title: Economic and environmental sustainability of submerged anaerobic MBR-based (AnMBR-based) technology as compared to aerobic-based technologies for moderate-/high-loaded urban wastewater treatment.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess the economic and environmental sustainability of submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) in comparison with aerobic-based technologies for moderate-/high-loaded urban wastewater (UWW) treatment. To this aim, a combined approach of steady-state performance modelling, life cycle analysis (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) was used, in which AnMBR (coupled with an aerobic-based post-treatment) was compared to aerobic membrane bioreactor (AeMBR) and conventional activated sludge (CAS). AnMBR with CAS-based post-treatment for nutrient removal was identified as a sustainable option for moderate-/high-loaded UWW treatment: low energy consumption and reduced sludge production could be obtained at given operating conditions. In addition, significant reductions can be achieved in different aspects of environmental impact (global warming potential (GWP), abiotic depletion, acidification, etc.) and LCC over existing UWW treatment technologies.
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitari d'Investigació d'Enginyeria de l'Aigua i Medi Ambient, IIAMA, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: rutprejo@upv.es.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pretel
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitari d'Investigació d'Enginyeria de l'Aigua i Medi Ambient, IIAMA, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: ngerobma@upv.es.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robles
authors.affiliation: Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria, Universitat de València, Avinguda de la Universitat s/n, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: m.victoria.ruano@uv.es.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Ruano
authors.affiliation: Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria, Universitat de València, Avinguda de la Universitat s/n, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: aurora.seco@uv.es.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seco
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitari d'Investigació d'Enginyeria de l'Aigua i Medi Ambient, IIAMA, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: jferrer@hma.upv.es.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferrer
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D057232:Global Warming; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D014507:Urbanization; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D018508:Water Purification / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Global warming potential (GWP); Life cycle analysis (LCA); Life cycle costing (LCC); Steady-state performance modelling; Submerged anaerobic MBR (AnMBR)