Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) using membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology have been considered a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study chose a small-scale wastewater treatment plant using MBR technology to estimate its potential for GHG emissions. The total GHG emissions from this wastewater treatment plant ranged from 2,802 to 11,946 kg CO2-eq/month within the 4-year study period, and they were mainly attributable to electricity consumption (79.94%) followed by chemical usages (17.13%) and on-site GHG emissions (2.93%). The on-site GHG emissions varied monthly, but most of them ranged from 80 to 160 kg CO2-eq/month. The aeration tank was an important operating unit for GHG emissions. Off-site GHG emissions mainly came from carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions resulting from electricity consumption. The results of this study provide useful information about the potential of GHG emissions from WWTPs using MBR technology and indicate that WWTPs can be sustainably managed. (C) 2018 Water Environment Federation
Chen, Ying-Chu. Estimation of greenhouse gas emissions from a wastewater treatment plant using membrane bioreactor technology[J]. WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH,2019-01-01,91(2):111-118