Cost coupled removal efficiency analyses of activated sludge technologies to achieve the cost-effective wastewater...

This study was conducted to distinguish the most cost-effective activated sludge-based wastewater treatment technology by focusing on removal efficiency (RE) for applying in the meat processing units. Four different wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), namely anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (A₂O), membrane bioreactor (MBR), moving bed bioreactor (MBBR), and integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) were simulated regarding the daily annual data obtained from a meat processing unit. The descending order concerning the total cost (TC) was as follows: MBR > A₂O > IFAS > MBBR while it was as MBR > IFAS > MBBR > A₂O based on RE. Regarding the energy and material consumption costs, the A₂O and MBR were the highest and lowest cost-effective systems, respectively. However, the MBR was the best from a biological treatment cost perspective. The boilers and co-generators contributed to 75% and 25% of the produced biogas, respectively, that supplied 50% of WWTP electricity demand. Among all different influent parameters, the effect of flow rate, COD, and BOD on the TC was statistically significant. Furthermore, the TC and present worth illustrated the most sensitivity to the construction cost alteration. This research provides insights into key economic parameters for a WWTP design and application.