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Owusu-Agyeman, I., Plaza, E., Elginoz, N., Atasoy, M., Khatami, K., Perez-Zabaleta, M., . . . Cetecioglu, Z. (2023). Conceptual system for sustainable and next-generation wastewater resource recovery facilities. Science of the Total Environment, 885, 163758, Article ID 163758.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Conceptual system for sustainable and next-generation wastewater resource recovery facilities
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2023 (English)In: Science of the Total Environment, ISSN 0048-9697, E-ISSN 1879-1026, Vol. 885, p. 163758-, article id 163758Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Shifting the concept of municipal wastewater treatment to recover resources is one of the key factors contributing to a sustainable society. A novel concept based on research is proposed to recover four main bio-based products from mu-nicipal wastewater while reaching the necessary regulatory standards. The main resource recovery units of the pro-posed system include upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor for the recovery of biogas (as product 1) from mainstream municipal wastewater after primary sedimentation. Sewage sludge is co-fermented with external organic waste such as food waste for volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production as precursors for other bio-based production. A por-tion of the VFA mixture (product 2) is used as carbon sources in the denitrification step of the nitrification/denitrifica-ti on process as an alternative for nitrogen removal. The other alternative for nitrogen removal is the partial nitrification/anammx process. The VFA mixture is separated with nanofiltration/reverse osmosis membrane technol-ogy into low-carbon VFAs and high-carbon VFAs. Polyhydroxyalkanoate (as product 3) is produced from the low -carbon VFAs. Using membrane contactor-based processes and ion-exchange techniques, high-carbon VFAs are recovered as one-type VFA (pure VFA) and in ester forms (product 4). The nutrient-rich fermented and dewatered bio-solid is applied as a fertilizer. The proposed units are seen as individual resource recovery systems as well as a concept of an integrated system. A qualitative environmental assessment of the proposed resource recovery units confirms the positive environmental impacts of the proposed system.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier BV, 2023
Keywords
Resource recovery, Biogas, Volatile fatty acids, Bioplastics, Environmental sustainability
National Category
Industrial Biotechnology Oceanography, Hydrology and Water Resources
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-330531 (URN)10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163758 (DOI)001003742800001 ()37120021 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85156256927 (Scopus ID)
Note

QC 20230630

Available from: 2023-06-30 Created: 2023-06-30 Last updated: 2023-06-30Bibliographically approved
Koseoglu-Imer, D. Y., Oral, H. V., Coutinho Calheiros, C. S., Krzeminski, P., Güçlü, S., Pereira, S. A., . . . Devolli, A. (2023). Current challenges and future perspectives for the full circular economy of water in European countries. Journal of Environmental Management, 345, Article ID 118627.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Current challenges and future perspectives for the full circular economy of water in European countries
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2023 (English)In: Journal of Environmental Management, ISSN 0301-4797, E-ISSN 1095-8630, Journal of Environmental Management, ISSN 03014797, Vol. 345, article id 118627Article, review/survey (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

This paper reviews the current problems and prospects to overcome circular water economy management challenges in European countries. The geopolitical paradigm of water, the water economy, water innovation, water management and regulation in Europe, environmental and safety concerns at water reuse, and technological solutions for water recovery are all covered in this review, which has been prepared in the frame of the COST ACTION (CA, 20133) FULLRECO4US, Working Group (WG) 4. With a Circular Economy approach to water recycling and recovery based on this COST Action, this review paper aims to develop novel, futuristic solutions to overcome the difficulties that the European Union (EU) is currently facing. The detailed review of the current environmental barriers and upcoming difficulties for water reuse in Europe with a Circular Economy vision is another distinctive aspect of this study. It is observed that the biggest challenge in using and recycling water from wastewater treatment plants is dealing with technical, social, political, and economic issues. For instance, geographical differences significantly affect technological problems, and it is effective in terms of social acceptance of the reuse of treated water. Local governmental organizations should support and encourage initiatives to expand water reuse, particularly for agricultural and industrial uses across all of Europe. It should not also be disregarded that the latest hydro politics approach to water management will actively contribute to addressing the issues associated with water scarcity.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier BV, 2023
Keywords
Circular economy, European union, Wastewater management, Water recovery, Water reuse
National Category
Water Engineering Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-334922 (URN)10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118627 (DOI)001050999700001 ()37531861 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85166478998 (Scopus ID)
Note

