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Waste Water Treatment and Energy Recovery: Opportunities and Challenges

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "B: Energy and Environment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (18 October 2023) | Viewed by 8984

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Sylwia Myszograj

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Guest Editor

Institute of Environmental Engineering, University of Zielona Góra, 65-417 Zielona Góra, Poland
Interests: biological wastewater treatment; biochemical processes; anaerobic digestion; disintegration of sewage sludge; renewable energy; environmental analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Ewelina Płuciennik-Koropczuk

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Guest Editor

Institute of Environmental Engineering, University of Zielona Góra, Poland
Interests: Wastewater engineering; Anaerobic digestion; Methane production; Renewable energy

Dr. Piotr Ziembicki

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Guest Editor

Institute of Environmental Engineering, University of Zielona Góra, Poland
Interests: Hydraulic engineering； Energy simulation； Energy efficiency； Alternative energy； Renewable Energy Technologies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Energy efficiency in the water and wastewater industry has become increasingly important in recent years, as wastewater treatment plants are responsible for nearly 35% of the energy consumption of all municipal facilities. The optimal operation of wastewater treatment plants requires the provision of electricity, which is necessary for conducting technological processes and for transporting wastewater. The costs generated translate into the price of collecting and treating wastewater. Therefore, it is justified to optimize the wastewater treatment processes technically and economically by reducing the electricity consumption rates. However, the reduction of the energy intensity of these processes is possible only within certain limits. Therefore, it is necessary—apart from the rationalization of consumption—to look for other methods of obtaining energy. One of the ways of solving this problem and at the same time reducing the emission of harmful combustion products and slowing down the rate of consumption of fossil fuel resources is the use of "clean" energy generation technologies, in particular the so-called "renewable" energy sources. Wastewater and sewage sludge are good materials for anaerobic digestion processes, heat recovery and hydropower.

All researchers working in the field are invited to contribute original research papers or reviews to this Special Issue of Energies, which reports on the design and modelling of wastewater treatment processes and sewage sludge management connected to development of efficient and sustainable technologies for energy recovery. The scope of this Issue includes disintegration, anaerobic digestion, biogas, biohydrogen, bioenergy recovery from wastewater produced by hydrothermal processing biomass, circular economy, and energy recovery from wastewater and sewage sludge.

Prof. Dr. Sylwia Myszograj
Dr. Ewelina Płuciennik-Koropczuk
Dr. Piotr Ziembicki
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

Wastewater treatment technologies
Sewage sludge management
Energy recovery
Biogas
Biohydrogen
Disintegration methods
Balance
Modelling
ADM1
Hydropower
Heat recovery
Energy assessment.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 5026 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of the Addition of Cement and Zeolite on the Increase in the Efficiency of Sewage Sludge Dewatering in the Pressure Filtration Process

by Mariusz Kowalczyk

Energies 2024, 17(3), 685; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en17030685 - 31 Jan 2024

Viewed by 504

Abstract

The process of removing water from sewage sludge is particularly important due to its high content in the raw sludge. This translates into problems with the transport and storage of sediments. Additionally, high water content reduces the calorific value of the sludge. The methods for selecting the appropriate parameters for sewage sludge conditioning and filtration, based on the experimental data presented in this work, may allow for the optimization of sludge dewatering lines in small and large sewage treatment plants. The optimization of the dewatering process has a significant impact on the environmental and economic benefits, which consequently results in a decrease in the power costs of the devices used, flocculants, and sludge processing, and, above all, it contributes to the reduction in the negative impact on the environment. The use of mineral substances in the preparation of sewage sludge improves the effects of its dewatering in the pressure filtration process, as expressed in the obtained values of the final hydration and process efficiency. The use of polyelectrolytes alone significantly improves the effects of sewage sludge dewatering. In this work, the polyelectrolytes were supported by the addition of cement or zeolite. The conditioning of sewage sludge in combined methods using C-494 polyelectrolyte and minerals made it possible to reduce the compressibility coefficient to the range of 0.24–0.47 and, at the same time, to achieve the best results of sludge dewatering in the filtration process. The lowest hydration of 74.9% was achieved when polyelectrolyte and cement were added to the sludge, and this hydration was 6.5 percentage points lower compared to that of the non-filtered sludge. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Water Treatment and Energy Recovery: Opportunities and Challenges)

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21 pages, 5534 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmentally Safe Method for Conditioning and Dewatering Sewage Sludge Using Iron Coagulant, Cellulose and Perlite

by Tomasz Kamizela, Małgorzata Worwąg and Mariusz Kowalczyk

Energies 2024, 17(1), 134; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en17010134 - 26 Dec 2023

Viewed by 608

Abstract

A reasonable strategy for the development of sludge conditioning methods prior to dewatering appears to be the use of substances that allow the safe management of dewatered sludge. It is also justified to use mineral or organic conditioners instead of synthetic chemicals, e.g., polyelectrolytes, or to try to use other substances, e.g., waste. The properties of iron coagulant (PIX 113) combined with perlite and cellulose can be an environmentally safe method of sludge conditioning. The tests were carried out in accordance with European standards on the efficiency of mechanical dewatering of sewage sludge. The most advantageous method of sludge conditioning was the dosing of the iron coagulant PIX 113. The use of at least a coagulant dose of 0.40 g/g DS enabled the achievement of minimum sludge dewatering parameters, i.e., specific resistance of filtration (SRF) < 5.0 E12 m/kg and final hydration of filtration cake (FH) < 80%. The use of cellulose and perlite as stand-alone conditioners or in combination with PIX 113 resulted in a deterioration of the sludge dewaterability and the quality of the filtrate. It is assumed that the further development of environmentally friendly conditioning methods requires the use of easy-to-use, non-toxic and biodegradable substances. It is important to select conditioners which, in practically acceptable doses, can improve the conditioning effect or show a synergistic effect in combination with previously used conditioners. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Water Treatment and Energy Recovery: Opportunities and Challenges)

