Scenario Analysis for Selecting Sewage Sludge-to-Energy/Matter Recovery Processes

Francesco Facchini, Giovanni Mummolo and Micaela Vitti
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Francesco Facchini: Department of Mechanics, Mathematics, and Management, Polytechnic University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy
Giovanni Mummolo: Department of Mechanics, Mathematics, and Management, Polytechnic University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy
Micaela Vitti: Department of Mechanics, Mathematics, and Management, Polytechnic University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-21

Abstract: The sewage sludges are the byproducts of the wastewater treatment. The new perspective of the wastewater value chain points to a sustainable circular economy approach, where the residual solid material produced by sewage sludge treatments is a resource rather than a waste. A sewage sludge treatment system consists of five main phases; each of them can be performed by different alternative processes. Each process is characterized by its capability to recover energy and/or matter. In this paper, a state of the art of the sludge-to-energy and sludge-to-matter treatments is provided. Then, a scenario analysis is developed to identify suitable sewage sludge treatments plants that best fit the quality and flowrate of sewage sludge to be processed while meeting technological and economic constraints. Based on the scientific literature findings and experts’ opinions, the authors identify a set of reference initial scenarios and the corresponding best treatments’ selection for configuring sewage sludge treatment plants. The scenario analysis reveals a useful reference technical framework when circular economy goals are pursued. The results achieved in all scenarios ensure the potential recovery of matter and/or energy from sewage sludges processes.

Keywords: sewage sludge treatments plants; sludge-to-energy; sludge-to-matter; scenario analysis; treatment selection; circular economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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