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Challenges of a feasible route towards sustainability in environmental protection

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Abstract

Anaerobic processes for treatment of low and high strength wastewaters and solid wastes constitute the core method in the natural biological mineralization (NBM) treatment concept. When adequately combined with the complementary NBM-systems and modern clean water saving practices in wastewater collection and transport, they represent a feasible route to sustainable environmental protection (EPsus), in essence even towards a more sustainable society. Despite the development and implementation of modern high rate Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment (AnWT-) systems and complementary innovative NBM-processes, the considerable progress made since the seventies in fundamental insights in microbiology, biochemistry and process technology, still numerous challenging improvements in the NBM-field can be realized. This contribution is mainly based on the insights attained from wide ranging literature evaluations and the results of experimental research conducted by numerous PhD students who participated in our group over the last four decades. An attempt is made here to identify major facets on which an improved insight can, and consequently should, be obtained in order to accomplish more optimal operation and design of various types of Anaerobic Degradation (AnDeg-) processes.

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  1. LeAF-foundation, Sub-department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, P.O. box 8120, 6700 EV, Wageningen, Netherlands

    G. Lettinga

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Gatze Lettinga received his PhD in the Technical University Delft and the Inter University Reactor Institute, Delft. He joined the faculty of Wageningen Agricultural University in the Department of Environmental Technology in 1970 and rose through the ranks to Professor in Environmental Technology in 1988. Prof. Lettinga developed from the Netherlands his Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Bed Reactor system (UASB). He and his colleagues expanded the application of the system to a great variety of industrial effluents, including quite complex and even toxic wastewaters. The technology has been widely used by both industry and municipalities, since Prof. Lettinga has chosen not to patent this invention and has also shared his knowledge with young water engineers and professionals all over the world. The 2007 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement is awarded to him in recognition of his research and development of the environmentally sound novel process for the treatment of polluted wastewater and its implementation worldwide, especially in developing countries.

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Lettinga, G. Challenges of a feasible route towards sustainability in environmental protection. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. China 4, 123–134 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-010-0028-1

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