Techno-economic analysis of a municipal wastewater treatment plant: A comparison among SBR, MLE & A2O processes

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR), Modified Ludzak Ettinger (MLE), and anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic (A2O), were modeled and simulated using the data of the Konarak-Iran Waste-Water Treatment Plant (WWTP). GPS-X and CapdetWorks software were used for technical and economic evaluation, respectively. The cost of MLE treatment per cubic meter of effluent with a flow rate of 900 cubic meters per day was 0.96$ per cubic meter, which was 36.4% and 12.5% lower than SBR and A2O, respectively. The removal efficiency of pollutants using the A2O method was above 90%, which has the best efficiency compared to the other two methods. However, since the quality of the effluent is also met by the MLE method, the choice of the same method can be desirable. Therefore, modeling and technical and economic simulation of wastewater treatment to perform comparisons between different methods lead to better engineering decisions based on the cost and quality of effluent.

Keywords

Main Subjects


References:
1.Alsmadi, S., Rahmat-Ullah, Z., Hosny, M., et al.“Simulation of wastewater treatment performanceof sequencing batch reactor under seasonalvariations using GPS-X: A case study in sharjah,UAE”, Advances in Science and EngineeringTechnology International Conferences (ASET),IEEE, pp. 1-6 (2022). http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ASET53988.2022.9734873
2.Sadri Moghaddam, S. and Pirali, M. “Modeling and calibration of a full-scale wastewater treatment plant using GPS-X model (A case study of Tehran)”, Numerical Methods in Civil Engineering, 5(4), pp. 67-76 (2021). https://doi.org/10.52547/nmce.5.4.67
3.Singh, N.K., Kazmi, A.A., and Starkl, M. “A reviewon full-scale decentralized wastewater treatmentsystems: techno-economical approach”, WaterScience and Technology, 71(4), pp. 468-478 (2015). https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2014.413
4.Fatemi, R. and Ashraf Joolaei, A. “Comprehensivereview of municipal wastewater treatment plants ofIran, in terms of number”, Processes, Capacities,Disadvantages (2020).
5.Jasim, N.A., “The design for Waste-WaterTreatment Plant (WWTP) with GPS-X modelling”,Cogent Engineering, 7(1), 1723782 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2020.1723782
6.Sikosana, M.L., Sikhwivhilu, K., Moutloali, R., etal. “Municipal wastewater treatment technologies:A review”, Procedia Manufacturing, 35, pp. 1018-1024 (2019).https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2019.06.051
7.Preisner, M. “Surface water pollution by untreatedmunicipal wastewater discharge due to a sewerfailure”, Environmental Processes, 7(3), pp. 767-780 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-020-00452-5
8.Crini, G. and Lichtfouse, E. “Advantages anddisadvantages of techniques used for wastewatertreatment”, Environmental Chemistry Letters,17(1), pp. 145-155 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-018-0785-9
9.Jafarinejad, S. “Cost estimation and economicalevaluation of three configurations of activatedsludge process for a Waste-Water Treatment Plant(WWTP) using simulation”, Applied WaterScience, 7, pp. 2513-2521 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-016-0446-8
10.Capodaglio, A.G., Callegari, A., Cecconet, D., et al.“Sustainability of decentralized wastewatertreatment technologies”, Water Practice andTechnology, 12(2), pp. 463-477 (2017). http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2017.055
11.Jafarinejad, S., “A framework for the design of thefuture energy-efficient, cost-effective, reliable,resilient, and sustainable full-scale wastewatertreatment plants”, Current Opinion inEnvironmental Science and Health, 13, pp. 91-100(2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coesh.2020.01.001
12.Abbasi, N., Ahmadi, M., and Naseri, M. “Qualityand cost analysis of a wastewater treatment plantusing GPS-X and CapdetWorks simulationprograms”, Journal of Environmental Management,284, 111993 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.111993
13.Abou-Elela, S.I., Hellal, M.S., Aly, O.H., et al.“Decentralized wastewater treatment usingpassively aerated biological filter”, EnvironmentalTechnology, 40(2), pp. 250-260 (2019). http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2017.1385648
14.Bakiri, Z., Chebli, D., and Nacef, S. “Dynamicmodelling of the secondary settler of a wastewatertreatment Via activated sludge to low-load”, EnergyProcedia, 18, pp. 1-9 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2012.05.012
15.Abou-Elela, S.I., Hellal, M.S., Aly, O.H., et al.“Decentralized wastewater treatment usingpassively aerated biological filter”, Environmentaltechnology, 40(2), pp. 250-260 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2017.1385648
16.Henze, M., Gujer, W., Mino, T., et al. ActivatedSludge Models ASM1, ASM2, ASM2d and ASM3,IWA Publishing (2006). https://doi.org/10.2166/9781780402369
17.Copp, J.B., Johnson, B.R., Shaw, A., et al. “A balancing act: The consulting engineers' pragmaticview of process modelling”, Water Science andTechnology, 59(4), pp. 763-769 (2009). https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2009.594
