Evaluation of the sustainability of technologies to recover phosphorus from sewage sludge ash based on embodied energy and CO2 footprint. (20th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fahimi, Ario; Federici, Stefania; Depero, Laura E.; Valentim, Bruno; Vassura, Ivano; Ceruti, Francesca; Cutaia, Laura; Bontempi, Elza
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 289(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03-20
• Subjects: CO2 footprint -- Embodied energy -- SUB-RAW index -- Sustainability -- Phosphorus; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125762
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: This paper reports a novel and simplified approach for sustainability evaluation of new technologies, based on the use of two parameters (i.e. embodied energy and CO2 footprint) that account for the energy and emissions involved in the formation of a material, suitable to perform pre-screening analysis, preliminary to life cycle assessment. This new approach is presented and used to compare the available technologies for phosphorous recovery from sewage sludge ash. A dimensionless index, defined as SUB-RAW index, is used to compare the results about the environmental impact of each selected substituting material/process. This method is applied to full, pilot, and laboratory scale processes available in literature in the context of phosphorus extraction technologies. The results show that wet chemical leaching approaches appear to be the most sustainable methods. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: SUB-RAW index is used to evaluate the sustainability of phosphorus recovery processes. It is based on the use of two parameters: the embodied energy and the CO2 footprint. It results a suitable screening method preliminary to Life Cycle Assessment.