QC 20230830

Available from: 2023-08-30 Created: 2023-08-30 Last updated: 2023-09-11Bibliographically approved
Hader, J. D., Frenzel, M., Scullin, J., Plaza, E. & MacLeod, M. (2023). Prioritizing toxic shock threats to sewage treatment plants from down-the-drain industrial chemical spills: the RAVEN STREAM online tool. Environmental Science: Advances, 2(9), 1235-1246
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Prioritizing toxic shock threats to sewage treatment plants from down-the-drain industrial chemical spills: the RAVEN STREAM online tool
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2023 (English)In: Environmental Science: Advances, E-ISSN 2754-7000, Vol. 2, no 9, p. 1235-1246Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Down-the-drain chemical spills that reach a sewage treatment plant (STP) can cause a biological “toxic shock” that may reduce or eliminate the capability of STP microorganisms to remove organic matter and nutrients for weeks to months. Thus, chemical spills are a threat to water quality. Here, we present a case study of toxic shock threat prioritization for chemicals used at industrial facilities connected to the Käppala STP in Stockholm, Sweden. We surveyed 60 facilities, collected information on the use and storage of bulk chemical products, and documented 8676 uses of constituent chemicals. In situ chemical tracer experiments were conducted in the primary sewer tunnel leading to Käppala to measure chemical spill dilution during transit to the plant. To assess chemical risks to the plant, we extracted data on toxicity to STP microorganisms for 6168 chemicals from European Chemicals Agency brief profiles and estimated exposure concentrations in the plant using conservative assumptions. Under a high-end spill scenario, the majority of chemicals in the survey posed a negligible risk for adverse effects on plant microorganisms, however 28 chemicals were identified as posing a potential risk and were prioritized for additional information gathering to refine our conservative assumptions. The analysis framework was built into an online tool (RAVEN STREAM) provided as free, open-source software for STP operators to screen for threats posed by possible chemical spills at connected facilities. The threat identification framework can facilitate communication between STPs and their upstream industrial clients to mitigate possible high-risk chemical spills before they happen.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), 2023
National Category
Environmental Sciences Ecology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-338499 (URN)10.1039/d3va00067b (DOI)001049661000001 ()2-s2.0-85168717591 (Scopus ID)
Note

QC 20231115

Available from: 2023-11-15 Created: 2023-11-15 Last updated: 2023-11-15Bibliographically approved
Owusu-Agyeman, I., Bedaso, B., Laumeyer, C., Pan, C., Malovany, A., Baresel, C., . . . Cetecioglu, Z. (2023). Volatile fatty acids production from municipal waste streams and use as a carbon source for denitrification: The journey towards full-scale application and revealing key microbial players. Renewable & sustainable energy reviews, 175, Article ID 113163.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Volatile fatty acids production from municipal waste streams and use as a carbon source for denitrification: The journey towards full-scale application and revealing key microbial players
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2023 (English)In: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews, ISSN 1364-0321, E-ISSN 1879-0690, Vol. 175, article id 113163Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production is attracting interest as a sustainable approach to maximize resource recovery from organic wastes. This study explored the interlink between long-term system resilience of VFA production from primary sludge (PS) and external organic waste (OW) without pH control and the microbial community dynamics as well as the effect of substrate variability. The study elucidated the practicality of using VFA-rich effluent as a carbon source for wastewater denitrification. A 15 L bench-scale semi-continuous reactor was operated for 315 days with a feed of 70% v/v PS and 30% v/v OW and scaled up to a 2 m3 pilot-scale continuous reactor operated for 264 days. In the bench-scale study, the system was resilient with VFA production of up to 24,700 +/- 400 mg COD/L and a yield of 506 +/- 25 mg COD/g VSfed. The VFA composition was dominated by caproic acid up to 62% w/w. In the pilot-scale reactor, substrate variability influenced VFA production with a concentration of up to 21,500 +/- 500 mg COD/L. The system was shown to be economically viable. The microbial community was dominated by Lachnospiraceae, Streptococcaceae and Comamonadaceae. The relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae gave a strong positive statistical correlation with caproic acid concentrations. The VFA-rich effluent exhibited a higher specific denitrification rate than methanol and acetate. Moreover, a continuous denitrification experiment with real nitrified wastewater resulted in a high nitrate removal efficiency with a maximum of 98%. The study demonstrates the production of bio-based products from organic wastes as alternatives to fossil-based products.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier BV, 2023
Keywords
Volatile fatty acid, Upscale, Municipal organic waste, Sewage sludge, Caproic acid, Denitrification
National Category
Industrial Biotechnology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-326064 (URN)10.1016/j.rser.2023.113163 (DOI)000960949200001 ()2-s2.0-85146468085 (Scopus ID)
Note

