TY - JOUR
T1 - Process innovations and circular strategies for closing the water loop in a process industry
AU - Karkou, Efthalia
AU - Angelis-Dimakis, Athanasios
AU - Parlapiano, Marco
AU - Savvakis, Nikolaos
AU - Siddique, Owais
AU - Vyrkou, Antonia
AU - Sgroi, Massimiliano
AU - Fatone, Francesco
AU - Arampatzis, George
N1 - Funding Information:
The results presented in the paper arises from \u201CAquaSPICE - Advancing Sustainability of Process Industries through Digital and Circular Water Use Innovations\u201D, a collaborative research project that has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 958396.
Funding Information:
The results presented in the paper arises from \u201CAquaSPICE - Advancing Sustainability of Process Industries through Digital and Circular Water Use Innovations\u201D, a collaborative research project that has received funding from the European Union\u2019s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 958396.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors
PY - 2024/11/1
Y1 - 2024/11/1
N2 - By implementing advanced wastewater treatment technologies coupled with digital tools, high-quality water is produced to be reused within the industry, enhancing process efficiency and closing loops. This paper investigates the impact of three innovation tools (process, circular and digital) in a Solvay chemical plant. Four technologies of the wastewater treatment plant “WAPEREUSE” were deployed, predicting their performance by process modelling and simulation in the PSM Tool. The environmental impact was assessed using Life Cycle Assessment and compared to the impact of the current industrial effluent discharge. The circularity level was assessed through three alternative closed-loop scenarios: (1) conventional treatment and discharge to sea (baseline), (2) conventional and advanced treatment by WAPEREUSE and discharge to sea, (3) conventional and advanced treatment by WAPEREUSE and industrial water reuse through cross-sectorial symbiotic network, where effluents are exchanged among the process industry, municipality and a water utility. Scenario 1 has the lowest pollutants’ removal efficiency with environmental footprint of 0.93 mPt/m3. WAPEREUSE technologies decreased COD by 98.3%, TOC by 91.4% and nitrates by 94.5%. Scenario 2 had environmental footprint of 1.12 mPt/m3. The cross-sectorial symbiotic network on the industrial value chain resulted in higher industrial circularity and sustainability level, avoiding effluents discharge. Scenario 3 is selected as the best option with 0.72 mPt per m3, reducing the environmental footprint by 21% and 36% compared to Scenarios 1 and 2, respectively.
AB - By implementing advanced wastewater treatment technologies coupled with digital tools, high-quality water is produced to be reused within the industry, enhancing process efficiency and closing loops. This paper investigates the impact of three innovation tools (process, circular and digital) in a Solvay chemical plant. Four technologies of the wastewater treatment plant “WAPEREUSE” were deployed, predicting their performance by process modelling and simulation in the PSM Tool. The environmental impact was assessed using Life Cycle Assessment and compared to the impact of the current industrial effluent discharge. The circularity level was assessed through three alternative closed-loop scenarios: (1) conventional treatment and discharge to sea (baseline), (2) conventional and advanced treatment by WAPEREUSE and discharge to sea, (3) conventional and advanced treatment by WAPEREUSE and industrial water reuse through cross-sectorial symbiotic network, where effluents are exchanged among the process industry, municipality and a water utility. Scenario 1 has the lowest pollutants’ removal efficiency with environmental footprint of 0.93 mPt/m3. WAPEREUSE technologies decreased COD by 98.3%, TOC by 91.4% and nitrates by 94.5%. Scenario 2 had environmental footprint of 1.12 mPt/m3. The cross-sectorial symbiotic network on the industrial value chain resulted in higher industrial circularity and sustainability level, avoiding effluents discharge. Scenario 3 is selected as the best option with 0.72 mPt per m3, reducing the environmental footprint by 21% and 36% compared to Scenarios 1 and 2, respectively.
KW - Life cycle assessment
KW - Process modelling
KW - Wastewater treatment
KW - Water reuse
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85205356030&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122748
DO - 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122748
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85205356030
VL - 370
JO - Journal of Environmental Management
JF - Journal of Environmental Management
SN - 0301-4797
M1 - 122748
ER -