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15 pages, 1315 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Potential of Heat Recovery from Wastewater Considering the Protection of Wastewater Treatment Plant Technology

by Grzegorz Bartnicki, Piotr Ziembicki, Marcin Klimczak and Agnieszka Kalitka

Energies 2023, 16(1), 227; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16010227 - 25 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1243

Abstract

Energy efficiency is extremely significant for industrial processes and technologies. Rising energy prices, depleting fossil fuels, as well as tightening regulations that impose the need to reduce GHG emissions incentivize companies to look for energy-efficient solutions. This also applies to wastewater treatment plants, which, on the one hand, are consumers of very large amounts of energy, and on the other hand, have significant potential to retrieve waste energy in the form of heat accumulated in wastewater. The authors of this publication have recognized the benefits of managing this heat. However, they have also pointed out several problems and difficulties associated with this process. By means of measured data, this publication provides a comprehensive analysis of the heat that can be recovered from wastewater treatment plants. As a result of the analyses, the locations of sites for collecting heat from wastewater have been determined, and potential technologies for this purpose have been identified. Moreover, the impact of the proposed heat recovery technology on the process of biological wastewater treatment has also been analyzed. As a result of the research, the authors developed generalized guidelines for selecting an optimal heat recovery site and the technological system designed for this purpose. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Water Treatment and Energy Recovery: Opportunities and Challenges)

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15 pages, 1636 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heat Recovery from a Wastewater Treatment Process—Case Study

by Tomasz Łokietek, Wojciech Tuchowski, Dorota Leciej-Pirczewska and Anna Głowacka

Energies 2023, 16(1), 44; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16010044 - 21 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2311

Abstract

This article presents the potential of heat recovery from wastewater with an example of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Mokrawica, which is located in the West Pomeranian region of Poland. A thorough literature review discusses the relevance of the topic and shows examples of heat recovery conducted with heat pumps. Raw and treated wastewater are mostly used as heat sources, with the latter achieving higher thermal capacities. Heat recovery from a biological treatment process is rarely implemented and requires more detailed studies on this subject. The proposed methodology for estimating possible heat recovered from wastewater, requiring heating and cooling capacities, as well as the coefficient of performance (COP) of a heat pump, is based on only three parameters: wastewater volumetric flow, wastewater temperature, and the required temperature for heating or air-conditioning. The heat recovery potential was determined for different parts of WWTP processes, i.e., the sand box, aeration chamber, secondary sedimentation tank, and treated sewage disposal. The average values of 309–451 kW and a minimum of 58–68 kW in winter were determined. The results also indicate that, depending on the location of the heat recovery, it is possible to obtain from wastewater between 57.9 kW and 93.8 kW of heat or transfer to wastewater from 185.9 to 228.2 kW. To improve biological treatment processes in the winter season, wastewater should be preheated with a minimum of 349–356 kW that can be recovered from the treated wastewater. The heat transferred to the wastewater from the air-conditioning system amounts to 138–141 kW. By comparing the required cooling and heating capacities with the available resources, it is possible to fully recover or transfer the heat for central heating, hot water, and air conditioning of the building. Partial preheating of wastewater during the treatment process requires further analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Water Treatment and Energy Recovery: Opportunities and Challenges)

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Review

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19 pages, 916 KiB

Open AccessReview

Removal of Organic Micro-Pollutants from Wastewater in Electrochemical Processes—Review

by Maria Włodarczyk-Makuła, Sylwia Myszograj and Maciej Włodarczyk

Energies 2023, 16(15), 5591; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16155591 - 25 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1173

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to present information from the literature concerning the course of electrochemical wastewater treatment processes in regard to organic micro-pollutant removal. Most often, in order to remove xenobiotics that are difficult to degrade biochemically, advanced oxidation processes and photochemical processes with or without catalysts are used. The efficiency of these processes can be supported by the flow of electric current through the solution being purified in a special system. This paper presents the theoretical foundations of processes such as electrocoagulation, electroflotation, and advanced chemical and photochemical oxidation supported by electric power. Among the processes where the Fenton’s reagent is the oxidant, the electro-Fenton and photo-electro-Fenton processes are also described. This information is supplemented with examples of the use of these processes for removal/degradation of selected organic compounds such as pesticides, dyes, pharmaceuticals, cosmetic ingredients, and other organic xenobiotics from wastewater. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Water Treatment and Energy Recovery: Opportunities and Challenges)

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14 pages, 1131 KiB

Open AccessReview

Thermal Disintegration of Sewage Sludge as a Method of Improving the Biogas Potential

by Sylwia Myszograj and Ewelina Płuciennik-Koropczuk

Energies 2023, 16(1), 559; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16010559 - 03 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1664

Abstract

Operating and research experiments indicate that the potential benefits of thermal treatment of sewage sludge before methane fermentation include increasing the biodegradability of substrates, reducing the amount and improving the dewaterability of the fermentate and its hygienization, reducing the emission of odours during stabilization, higher production of biogas, and improving the energy balance of the process. The process of disintegration (liquefaction) can be carried out, for example, through the use of mechanical homogenization, microwaves and ultrasonic waves, chemical agents, thermal methods, and biological processes. The article reviews the literature data on thermal hydrolysis research, from the first source information to the present. The thermal hydrolysis achieved enhanced hydrolysis, biogas potential, and faster sludge degradation during anaerobic digestion without compromising the quality of the end products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Water Treatment and Energy Recovery: Opportunities and Challenges)

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