Not duplicate with DiVA 1643011

QC 20230425

Available from: 2023-04-25 Created: 2023-04-25 Last updated: 2023-04-25Bibliographically approved
Owusu-Agyeman, I., Plaza, E. & Cetecioglu, Z. (2022). Long-term alkaline volatile fatty acids production from waste streams: Impact of pH and dominance of Dysgonomonadaceae. Bioresource Technology, 346, Article ID 126621.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Long-term alkaline volatile fatty acids production from waste streams: Impact of pH and dominance of Dysgonomonadaceae
2022 (English)In: Bioresource Technology, ISSN 0960-8524, E-ISSN 1873-2976, Vol. 346, article id 126621Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Alkaline co-fermentation of primary sludge and external organic waste (OW) was studied to elucidate the influence of substrate ratios and long-term system robustness and microbial community dynamics using batch and semi-continuous reactors. Volatile fatty acid (VFA) production increased with increasing OW fraction in the substrate due to synergistic effects of co-degradation. VFA production at pH 10 increased up to 30,300 mgCOD/L (yield of 630 mg COD/gVSfed) but reduced over time to ≈10,000 mgCOD/L. Lowering pH to 9 led to the restoration of VFA production with a maximum of 32,000 mg COD/L (676 mg COD/g VSfed) due to changes in microbial structure. VFA was composed mainly of acetic acid, but propionic acid increased at pH 9. The microbial community was dominated by Bacillaceae (34 ± 10%) and Proteinivoracales_uncultured (16 ± 11%) at pH 10, while Dysgonomonadaceae (52 ± 8%) was enriched at pH 9. The study demonstrated a zero-waste strategy that turns organic wastes into bio-based products. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier BV, 2022
National Category
Chemical Engineering
Research subject
Chemical Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-309665 (URN)10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126621 (DOI)000768940700003 ()34958905 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85123238867 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Energy Agency, 46119-1
Note

QC 20220404

Available from: 2022-03-08 Created: 2022-03-08 Last updated: 2022-06-25Bibliographically approved
Owusu-Agyeman, I., Bedaso, B., Döhler, C., Pan, C., Malovanyy, A., Baresel, C., . . . Cetecioglu, Z. (2022). Volatile fatty acids production from municipal waste streams and use as a carbon source for denitrification: The journey towards full-scale application and revealing key microbial players.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Volatile fatty acids production from municipal waste streams and use as a carbon source for denitrification: The journey towards full-scale application and revealing key microbial players
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2022 (English)In: Article in journal (Refereed) Submitted
National Category
Chemical Engineering
Research subject
Chemical Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Biotechnology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-309661 (URN)
Note

