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From waste treatment to integrated resource management
J A Wilsenach1, M Maurer, T A Larsen
1Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 67, 2326 BC Delft, The Netherlands. J.A.Wilsenach@tnw.tudelft.nl
Summary
Sustainable wastewater management requires integrated resource handling, moving beyond simple nutrient removal. Source separation and resource recovery, like struvite, offer promising solutions for a circular economy.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Resource Management
- Sustainable Chemistry
Background:
- Wastewater treatment evolved from urban hygiene to environmental protection via nutrient removal.
- Current methods consume energy and discard valuable resources like minerals and water.
- An integrated approach to managing water, energy, and nutrients is crucial for sustainability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the need for sustainable wastewater management.
- To introduce exergy analysis as a tool for resource quantification.
- To explore advanced treatment concepts for resource recovery and pollution prevention.
Main Methods:
- Utilized exergy analysis to quantify energy and nutrient resources in wastewater.
- Evaluated source separation technologies for wastewater treatment.
- Investigated unit processes for nutrient recovery, such as struvite precipitation.
Main Results:
- Identified significant resource loss in conventional wastewater treatment.
- Demonstrated the potential of source separation for breakthrough wastewater management.
- Showcased promising results in recovering nutrients like ammonium and phosphorus.
Conclusions:
- Integrated asset management is essential for sustainable wastewater systems.
- Source separation and resource recovery offer a path towards a circular economy in wastewater.
- Nutrient removal and recovery can be synergistically combined, enabling system transitions.