Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Environmental Impact of Wastewater Treatment - A Study of Membrane Bioreactor and Iso-Disc Technologies from a Life Cycle Perspective

Zilling, Isabelle LU and Lestander, Krister LU (2019) FMIM01 20191
Environmental and Energy Systems Studies
Abstract
This study evaluates and compares two different wastewater treatment technologies from a life cycle perspective. The evaluating technologies are Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) technology with a microfiltration membrane and Iso-Disc technology. Both technologies are gaining market share and are an important step in a wastewater treatment plant to guarantee good effluent quality of water. In this study we use the ReCiPe Midpoint (H) methodology and eleven impact categories are evaluated.

Our result shows that the Iso-Disc technology has the lowest environmental impact of all eleven impact categories when production, operation and transport are compared to the MBR technology. The operation phase has the greatest impact on the environment of... (More)
This study evaluates and compares two different wastewater treatment technologies from a life cycle perspective. The evaluating technologies are Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) technology with a microfiltration membrane and Iso-Disc technology. Both technologies are gaining market share and are an important step in a wastewater treatment plant to guarantee good effluent quality of water. In this study we use the ReCiPe Midpoint (H) methodology and eleven impact categories are evaluated.

Our result shows that the Iso-Disc technology has the lowest environmental impact of all eleven impact categories when production, operation and transport are compared to the MBR technology. The operation phase has the greatest impact on the environment of all categories for both technologies. The study highlights the differences in environmental impact depending on the location of the wastewater treatment plant, where the electricity mixes of Australia, Denmark and Sweden are evaluated. When the purification level of each technology is considered, the results are changed. When indirect emissions of phosphorus and nitrogen in the suspended solids of the effluent are included, the MBR technology will be the best alternative from the impact category marine eutrophication potential. This goes for all three locations, whether it is in Sweden, Australia or Denmark. The MBR technology will also be the best alternative from the impact category freshwater eutrophication potential if the plant is located in Denmark or Sweden. When the plant is located in Australia, the Iso-Disc will still be the better alternative from the impact category freshwater eutrophication potential. The result implies, that since the electricity mix have a big impact on the result, it is important to consider the location of the plant while choosing technology from an eutrophication aspect. A better purification level will not always reduce the total emissions according to eutrophication, especially if the electricity mix consists of a large share of fossil electricity and the technology is energy intensive. It is also important to include parameters such as the purification level while doing a life cycle assessment, where different wastewater treatment technologies are being compared. The reason for this is because indirect emissions linked to the purification level, were shown to have a big impact on the environment according to eutrophication. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Zilling, Isabelle LU and Lestander, Krister LU
supervisor
organization
course
FMIM01 20191
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
MBR technology, Iso-Disc technology, Life cycle assessment, Wastewater treatment, Conventional activated sludge process, Activated sludge process, Electricity mix
report number
LUTFD2/TFEM--19/5146--SE + (1-105)
ISSN
1102-3651
language
English
id
8983448
date added to LUP
2019-06-14 14:09:49
date last changed
2020-06-11 13:42:03
@misc{8983448,
  abstract     = {{This study evaluates and compares two different wastewater treatment technologies from a life cycle perspective. The evaluating technologies are Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) technology with a microfiltration membrane and Iso-Disc technology. Both technologies are gaining market share and are an important step in a wastewater treatment plant to guarantee good effluent quality of water. In this study we use the ReCiPe Midpoint (H) methodology and eleven impact categories are evaluated. 

Our result shows that the Iso-Disc technology has the lowest environmental impact of all eleven impact categories when production, operation and transport are compared to the MBR technology. The operation phase has the greatest impact on the environment of all categories for both technologies. The study highlights the differences in environmental impact depending on the location of the wastewater treatment plant, where the electricity mixes of Australia, Denmark and Sweden are evaluated. When the purification level of each technology is considered, the results are changed. When indirect emissions of phosphorus and nitrogen in the suspended solids of the effluent are included, the MBR technology will be the best alternative from the impact category marine eutrophication potential. This goes for all three locations, whether it is in Sweden, Australia or Denmark. The MBR technology will also be the best alternative from the impact category freshwater eutrophication potential if the plant is located in Denmark or Sweden. When the plant is located in Australia, the Iso-Disc will still be the better alternative from the impact category freshwater eutrophication potential. The result implies, that since the electricity mix have a big impact on the result, it is important to consider the location of the plant while choosing technology from an eutrophication aspect. A better purification level will not always reduce the total emissions according to eutrophication, especially if the electricity mix consists of a large share of fossil electricity and the technology is energy intensive. It is also important to include parameters such as the purification level while doing a life cycle assessment, where different wastewater treatment technologies are being compared. The reason for this is because indirect emissions linked to the purification level, were shown to have a big impact on the environment according to eutrophication.}},
  author       = {{Zilling, Isabelle and Lestander, Krister}},
  issn         = {{1102-3651}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Environmental Impact of Wastewater Treatment - A Study of Membrane Bioreactor and Iso-Disc Technologies from a Life Cycle Perspective}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}