Abstract
Purpose
This study assesses the impacts of three different disinfection processes of sewage effluent, namely the electron beam (E-beam), ultraviolet (UV), and ozone systems, on the environment by using life cycle assessment (LCA).
Methods
The LCA employed was the comparative LCA which consists of three parts according to life cycle stages. Electricity consumption was the reference flow that can yield 99% disinfection efficiency for microorganisms present in a 1 × 105 m3 day−1 sewage treatment plant effluent over 20 years.
Results
The comparison of the LCA results indicated that the environmental impact of the UV disinfection system was the lowest, followed by the E-beam and ozone disinfection systems. The key issues of the E-beam, UV, and ozone disinfection systems are electricity consumption and SF6 usage, electricity consumption and UV lamp, and electricity consumption and liquid oxygen feeding system, respectively.
Conclusions
Electricity consumption is the key input parameter that determines the LCA results.
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Acknowledgments
This study was funded by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). Sincere thanks are extended to Mr. Tae-Hun Kim for his assistance in this research.
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Lee, KM., Yu, S., Choi, YH. et al. Environmental assessment of sewage effluent disinfection system: electron beam, ultraviolet, and ozone using life cycle assessment. Int J Life Cycle Assess 17, 565–579 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-012-0388-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-012-0388-9