Sustainable wastewater management g

Nidal Mahmoud Institute of Environmental and Water Studies, , Birzeit University nmahmoud@birzeit.edu

Ecological Sanitation Training Course SWITCH PROJECT IEWS, Birzeit University, 25-27 January 2011

Sustainable Environmental Concepts Require Appropriate low-cost technologies g g Integrated biological methods Reuse of valuable compounds

Bio-methanation of waste Stimulation of urban agriculture (waters) Development towards zero emission production

Sustainable Environmental Protection No dilution of high strength wastes Treatment at the site Low or no usage of chemicals & fossil fuels for treatment Low treatment costs (land, capital & operational) High efficiency Applicable at any scale Robust and plain technologies A Acceptable for local population / industries bl f l l l i i d i Maximum reuse of waste components P e ention of waste p od ction Prevention aste production

Resource Conservation Wastewater treatment for water recovery y Valorisation of (semi)solid residues production of soil conditioners Bio-methanation of organic wastes R Recovery of nutrients and elements f f ti t d l t from waste t streams: N, P, S, heavy metals

Criteria for WWT selection S ti f t Satisfactory t t treatment efficiency t t ffi i towards: COD/BOD d COD/BOD, suspended solids, N, P, etc. Robust technology: high stability towards power cut, cut peak loads, toxicants, etc. p Flexible with respect to future amendments (extensions, improvement) Simple in operation maintenance and control Limited number of treatment steps d b f Absence of disposal problems (e.g. sludge) No m lodo nuisance malodour n i n e Availability of local experience Designed for (by) product recovery

Technologies T h l i Bio-technological processes Bio technological Anaerobic treatment, core technology (Micro)aerobic post treatment Complementary physico-chemical processes If necessary

Why anaerobic treatment? y

Heat loss

Influent + Aeration (100 kWh)

AEROBIC Effluent, 2-10 kg COD

Sludge, 30-60 kg Biogas 35 m3 (285 kWh) Influent 100 k COD kg ANAEROBIC Effluent, 10-20 kg COD

Sludge, 5 kg

Comparison Aerobic - Anaerobic Characteristic

Reaction

Aerobic
C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O 2840 kJ/ l l G = -2840 kJ/mol glucose 50% CO2 50% biomassa 60% biomassa 40% heat production Fast growth of biomass, Resulting in a sewage sludge problem Yes

Anaerobic
C6H12O6 3CO2 + 3CH4 393 kJ/mol l G = -393 kJ/ l glucose 95% CH4 + CO2 (= biogas) 5% biomassa 90% retained in CH4 5% biomassa 5% heat production Slow growth of biomass

Energy release

Carbon balance

Energy balance

Biomass production

Energy input for aeration

No

Benefits of Anaerobic (pre-)treatment Low production of stabilised (!) sludge Very low nutrient requirements V l i i Little if any energy requirement Production of biogas Reduction of green house gas emissions Very high loading rates (up to 35 kg COD.m-3.day-1) Plain technology Relatively simple in operation and maintenance Anaerobic sludge can be stored unfed campaign industries d Start up with granular sludge in 1 week

Drawbacks of Anaerobic treatment Anaerobic organisms are quite susceptible for a large number of compounds AWWT in principle is a pre treatment pre-treatment Sometimes malodor nuisance may occur Sometimes little experience available in operation and design

Natural Anaerobic Environments

20% O2

AIR

20% O2

Interface

8 ppm O2

8 ppm O2

Water
0 ppm O2

- organic matter

+ organic matter

Contribution of AWWT to greenhouse gas emission C ib i f h i i reduction Emission reduction up to 4 levels ! No fossil fuels required fo the t eatment of f els eq i ed for treatment organically polluted wastewaters AWWT produces CH4, that may replace fossil fuels in industry Availability of cost effective treatment systems results cost-effective in rapid implementation, preventing uncontrolled CH4 emissions Decentralised treatment opens perspectives for process water reclamation and therefore energy conservation

Closing Resource Cycles

Closing of water cycles in (agro)industries zero emissions Reuse of treated domestic wastewater (irrigation, fertilisation) stimulation urban agriculture g Stimulating reuse of waste(water) constituents nutrients, organic matter, raw materials , g , Aiming at regional self-sufficiency

AD as Core Technology in Closing Resource Cycles

ENERGY FOOD

biogas bi
LIQUID WASTES $ industrial, domestic SLURRIES $ sewage slurries $ liquid manure SOLID WASTES $ manure (solid) $ refuse

fish ponds ANAEROBIC WASTE WATER TREATMENT liquid ----------------------- effluents ANAEROBIC DIGESTION water for reuse POST TREATMENT METHODS water for discharge recovery of fertilizers + NH4 salts 3PO4 salts recovery of elements S

TYPES OF BIOMASS $ energy crops

stabilized sludge

irrigation, fertilization

FOOD

soil o conditioning

FOOD

FOOD

RAW MATERIAL

Difficulties in introducing AWWT Ignorance with the system in practice Absence of required infra structure, regarding:
Experienced contractors / consultants E i d t t lt t non or poorly informed authorities little if any full scale experience little experience in research institutes and universities

Commercial disinterest at established consultants specialised on conventional systems University research is considered academic (not for p practice) )

Enhancing implementation of AWWT Establish contacts with universities, experienced contractors and consultants S Start co-operation with polluting industries: either for h ll d h f environmental protection or energy recovery Acquire subsidiary projects for pilot or demos Awareness amongst industries, authorities, and p politicians Increase (scientific) research activities at universities Educate engineers and operators Raise specialised consultants / contractors Have well informed engineers in agencies and water control b d t l boards