HAOXiao-di,LIJi,WUYuan-yuan,et al.Blue Water Factories (BWFs): Framework and Technologies[J].China Water & Wastewater,2023,39(4):1-11.
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Blue Water Factories (BWFs): Framework and Technologies

China Water & Wastewater[ISSN:1000-4062/CN:12-1073/TU] volume: 第39卷 Number: 第4期 Page: 1-11 Column: Date of publication: 2023-02-17
Author(s):
HAO　Xiao-di1;  LI　Ji1;  WU　Yuan-yuan2;  LI　Shuang2;  LI　Fu-jing2;  WANG　Zheng-shu2;  CAI　Ran2;  VAN LOOSDRECHT　Mark1; 3
（1. Sino-Dutch R & D Centre for Future Wastewater Treatment Technologies， Key Laboratory of Urban Stormwater System and Water Environment ， Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture， Beijing 100044， China； 2. Beijing Capital Eco-Pro Group Co. Ltd.， Beijing 100044， China； 3. Delft University of Technology， the Netherlands）
Keywords:
blue development;  carbon neutrality;  phosphorus recovery;  aerobic granular sludge (AGS);  sludge incineration;  thermal energy
Abstract:
Increased environmental pressures have forced us to develop the circular economy. The blue development focusing on ecological cycles highlights the attribute of human beings going back to nature. Wastewater treatment is a kind of “scavenger” for our feces. However, high consumption of energy and chemical usage and little in valuable resources recovery makes it be in an embarrassing situation: “having to go ahead but being unsustainable”. Based on the blue development principles, appropriate ideas and technologies are required for the transformation of conventional activated sludge treatment process into“blue water factories (BWFs)”. BWFs emphasize four sustainable cycles as nutrients, biomaterials, heat/power and water, focusing on alleviating two potential environmental stresses: greenhouse gases (carbon neutrality needed) and phosphorus crisis (phosphorus recovery required). BWFs take the next generation of wastewater treatment: aerobic granular sludge (AGS) as a key technology, and sludge drying and incineration are applied as the ultimate disposal for excess sludge. Valuable resource and energy is mainly recovered, such as celluloses from influent, highly valuable alginate-like extracellular (ALE) from AGS, heat and power from sludge incineration, phosphate & metals from incineration ash, and especially potential thermal energy from effluent. BWFs can not only realize the “Net-zero” impact on the total environment but also obtain a considerable economic benefit under the control of special smart system. The article introduced the framework and the key technologies associated with BWFs.
Last Update: 2023-02-17