| Title |
Recirculating treated sewage sludge for agricultural use: Life cycle assessment for a circular economy |
| ID_Doc |
3011 |
| Authors |
Aleisa, E; Alsulaili, A; Almuzaini, Y |
| Title |
Recirculating treated sewage sludge for agricultural use: Life cycle assessment for a circular economy |
| Year |
2021 |
| Published |
|
| DOI |
10.1016/j.wasman.2021.08.035 |
| Abstract |
The objective of this study is to assess the environmental value of recirculating nutrients from treated sewage sludge by application to agricultural soils to grow forage as opposed to landfilling and incineration. The methodological choices are aligned to the circular economy framework using life cycle assessment. Consequential modeling and open loop modeling were adopted and adhere to ISO 14044 and International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) standards. The functional unit is defined in terms of the amounts of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) recirculated from the treated sewage sludge produced annually in Kuwait. The results indicate a reduction in environmental burden with respect to fossil fuel depletion, metal depletion and climate change. A total of 95% of the reduction is realized by avoiding virgin nitrogen production and instead using its recirculated counterpart. Considerable amounts of natural gas, coal, dinitrogen monoxide (nitrous oxide, N2O) and copper are consumed during virgin N fertilizer production. |
| Author Keywords |
Wastewater treatment; Sludge; Circular economy; Fertilizer; Life cycle assessment; Kuwait |
| Index Keywords |
Index Keywords |
| Document Type |
Other |
| Open Access |
Open Access |
| Source |
Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED) |
| EID |
WOS:000700578500004 |
| WoS Category |
Engineering, Environmental; Environmental Sciences |
| Research Area |
Engineering; Environmental Sciences & Ecology |
| PDF |
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