Adam Jonson

Colleague, I will try to help you

Horizontal Constructed Wetlands (HCW)

Horizontal constructed wetlands (HCW) represent an environmentally friendly wastewater treatment system that relies on natural processes of filtration and plant absorption. According to a study by Flores et al. (2020), an HCW system used for winery wastewater treatment had a carbon footprint of 1.2 kg CO₂-eq/m³, which is significantly lower compared to the activated sludge system (4.5 kg CO₂-eq/m³) and a third management scenario (52 kg CO₂-eq/m³). (Source: upcommons.upc.edu)

This low carbon footprint is primarily due to reduced requirements for wastewater and sludge transport, as well as lower consumption of chemicals and electricity. Additionally, HCW systems may contribute to greenhouse gas mitigation over their lifecycle, especially due to the role of plants in absorbing CO₂.

Activated Sludge (AS)

The activated sludge (AS) system is a widely used wastewater treatment technology based on biological processing through microbial activity. However, according to the same study by Flores et al. (2020), AS treatment of winery wastewater resulted in a carbon footprint of 4.5 kg CO₂-eq/m³, which is significantly higher than that of HCW systems (1.2 kg CO₂-eq/m³). (Source: upcommons.upc.edu)

This higher carbon footprint is mainly due to greater electricity consumption, higher use of chemicals, and more intensive sludge and wastewater transport. Furthermore, greenhouse gas emissions are increased due to the intensive aeration process and sludge management requirements.

Trickling Filters (TF)

Trickling filters (TF) are biological wastewater treatment systems that use fixed media for microbial growth. According to recent research, energy consumption in TF systems significantly affects environmental impact parameters, particularly land use (93.24%), freshwater and marine eutrophication (~81.98%), and human health (45.36%). (Source: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Most of the energy used in TF systems comes from fossil fuels (96.02%), contributing substantially to greenhouse gas emissions (65.58%). Additionally, the construction costs of TF systems account for nearly 88% of total expenses, with anaerobic digestion (42.15%) and the trickling filter itself (35.39%) being the most costly components.

Hello Dragan,

Thank you for your answer. Do you know the carbon footprint of the TF system?

Thanks!

Adam Jonson

Please note that the CO2 emissions from the bio-oxidation of organic wastewaters such as from food industries originate from non-fossil circular carbon.

Since 1980 we bio-reduce these organics to biomethane H2-C-H2 (biohydrogen + circular carbon) to replace fossil fuels with positive climate impact.

Adam Jonson

Hi, thanks for your question – it’s actually a very relevant topic when discussing the sustainability of technological systems. When it comes to the carbon footprint of the TF system, I assume you're referring to a specific "treatment facility" or perhaps a "trickle filter" system, depending on the context. In any case, data on the carbon footprint of such systems is not always readily available, as it depends on many factors: the type of energy used to operate the system, the materials it's made of, the duration and intensity of its operation, as well as additional processes (e.g., aeration, pumping, chemical treatments). If we’re dealing with a system that uses renewable energy sources and is optimized for local conditions, its carbon footprint can be relatively low. On the other hand, systems that rely on fossil fuels and require high mechanical input may have a significantly greater impact. It would be very useful to have a specific life cycle assessment (LCA) for the TF system you're referring to—that would give us the most accurate insight.

Dear Lila Jia

Since 1979 we convert a broad range of organic wastewaters worldwide such as from breweries at up to 90% of its TOC and COD to biomethane H2-C-H2 (hydrogen H2 with carbon C from captured CO2) to replace fossil fuels for heat and power genertion. This results in sustainable decarbonisation with a large negative carbon footprint.

https://modelengineering.eu/circulate