Model-based optimisation and economic analysis to quantify the viability and profitability of an integrated nutrient and energy recovery treatment train

Abstract

In order to hasten the implementation of optimal, cost-effective and sustainable treatment trains for resource recovery from biowaste, a new nutrient recovery model (NRM) library has been developed and validated at steady state. It includes physico-biochemical mathematical models for anaerobic digestion, struvite precipitation and ammonia stripping and absorption as ammonium sulfate. The present paper describes the use of the NRM library to establish the operational settings of a sustainable and cost-effective treatment scenario with maximal resource (nutrients and biogas) recovery and minimal energy and chemical requirements. Under the optimised conditions and assumptions made, potential financial benefits for a large-scale anaerobic digestion and nutrient recovery project treating 2700 m3/d of pig manure were estimated at US$2·8–6·5/m3 based on net variable cost calculations, or an average of ∼$2/(m3 year), equivalent to $40/(t total solids year), over 20 years in the best case when also taking into account capital costs. Hence, it is likely that in practice a full-scale zero-cost biorefinery for nutrient and energy recovery from manure can be constructed. As such, this paper demonstrates the potential of the NRM library to facilitate the implementation of sustainable nutrient and energy (biogas) recovery treatment trains for biowaste valorisation.