title: A life cycle assessment and economic analysis of the Scum-to-Biodiesel technology in wastewater treatment plants.
abstract: This study used life cycle assessment and technical economic analysis tools in evaluating a novel Scum-to-Biodiesel technology and compares the technology with scum digestion and combustion processes. The key variables that control environmental and economic performance are identified and discussed. The results show that all impacts examined for the Scum-to-Biodiesel technology are below zero indicating significant environmental benefits could be drawn from it. Of the three technologies examined, the Scum-to-Biodiesel technology has the best environmental performance in fossil fuel depletion, GHG emissions, and eutrophication, whereas combustion has the best performance on acidification. Of all process inputs assessed, process heat, glycerol, and methanol uses had the highest impacts, much more than any other inputs considered. The Scum-to-Biodiesel technology also makes higher revenue than other technologies. The diesel price is a key variable for its economic performance. The research demonstrates the feasibility and benefits in developing Scum-to-Biodiesel technology in wastewater treatment facilities.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Sustainability Science, Kean University, United States.
authors.forename: Dongyan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering and Center for Biorefining, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, United States.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Addy
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering and Center for Biorefining, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, United States.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering and Center for Biorefining, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, United States.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering and Center for Biorefining, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, United States. Electronic address: ruanx001@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruan
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*; D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D018505:Waste Management / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005990:Glycerol; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Biodiesel; Economic analysis; Life cycle assessment; Scum; Waste to energy