copper concentrations in drinking water by around 40% from 65 to 35μg/L; the reduction is proportional to the phosphate dose. A corresponding 30% decrease in wastewater treatment work effluent concentrations is observed. No significant changes are evident in the zinc and nickel concentrations.

Policy theme(s)

Water >> River basin management (WFD)
Water >> Water quality >> Wastewater treatment
Water >> Water quality >> Water pollution and safety

Keywords

Copper, cuprosolvency, sewage effluent, Water Framework Directive

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Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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N/A

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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-6593.2010.00219.x/abstract
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michael.gardner@atkinsglobal.com

Title

Integration of a microbial fuel cell with activated sludge process for energy-saving wastewater treatment: Taking a sequencing batch reactor as an example

Reference

Biotechnology and Bioengineering
Volume 108, Issue 6, pages 1260-1267, June 2011

Author(s)

Xian-Wei Liu, Yong-Peng Wang, Yu-Xi Huang, Xue-Fei Sun, Guo-Ping Sheng, Raymond J. Zeng, Feng Li, Fang Dong, Shu-Guang Wang, Zhong-Hua Tong,
Han-Qing Yu

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

In the research and application of microbial fuel cell (MFC), how to incorporate MFCs into current wastewater infrastructure is an importance issue. Here, we report a novel strategy of integrating an MFC into a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) to test the energy production and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. The membrane-less biocathode MFC is integrated with the SBR to recover energy from the aeration in the form of electricity and thus reduce the SBR operation costs. In a lab-scale integrated SBR-MFC system, the maximum power production of the MFC was 2.34 W/m3 for one typical cycle and the current density reached up to 14 A/m3. As a result, the MFC contributed to the 18.7% COD consumption of the integrated system and also recovered energy from the aeration tank with a volume fraction of only 12% of the SBR. Our strategy provides a feasible and effective energy-saving and -recovering solution to upgrade the existing activated sludge processes.

Policy theme(s)

Biotechnology >> Pollution remediation
Environmental technologies >> Climate change mitigation >> Low carbon and renewable energy
Environmental technologies >> Pollution control >> Water treatment
Water >> Water quality >> Wastewater treatment

Keywords

activated sludge, biocathode, energy recovery, microbial fuel cell (MFC), sequencing batch reactor (SBR), upgrade

Entry Source:

N/A

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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bit.23056/abstract
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hqyu@ustc.edu.cn

Title

From Dishwasher to Tap? Xenobiotic Substances Benzotriazole and Tolyltriazole in the Environment

Reference

Environ. Sci. Technol., 2011, 45 (9), pp 3858-3864
DOI: 10.1021/es103267g

Author(s)

Hussein Janna, Mark D. Scrimshaw, Richard J. Williams, John Churchley, and John P. Sumpter

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that the use of
chemicals frequently results in widespread environmental contamination
with little understanding of the toxicological implications.
Benzotriazoles are used in, among other applications,
dishwashing formulations for home use, and are a class of
chemicals recently reported to be present in European waters.
This study demonstrates their presence in UK wastewaters,
rivers, and drinking water. It also estimates that their use as silver
polishing agents in dishwasher tablets and powders may account
for a significant proportion of inputs to wastewaters. The
lack of a complete set of good quality (eco)toxicological data on
possible chronic effects of these high use chemicals should
caution against using them in a manner which may have
contributed to such widespread environmental contamination.

