Comparison of nitrous oxide(N2O)emissions calculations at a Swedish wastewater treatment plant based on water concentrations versus off-gas concentrations

Total nitrous oxide(N_2O) emissions from a conventional active sludge process were calculated using a mathematical emission model and dissolved N_2O in the water phase by a N_2O water sensor. Calculated emissions showed good agreement with measured emissions based on concentrations and air?ow in the off-gas ventilation system from the covered process. Various tests for a wide range of potentially affecting parameters indicated robust and reliable emission estimations by the model. Thus, common uncertainties in input data would still provide good emission estimations. Measurements of dissolved N_2O required low maintenance and N_2O emission monitoring based on such measurements might therefore be considered as a signi?cant practical improvement. This would be advantageous especially in non-enclosed wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs) otherwise requiring complex off-gas measurements. As the sensor is connected directly to the WWTPs monitoring and control system, emissions calculations could be incorporated.

On the Importance of Sanitary Sewer Overflow on the Total Discharge of Microplastics from Sewage Water

The paper provides an investigation and understanding of the significance of various wastewater flows on microplastics retainment and emission to the environment. WWTPs and sewer overflows as an important pathway of microplastics to the environment are assessed by considering the removal of microplastics in WWTPs with different treatment processes and several sewer overflow types and their contribution to microplastic loads to recipients. On the example of the Baltic Sea basin, presented results indicate a considerable discharge of microplastic from WWTPs despite the relatively good overall removal efficiency. Results show that the discharge of microplastics from sewer overflows can be in the same magnitude as from treated wastewater although the total flow is much lower than that of treated wastewater. Sewer overflow events frequently occur and are expected to increase due to climate change and urbanization, unless infrastructure is adapted. At the same time, sewer overflows are often neglected in conventional wastewater handling.

Direct GHG emissions from a pilot scale MBR-process treating municipal wastewater

To evaluate direct greenhouse gas emissions from Membrane Biological Reactor(MBR),measurements of nitrous oxide(N_(2)O)and methane(CH_(4))were made at a pilot-scale MBR treating municipal wastewater Measurements were conducted during two campaigns with some changes in processes,i.e.introducing a pre-aeration tank in the second measurement,different distributions of aeration in the treatment line,not the same wastewater inflow rate,two types of ultrafiltration membrane.It was found that about 0.004% and 0.07% of the total ammonium loads were emitted as N_(2)O,CH_(4) emissions were 0.026% and 0.12% of incoming TOC(0.008% and 0.04% of incoming COD)in 2014 and 2018.The obtained N_(2)O emission values were relatively low.The study suggested that a high aeration at the beginning of the treatment line may result in significantly high emissions of both N_(2)O and CH_(4).A significant change in aeration in the membrane ultrafiltration tank did not have the same impact.The MBR process is known for high quality effluent but have been questioned due to its higher carbon footprint due to energy consumption.This study gave a reference case about direct GHG emissions from MBR process and provide information for the further evaluation of MBR processes.