Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) are conceived with the main function to protect the environment and prevent pollution of the ecosystems associated with urban agglomerations. From a systemic point of view, the inputs to a WWTP consist of domestic, industrial and rainwater collected and transported by the sewerage network. The treatment process consists of aerobic and anaerobic processes, aiming at the precipitation and separation of pollutants. The main consumer of energy in an activated sludge WWTP is the aeration tank. During the biological treatment of wastewater in activated sludge treatment plants, the biggest single energy expense is for aeration accounting for 45% to 75% of the energy consumed by a plant. The paper summarizes the scientific research activities that have been carried out to develop a solution for reducing energy consumption in WWTPs by onsite generation of oxygen required in the aerobic processes and significantly reduction of the consumption of compressed air. The proof-of-concept was tested in laboratory conditions, and a pilot installation has been integrated in a operating WWTP in real conditions.
Institution: Ovidius University
Language: English
Subfield: Pollution
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7220172813