Policy theme(s)

Water >> Water quality >> Water pollution and safety
Water >> Water quality >> Wastewater treatment

Keywords

N/A

Entry Source:

Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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N /A

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http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es103267g
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Mark.Scrimshaw@brunel.ac.uk

Title

Effect of biological and chemical oxidation on the removal of estrogenic compounds (NP and BPA) from wastewater: An integrated assessment procedure

Reference

Water Research Volume 45, Issue 8, April 2011, Pages 2473-2484

Author(s)

Giorgio Bertanza, Roberta Pedrazzani, Mario Dal Grande, Matteo Papa, Valerio Zambarda, Claudia Montani, Nathalie Steimberg, Giovanna Mazzoleni, Diego Di Lorenzo

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

A major source of the wide presence of EDCs (Endocrine Disrupting Compounds) in water bodies is represented by direct/indirect discharge of sewage. Recent scientific literature reports data about their trace concentration in water, sediments and aquatic organisms, as well as removal efficiencies of different wastewater treatment schemes. Despite the availability of a huge amount of data, some doubts still persist due to the difficulty in evaluating synergistic effects of trace pollutants in complex matrices. In this paper, an integrated assessment procedure was used, based on chemical and biological analyses, in order to compare the performance of two full scale biological wastewater treatment plants (either equipped with conventional settling tanks or with an ultrafiltration membrane unit) and tertiary ozonation (pilot scale).
Nonylphenol and bisphenol A were chosen as model EDCs, together with the parent compounds mono- and di-ethoxylated nonylphenol (quantified by means of GC–MS). Water estrogenic activity was evaluated by applying the human breast cancer MCF–7 based reporter gene assay. Process parameters (e.g., sludge age, temperature) and conventional pollutants (e.g., COD, suspended solids) were also measured during monitoring campaigns.
Conventional activated sludge achieved satisfactory removal of both analytes and estrogenicity. A further reduction of biological activity was exerted by MBR (Membrane Biological Reactor) as well as ozonation; the latter contributed also to decrease EDC concentrations.

Policy theme(s)

Environmental technologies>>Pollution control>>Water treatment
Water>> Water quality>>Wastewater treatment

Keywords

EDCs (Endocrine Disrupting Compounds), Estrogenic activity, Mass balance, MBR treatment, Tertiary ozonation

Entry Source:

N/A

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Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135411000418
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giorgio.bertanza@ing.unibs.it

Title

Energy efficiency in Spanish wastewater treatment plants: A non-radial DEA approach

Reference

Science of The Total Environment
Volume 409, Issue 14, 15 June 2011, Pages 2693-2699

Author(s)

F. Hernández-Sancho, M. Molinos-Senante a nd R. Sala-Garrido

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Policy theme(s)

Resource efficiency >> Energy efficiency
Sustainable consumption and production >> Sustainable production >> Sustainable business and industry
Water >> Water quality >> Wastewater treatment

Keywords

Energy efficiency, Non-radial DEA, Wastewater treatment, CO2 emissions,  Energy saving

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Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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N/A

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969711003755
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Francesc.Hernandez@uv.es

Title

Reference

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Volume 173, Numbers 1-4, 267-277
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-010-1386-7

Author(s)

Paola Verlicchi, Luigi Masotti and Alessio Galletti

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

A new index, the Wastewater Polishing Index (WWPI), has been defined for the rapid assessment of the quality achieved by different polishing treatments for water discharged into surface water bodies and for reuse purposes. The index is defined by a weighted average of six parameters (SS, BOD5 COD, ammonia, total phosphorus, and E. scherichia coli), each transformed onto a sub-index scaled from 0 to 100. E. coli has been assigned a greater weight than the other indicators. The index is equal to 0 if none of the six pollutants are present in the effluent and to 100 when all six parameters equal their corresponding Italian legal limits for discharge into surface water bodies. When all six of them equal their corresponding Italian legal limits for reuse, the WWPI is 36. The index has been validated and tested on a pilot plant including a rapid sand filtration, a slow filtration through a horizontal subsurface flow system and a lagooning, in addition to their combinations. The experimental investigation showed that the index is a good tool for (1) rapidly comparing the water quality achieved by different treatment sequences, particularly natural systems; (2) rapidly evaluating whether the proposed sequence is able to produce an effluent adequate for reuse; and (3) rapidly evaluating the water quality improvement achieved by different systems. The proposed index could be of great help for managers and decision makers when planning for water resources, in particular, for comparing the quality level achieved by different wastewater treatment sequences.

