Issue 5, 2021

A techno-economic case for volatile fatty acid production for increased sustainability in the wastewater treatment industry

Abstract

Methane, the final product of methanogenesis during anaerobic digestion is a low value product (0.1 $ per m3). Concerns over fugitive emissions from methane coupled with recent reduction in costs of solar and wind energy raise questions over the long-term sustainability of the anaerobic digestion process as a technology to produce renewable energy. The production of short chain volatile fatty acids (VFAs), a by-product of acetogenesis, represents a high value product. The projected VFA market demand for 2020 is 18 500 kilotons, increasing at an annual rate of 3% per year. Here, we review the business case for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to produce VFAs instead of biogas. Techno-economic and sensitivity studies are conducted to understand and compare economic feasibilities. Under favourable conditions, with positive government incentives, future WWTPs could produce high purity (>98%) propionic acid at 3.8 $ per kg, 35% less than the commercial selling value (6 $ per kg).

Graphical abstract: A techno-economic case for volatile fatty acid production for increased sustainability in the wastewater treatment industry

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
16 Sep 2020
Accepted
16 Feb 2021
First published
24 Feb 2021

Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 927-941

A techno-economic case for volatile fatty acid production for increased sustainability in the wastewater treatment industry

G. K. Veluswamy, K. Shah, A. S. Ball, A. J. Guwy and R. M. Dinsdale, Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021, 7, 927 DOI: 10.1039/D0EW00853B

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