QC 20220329

Available from: 2022-03-08 Created: 2022-03-08 Last updated: 2022-06-25Bibliographically approved
Owusu-Agyeman, I., Plaza, E. & Cetecioglu, Z. (2021). A pilot-scale study of granule-based anaerobic reactors for biogas recovery from municipal wastewater under sub-mesophilic conditions. Bioresource Technology, 337, Article ID 125431.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>A pilot-scale study of granule-based anaerobic reactors for biogas recovery from municipal wastewater under sub-mesophilic conditions
2021 (English)In: Bioresource Technology, ISSN 0960-8524, E-ISSN 1873-2976, Vol. 337, article id 125431Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The influence of hydraulic retention time (HRT of 3-5 h) and temperature (20-25 degrees C) on performance and microbial dynamics of two pilot-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors with different granule size distribution (UASB1 = 3-4 mm and UASB2 = 1-2 mm) were investigated for 217 days. Increasing the HRT to 5 h even at a lower temperature of 20 degrees C enhanced COD removal and biogas production with average of 59 +/- 16% (up to 85%) and 73 +/- 9 L/(m3 center dot d) (up to 102 L/(m3 center dot d)) for UASB1; 63 +/- 16% (up to 85%) and 75 +/- 9 L/ (m3 center dot d) (up to 90 L/(m3 center dot d)) for UASB2, respectively. This is explained by sufficient contact time between microorganisms and substrate. Acetoclastic methanogenic activity was higher in UASB1 because Methanosaetaceae (produces methane from acetate) dominated (64 +/- 4%). However, Methanoregulaceae (29 +/- 3%) and Methanomicrobiales_unassigned (20 +/- 6%) which produce methane from H2/CO2 and formate were significant in UASB2. The extent of change in the microbial dynamics with HRT and temperature was more obvious in the smaller granule reactor.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier BV, 2021
Keywords
Anaerobic granules, Hydraulic retention time, Microbial community, Municipal wastewater, Sub-mesophilic temperature
National Category
Bioenergy
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-299603 (URN)10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125431 (DOI)000677963200008 ()34198242 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85108820100 (Scopus ID)
Note

QC 20210818

Available from: 2021-08-18 Created: 2021-08-18 Last updated: 2022-06-25Bibliographically approved
Owusu-Agyeman, I., Balachandran, S., Plaza, E. & Cetecioglu, Z. (2021). Co-fermentation of municipal waste streams: Effects of pretreatment methods on volatile fatty acids production. Biomass and Bioenergy, 145, Article ID 105950.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Co-fermentation of municipal waste streams: Effects of pretreatment methods on volatile fatty acids production
2021 (English)In: Biomass and Bioenergy, ISSN 0961-9534, E-ISSN 1873-2909, Vol. 145, article id 105950Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The effects of direct enzyme cocktail addition and other pretreatment methods on VFA production through cofermentation of primary sludge and external organic waste were studied under initial alkaline (pH 10) and acidic (pH 5) conditions. Besides the direct enzymes addition, 24-h enzymatic, ultrasonic, ultrasonic+24-h enzymatic and thermal were the other pretreatment methods employed. Under the alkaline condition, direct addition of enzymes enhanced VFA production by 29-39%, attaining VFA yields of 364-633 mg COD g(-1) VS throughout the experimental period, whereas there was 37-43% increase in VFA production under the acidic condition only at retention days 1 and 2, achieving VFA yield of 207 and 215 mg COD g(-1) VS, respectively. VFA composition was dominated by acetic acid (54-67%) and propionic acid (31-46%) under alkaline and acidic conditions, respectively. Direct enzyme addition increased the percentage of caproic acid from 8 9% to 16-17%, under the acidic condition. While 24-h enzymatic pretreatment didn't show any improvement on VFA production, thermal, ultrasonic+24-h enzymatic and ultrasonic pretreatment methods increased VFA production by only 18,14 and 4%, reaching maximum VFA yields of 512,486 and 445 mg COD g(-1) VS, respectively. On the other hand, these pretreatment methods significantly increased biogas production. Experiment without pretreatment achieved maximum biogas production of 392 NmL CH4 at day 9 while experiments with pretreatments achieved a maximum of 679-954 NmL CH4 in the order of no pretreatment < ultrasonic < thermal < 24-h enzymatic < ultrasonic+24-h enzymatic. The study gives insight into how pretreatment strategy can influence VFA production and composition.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier BV, 2021
Keywords
Volatile fatty acid, Municipal waste streams, Enzyme, Pretreatment, Co-fermentation
National Category
Other Industrial Biotechnology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-291970 (URN)10.1016/j.biombioe.2020.105950 (DOI)000618053600005 ()2-s2.0-85098980612 (Scopus ID)
Note