Policy theme(s)

Water >> Water quality >> Wastewater treatment

Keywords

Experimental validation, Natural treatments, Polishing treatments,
Reuse,  Sensitivity analysis, Water quality index

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Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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N/A

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http://www.springerlink.com/content/hv6778h50kq64260/fulltext.pdf
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luigimasotti2@virgilio.it
alessio.galletti@unife.it

Title

The implications of household greywater treatment and reuse for municipal wastewater flows and micropollutant loads

Reference

Water Research
Volume 45, Issue 4, February 2011, Pages 1549-1560

Author(s)

D. Michael Revitt, Eva Eriksson and Erica Donner

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

An increasing worldwide interest in water recycling technologies such as grey water treatment and reuse suggests that additional research to elucidate the fate of xenobioticsduring such practices would be beneficial. In this paper, scenario analyses supported by empirical data are used for highlighting the potential fate of a selection of xenobiotic micropollutants in decentralised greywater treatment systems, and for investigation of the possible implications of greywater recycling for the wider urban water cycle. Potential potable water savings of up to 43% are predicted for greywater recycling based on Danishwater use statistics and priority substance monitoring at a greywater treatment plant in Denmark. Adsorption represents an important mechanism for the removal of cadmium,nickel, lead and nonylphenol from influent greywater and therefore the disposal route
adopted for the generated sludge can exert a major impact on the overall efficiency and environmental sustainability of greywater treatment.

Policy theme(s)

Environmental technologies >> Pollution control >> Water treatment
Resource efficiency >> Water efficiency
Water >> Water quality >> Wastewater treatment
Water >> Water consumption >> Water reuse

Keywords

Greywater treatment, Wastewater influent, Recycling, Priority substances, Scenario analyses, Sludge disposal

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Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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N/A

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135410008055
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m.revitt@mdx.ac.uk

Title

A Comparative Analysis of Odour Treatment Technologies in Wastewater Treatment Plants

Reference

Environ. Sci. Technol.
DOI: 10.1021/es103478j

Author(s)

Jose M. Estrada, N. J. R. Bart Kraakman, Raul Munoz, and Raquel Lebrero

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Biofiltration, activated sludge diffusion, biotrickling filtration, chemical scrubbing, activated carbon adsorption, regenerative incineration, and a hybrid technology (biotrickling filtration coupled with carbon adsorption) are comparatively evaluated in terms of environmental performance, process economics, and social impact by using the IChemE Sustainability Metrics in the context of odor treatment from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). This comparative analysis showed that physical/chemical technologies presented higher environmental impacts than their biological counterparts in terms of energy, material and reagents consumption, and hazardous-waste production. Among biological techniques, the main impact was caused by the high water consumption to maintain biological activity (although the use of secondary effluent water can reduce both this environmental impact and operating costs), biofiltration additionally exhibiting high land and material requirements. From a process economics viewpoint, technologies with the highest investments presented the lowest operating costs (biofiltration and biotrickling filtration), which suggested that the Net Present Value should be used as selection criterion. In addition, a significant effect of the economy of scale on the investment costs and odorant concentration on operating cost was observed. The social benefits derived from odor abatement were linked to nuisance reductions in the nearby population and improvements in occupational health within the WWTP, with the hybrid technology exhibiting the highest benefits. On the basis of their low environmental impact, high deodorization performance, and low Net Present Value, biotrickling filtration and AS diffusion emerged as the most promising technologies for odor treatment in WWTP.

Policy theme(s)

Biotechnology >> Pollution remediation
Environmental technologies >> Pollution control >> Water treatment
Water >> Water quality >> Wastewater treatment

Keywords

Wastewater, Odour

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Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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N/A

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http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1021/es103478j
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mutora@iq.uva.es