Sewage Sludge Thermal Treatment Technology Selection by Utilizing the Analytical Hierarchy Process

Dinko Đurđević,Maja Trstenjak,Ivona Hulenić

doi:10.3390/w12051255

Dinko Đurđević, Maja Trstenjak + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/w12051255

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Journal: Water	Publication Date: Apr 28, 2020
Citations: 24	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar, University of Zagreb

Abstract

Sewage sludge management has gained significance in the last several years, due to its nutrient and energy content. However, technology selection is one of the greater challenges because it is not possible to implement a technology that covers all the requirements of the considered environments. Consequently, this paper shows an example of the utilization of an analytical hierarchy process, as a decision-making tool in terms of technology selection, for sewage sludge management in Rijeka, Croatia. The criteria structuring and evaluation process with the description of several possible alternatives for thermal treatment technologies are defined within this research. For the case of Rijeka, the best and most suitable technology for sewage sludge treatment is gasification, which coincides with the results obtained from the analysis of the literature review. According to the results in this paper, the possibilities of the use of this scientific method on the national level for the selection of sewage sludge treatment technology should be considered, due to the simplicity of its use and capability of its adaptation to various situations and areas.

Highlights

An increase of the population and urbanization has contributed to a significant increase of generated sewage sludge
This paper shows an example of the utilization of an analytical hierarchy process, as a decision-making tool in terms of technology selection, for sewage sludge management in Rijeka, Croatia
Sustainable sewage sludge management represents a large problem for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), due to an increase of the urban population and further strengthening of the regulatory framework related to the environment

Summary

Introduction

An increase of the population and urbanization has contributed to a significant increase of generated sewage sludge. In the EU, the production of sewage sludge that is generated in primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) amounts to an average of 90 g daily per capita [2]. In order to solve this problem, many EU countries are intensively working on the development of new process technologies for the treatment of sewage sludge and are developing processes in order to close the linearity of waste production and implement a circular economy of waste management. Sewage sludge represents only 1–2 vol.% of treated wastewater, its management is very complex and treatment costs amount to 20–60% of WWTP’s total operating costs [3]

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