QC 20210329

Available from: 2021-03-29 Created: 2021-03-29 Last updated: 2024-03-15Bibliographically approved
Trojanowicz, K. & Plaza, E. (2021). Combining numerical simulation with response surface modelling for optimization of reject water partial nitritation/anammox in moving bed biofilm reactor. Environmental technology, 42(18), 2823-2835
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Combining numerical simulation with response surface modelling for optimization of reject water partial nitritation/anammox in moving bed biofilm reactor
2021 (English)In: Environmental technology, ISSN 0959-3330, E-ISSN 1479-487X, Vol. 42, no 18, p. 2823-2835Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Optimization of a single-stage, partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A) process for a reject water treatment in a continuous-flow, moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) was presented. Response surface method (RSM) was combined with simulation experiments conducted with the validated mathematical model of PN/A in MBBR. The total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) removal efficiency was the response parameter. Eight independent variables were taken into consideration: reject water flow rate (Q), inflow concentrations of the total ammonium nitrogen (TAN), chemical oxygen demand (COD), alkalinity (ALK), pH, temperature (T), dissolved oxygen concentration in the bulk liquid (DO) and aeration time within 60 min intermittent aeration cycle (AERON). Eleven interactions between independent variables were found as significant (p &lt; 0.05). The interaction of AERON*DO had the highest impact on the PN/A process. Optimal values of the controlled variables were found for two cases of MBBR operation. Verification of the optimization was done by the simulation and comparison with the data from the empirical experiments. Under the conditions of the fixed hydraulic retention time of about 38 h, volumetric nitrogen loading rate of 0.48 kgN/m3d, T of 22.5°C, TAN of 750 gN/m3 and optimized values of DO = 3.0 gO2/m3, AERON = 0.54 h, pH = 7.5, ALK = 80 molHCO3/m3, COD = 775 gO2/m3, the predicted TINrem was 78% which is consistent with PN/A performance observed in the technical-scale MBBR systems.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Taylor & Francis, 2021
Keywords
Anammox, numerical simulation, optimization, partial nitritation, reject water, response surface method (RSM)
National Category
Environmental Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-267836 (URN)10.1080/09593330.2020.1714747 (DOI)000509016300001 ()31928337 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85078440407 (Scopus ID)
Note

QC 20200302

Available from: 2020-03-02 Created: 2020-03-02 Last updated: 2023-10-10Bibliographically approved
van Hullebusch, E. D., Bani, A., Carvalho, M., Cetecioglu, Z., De Gusseme, B., Di Lonardo, S., . . . Zeeman, G. (2021). Nature-based units as building blocks for resource recovery systems in cities. Water, 13(22), Article ID 3153.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Nature-based units as building blocks for resource recovery systems in cities
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2021 (English)In: Water, E-ISSN 2073-4441, Vol. 13, no 22, article id 3153Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Cities are producers of high quantities of secondary liquid and solid streams that are still poorly utilized within urban systems. In order to tackle this issue, there has been an ever-growing push for more efficient resource management and waste prevention in urban areas, following the concept of a circular economy. This review paper provides a characterization of urban solid and liquid resource flows (including water, nutrients, metals, potential energy, and organics), which pass through selected nature-based solutions (NBS) and supporting units (SU), expanding on that characterization through the study of existing cases. In particular, this paper presents the currently implemented NBS units for resource recovery, the applicable solid and liquid urban waste streams and the SU dedicated to increasing the quality and minimizing hazards of specific streams at the source level (e.g., concentrated fertilizers, disinfected recovered products). The recovery efficiency of systems, where NBS and SU are combined, operated at a micro-or meso-scale and applied at technology readiness levels higher than 5, is reviewed. The importance of collection and transport infrastructure, treatment and recovery technology, and (urban) agricultural or urban green reuse on the quantity and quality of input and output materials are discussed, also regarding the current main circularity and application challenges.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
MDPI AG, 2021
Keywords
Circular cities, Circularity challenges, Nature-based solutions, Supporting units, Urban streams, Potential energy, Recovery, Urban transportation, Waste management, Building blockes, Circular city, Circularity challenge, Nature-based solution, Recovery systems, Resource recovery, Resource wastes, Supporting unit, Urban stream, Urban systems, Liquids, resource management, solid waste, urban area
National Category
Other Earth and Related Environmental Sciences Other Civil Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-313177 (URN)10.3390/w13223153 (DOI)000807151400001 ()2-s2.0-85119100478 (Scopus ID)
Note

QC 20220602

Available from: 2022-06-02 Created: 2022-06-02 Last updated: 2023-08-28Bibliographically approved
Organisations
Identifiers
ORCID iD: ORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0003-3306-8565

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