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Life cycle assessment of anaerobic-anoxic-oxic and extended aeration of the activated sludge treatment system for urban wastewater treatment: a case study in Iran

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Abstract

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool for the analysis of all environmental impacts associated with a product or system. The objective of our study was to evaluate and compare the environmental impacts of Anaerobic-Anoxic-Oxic (A2O) and Extended Aeration Activated Sludge (EAAS) systems of the activated sludge treatment plant for urban wastewater treatments (in Tehran) using the LCA method, as well as to compare the differences of Simapro and Gabi software results. The LCA was carried out using Simapro 9.3.0.2 software, including CML-IA baseline, BEES+, and IMPACT 2002 + assessment methods. Also, the results obtained from the CML method of SimaPro software were compared and validated with the results obtained from the GaBi 9.21.68 software. The results indicated that using the SimaPro software, including CML, and BEES + methods, the Ekbatan Wastewater Treatment (A2O system) has the 6% and 16% higher environmental impacts in the acidification and global warming impact categories, respectively, and the Mahalati Wastewater Treatment (EAAS system) has 31% higher environmental impact in the eutrophication impact category. In damage categories, the Ekbatan Wastewater Treatment (A2O system) has 14%, 15%, and 6% higher environmental impacts in the resources, climate change, and human health damage categories, respectively, compared to the Ekbatan Wastewater Treatment. In the ecosystem quality damage category, the Mahalati Wastewater Treatment (EAAS system) has a 4% higher environmental impact than Ekbatan Wastewater Treatment (A2O system). Comparing the results between SimaPro and GaBi software demonstrated that the results are very similar to each other, and the results of the LCA are not dependent on the software used in this study. To enhance wastewater treatment in Iran, utilizing new technologies for energy efficiency, transitioning to renewable energy sources, promoting community acceptance of treated wastewater for various uses, and implementing stringent control measures are crucial steps.

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  1. Civil Engineering Department, Kharazmi University, 49 Mofateh Ave. Tehran Shahid Mofateh Ave, Tehran, 15719-14911, Iran

    B. Movassagh Inchehboroun, G Asadollahfardi & M Delnavaz

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  1. B. Movassagh Inchehboroun
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Correspondence to G Asadollahfardi.

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Movassagh Inchehboroun, B., Asadollahfardi, G. & Delnavaz, M. Life cycle assessment of anaerobic-anoxic-oxic and extended aeration of the activated sludge treatment system for urban wastewater treatment: a case study in Iran. Environ Dev Sustain (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-024-04846-5

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