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A road-map for energy-neutral wastewater treatment plants of the future based on compact technologies (including MBBR)

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Abstract

In the paper concepts for domestic wastewater treatment plants of the future are discussed by the use of a) one flow diagram based on established, compact, proven technologies (i.e. nitrification/denitrification for N-removal in the mainstream) and b) one flow diagram based on emerging, compact technologies (i.e. de-ammonification in the main stream).The latter (b) will give an energyneutral wastewater treatment plant, while this cannot be guaranteed for the first one (a). The example flow diagrams show plant concepts that a) minimize energy consumption by using compact biological and physical/chemical processes combined in an optimal way, for instance by using moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) processes for biodegradation and high-rate particle separation processes, and de-ammonification processes for N-removal and b)maximize energy (biogas) production through digestion by using wastewater treatment processes that minimize biodegradation of the sludge (prior to digestion) and pretreatment of the sludge prior to digestion by thermal hydrolysis. The treatment plant of the future should produce a water quality (for instance bathing water quality) that is sufficient for reuse of some kind (toilet flushing, urban use, irrigation etc.). The paper outlines compact water reclamation processes based on ozonation in combination with coagulation as pretreatment before ceramic membrane filtration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), N-7491, Trondheim, Norway

    Hallvard Ødegaard

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  1. Hallvard Ødegaard
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Correspondence to Hallvard Ødegaard.

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Short biography—Hallvard Ødegaard

Professor Hallvard Ødegaard received his MSc in Civil Engineering at Norwegian Institute of Technology(NTH) in 1969 and his PhD (Dr.ing.) of Environmental Engineering at the same university in 1975.

Since 1977 he has been professor of Water and Wastewater Treatment at Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway. In 2011 he retired from this position and is now Professor Emeritus at NTNU.

He is also doing consulting work through his consulting company Scandinavian Environmental Technology AS. For instance he was independent expert reviewer for vetting the assessments and recommendations about sewage and sludge treatment technologies and processes for the relocated ShaTin Sewage Treatment Works in Hong Kong.

Prof. Ødegaard was visiting professor at EAWAG, Switzerland in 1991, at Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan in 1999 and at CSIRO, Molecular Science, Melbourne; Australia in 2000.

He has written more than 530 papers out of which more than 280 refereed papers published internationally.

Prof. Ødegaard has 40 years of experience in work on treatment of drinking water, wastewater and industrial process water. His specialities are: Particle separation (including membrane) processes; Biofilm processes; Disinfection processes; Removal of humic substance in drinking water treatment; Nutrient removal in water and wastewater treatment.

He is the inventor of the moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) and holds 5 international patents.

Professor has been appointed IWA Distinguished Fellow and has received the highest honour in Norway: Knight of 1. Class of The Royal Norwegian St. Olav Order

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Ødegaard, H. A road-map for energy-neutral wastewater treatment plants of the future based on compact technologies (including MBBR). Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 10, 2 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-016-0835-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-016-0835-0

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