A comprehensive study of biological phosphorus removal systems from economic and environmental perspectives based on the optimization approach

Abstract

Different biological phosphorus removal systems (BPRSs) are evaluated from economic and environmental perspectives by employing the Taguchi optimization approach for the first time. The BPRSs were simulated and compared in terms of total phosphorus removal efficiency (TP RE) using GPS-X software. Step Bio-P, the most efficient system, was selected for the subsequent environmental and cost analysis. At the optimum condition, the Step Bio-P with a 96.98% TP RE stood at the first rank, followed by the Johannesburg (83.17%)> University of Cape Town (UCT) (79.63%)> anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (A 2 O) (79.31%)> anoxic/oxic (AO) (78.89%)> Bardenpho (70.48%). Marine and freshwater ecotoxicity (59.57%) and freshwater eutrophication (11.84%) received the highest environmental impacts. Construction (77.66%) and amortization (7.3%) caused the maximum cost contributions. The sensitivity analysis revealed that chemical oxygen demand (COD) (17.48%) and TP (9.98%) imposed the maximum effects on the environmental categories. These results can be used as a guideline for wastewater reclamation. • Step Bio-P showed the highest TP removal efficiency (96.98%) • The Taguchi optimization confirmed the role of initial TP on the RE (30.08%) • Marine and freshwater ecotoxicity (59.57%) showed the highest environmental impacts. • Construction possessed the maximum cost contributions (77.66%). • The sensitivity analysis showed the effect of COD and TP on the environmental impacts.