18.Moraes, A., Junior, J., Imbroisi, D., et al.“Economics of wastewater treatment: cost-effectiveness, social gains and environmentalstandards”, Environmental Economics, 901(3), pp.4587-70910 (2010).
19.Nasr, M.S., Moustafa, M.A., Seif, H.A., et al.“Modelling and simulation of GermanBIOGEST/EL-AGAMY wastewater treatmentplants–Egypt using GPS-X simulator”, AlexandriaEngineering Journal, 50(4), pp. 351-357 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2011.05.003
20.Sakib, F.S., “Designing and modeling of amunicipal wastewater treatment plant with GPS-X”(2022). http://dx.doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1209601/v1
21.Cao, J., Yang, E., Xu, C., et al. “Model-basedstrategy for nitrogen removal enhancement in full-scale wastewater treatment plants by GPS-Xintegrated with response surface methodology”, Science of the Total Environment, 769, 144851 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144851
22.Arif, A., Tarek, M., and Aly, S. “Design andcomparison of wastewater treatment plant types(activated sludge and membrane bioreactor), usingGPS-X simulation program: Case study of TikritWWTP (Middle Iraq)”, Journal of EnvironmentalProtection, 9, pp. 636-651 (2018). http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jep.2018.96040
23.Metcalf, L., Eddy, H.P., and Tchobanoglous, G.,Wastewater Engineering: Treatment, Disposal, andReuse, McGraw-Hill New York, 4 (1991).
24.Abu-Alhail, S. and Lu, X.W. “Experimentalinvestigation and modeling of innovative five-tankanaerobic-anoxic/oxic process”, AppliedMathematical Modelling, 38(1), pp. 278-290 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apm.2013.06.019
25.Owusu-Ansah, E.D.G.J., Sampson, A., Amponsah,S.K., et al. “Performance, compliance andreliability of waste stabilization pond: effluentdischarge quality and environmental protectionagency standards in Ghana”, Research Journal ofApplied Sciences, Engineering, and Technology,2015, 1293-1302 (2015). http://dx.doi.org/10.19026/rjaset.10.1825
26.Farzadkia, M., Vanani, A.F., Golbaz, S., et al.“Characterization and evaluation of treatability ofwastewater generated in Khuzestan livestockslaughterhouses and assessing of their wastewatertreatment systems”, Global NEST Journal, 18, pp.108-118 (2016). https://doi.org/10.30955/gnj.001716
27.EPA, U., Wastewater Technology Fact DheetSequencing Batch Reactors, UEP Agency, Editor(1999).
28.Xie, W.M., Zeng, R.J., Li, W.-W., et al. “A modelingunderstanding on the phosphorous removalperformances of A 2O and reversed A2O processesin a full-scale wastewater treatment plant”,Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25,22810-22817 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2317-3
29.Mohammed, S.A.a.-R. and Thamir Hamad, A.“Evaluating the performance of the A2O system forremoving nutrients from municipality wastewater”, Al-Rafidain Engineering Journal (AREJ), 24(2), pp. 12-24 (2019). https://doi.org/10.33899/rengj.2019.164334
30.Bortoli, M., Kunz, A., Prá, M.C.D., et al.“Simultaneous removal of nitrogen and organiccarbon from swine wastewater using the pre-denitrification/nitrification process”, RevistaAmbiente and Água, 14 (2019). https://doi.org/10.4136/ambi-agua.2241
31.Makki, A. and Khudhair, B. “Correlation betweenBOD5 and COD for AL- DIWANIYAH wastewatertreatment plants to obtain the biodegradbiltyindices”, Pakistan Journal of Biotechnology, 15(2),pp. 423-427 (2018). https://pjbt.org/index.php/pjbt/article/view/412
32.Ghalavand, Y., Nikkhah, H., and Nikkhah, A. “Heatpump assisted divided wall column for ethanolazeotropic purification”, Journal of the TaiwanInstitute of Chemical Engineers, 123, pp. 206-218(2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtice.2021.05.002
33.Arif, A.U.A., Sorour, M.T., and Aly, S.A. “Costanalysis of activated sludge and membranebioreactor WWTPs using CapdetWorks simulationprogram: Case study of Tikrit WWTP (middleIraq)”, Alexandria Engineering Journal, 59(6), pp.4659-4667 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2020.08.023
34.Nikkhah, H., Nikkhah, A., and Ghalavand, Y. “Acid gas preparation for enhanced oil recovery: techno-economic analysis of different dehydrationprocesses”, Separation Science and Technology,58(11), pp. 2064-2076 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1080/01496395.2023.2219379
35.Sun, Y., Garrido-Baserba, M., Molinos-Senante,M., et al. “A composite indicator approach to assessthe sustainability and resilience of wastewatermanagement alternatives”, Science of the TotalEnvironment, 725, 138286 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138286
36.Zahid, W.M. “Cost analysis of trickling-filtrationand activated sludge plants for the treatment ofmunicipal wastewater”, The Proceedings of the 7thSaudi Engineering Conference, College ofEngineering, King Saud University, Riyadh,December (2007).
Volume 32, Issue 9
Transactions on Chemical and Geoenergy Engineering
May and June 2025 Article ID:7250
  • Receive Date: 24 October 2022
  • Revise Date: 19 September 2023
  • Accept Date: 07 October 2023