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Sustainability for wastewater treatment: bioelectricity generation and emission reduction

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Abstract

This review covers the technological measures of a self-sustainable anaerobic up-flow sludge blanket (UASB) system compared with an aerobic activated sludge process (ASP) for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The ASP requires a huge amount of electricity and chemicals and also results in the emission of carbon. The UASB system, instead, is based on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction and is associated with biogas production for cleaner electricity. WWTPs including the ASP system are not sustainable due to the massive financial power required for clean wastewater. When the ASP system was used, the amount of production was estimated to be 10658.98 tonnes CO2eq-d- of carbon dioxide. Whereas it was 239.19 tonnes CO2eq-d-1 with the UASB. The UASB system is advantageous over the ASP system as it has a high production of biogas, needs low maintenance, yields a low amount of sludge, and is also a source of electricity that can be used as a power source for the WWTPs. Also, the UASB system produces less biomass, and this helps in reducing costs and maintaining work. Moreover, the aeration tank of the ASP needs 60% of energy distribution; on the other hand, the UASB consumes less energy, approximately 3–11%.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to the well-equipped laboratory of UoN capable of providing apt environment for performing various experiments based on the application of granular material for the development of granules for the industrial wastewater treatment. This study was supported by Professor A. Ahmad of the Research Cluster Group Energy and environment-sustainable technology.

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  1. Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Architecture, University of Nizwa, PO 33 Postal Code 616, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman

    Anwar Ahmad & Alaya Said Senaidi

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  1. Anwar Ahmad
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  2. Alaya Said Senaidi
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A. Ahmad and A.S. Senaidi performed the critical review of wastewater treatment using various technologies. A. Ahmad performed the comparative review on ASP and UASB for treatment of wastewater in terms sustainability for clean production.

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Correspondence to Anwar Ahmad.

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Ahmad, A., Senaidi, A.S. Sustainability for wastewater treatment: bioelectricity generation and emission reduction. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 48703–48720 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-26063-9

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