Potential of using nature-based solutions to upgrade wastewater treatment plants in China and reduce carbon emissions: A comparative study of advanced treatment processes and constructed wetlands

IF 10.9 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL

Resources Conservation and Recycling Pub Date : 2025-03-12 DOI:10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108220

Yuanyu Cao , Peng Zhang , Mui-Choo Jong , Sike Wang , Gang Yan , Jiane Zuo , Wenjing Zhang

{"title":"Potential of using nature-based solutions to upgrade wastewater treatment plants in China and reduce carbon emissions: A comparative study of advanced treatment processes and constructed wetlands","authors":"Yuanyu Cao , Peng Zhang , Mui-Choo Jong , Sike Wang , Gang Yan , Jiane Zuo , Wenjing Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108220","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Constructed wetlands (CWs) offer a nature-based solution for upgrading wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). However, the carbon reduction potential of CWs, compared to commonly used advanced treatment processes, remains unclear. In this study, we assess the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of six upgrading processes through life cycle assessment across 4,179 WWTPs in China. Results suggest that additional GHG emissions from WWTPs upgrading range from 0.14 to 0.43 kg of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO<sub>2</sub>eq) per cubic meter of treated wastewater. Vertical subsurface flow CWs could avoid GHG emissions by 33.8 % to 66.9 % compared to advanced treatment processes. However, surface flow and horizontal subsurface flow CWs do not exhibit carbon reduction potential in northern provinces. Energy consumption is identified to be the main contributor to GHG emissions in most processes. Our findings highlight the importance of optimizing energy structures and developing region-specific strategies to minimize GHG emissions during WWTP upgrading.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 108220"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344925000990","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Constructed wetlands (CWs) offer a nature-based solution for upgrading wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). However, the carbon reduction potential of CWs, compared to commonly used advanced treatment processes, remains unclear. In this study, we assess the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of six upgrading processes through life cycle assessment across 4,179 WWTPs in China. Results suggest that additional GHG emissions from WWTPs upgrading range from 0.14 to 0.43 kg of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂eq) per cubic meter of treated wastewater. Vertical subsurface flow CWs could avoid GHG emissions by 33.8 % to 66.9 % compared to advanced treatment processes. However, surface flow and horizontal subsurface flow CWs do not exhibit carbon reduction potential in northern provinces. Energy consumption is identified to be the main contributor to GHG emissions in most processes. Our findings highlight the importance of optimizing energy structures and developing region-specific strategies to minimize GHG emissions during WWTP upgrading.

Abstract Image

查看原文本刊更多论文

利用基于自然的解决方案升级中国污水处理厂和减少碳排放的潜力：高级处理工艺和人工湿地的比较研究

人工湿地（CWs）为污水处理厂（WWTPs）的升级提供了基于自然的解决方案。然而，与常用的高级处理工艺相比，化粪肥的减碳潜力尚不清楚。在本研究中，我们通过对中国4179个污水处理厂的生命周期评估，评估了六个升级过程的温室气体排放。结果表明，污水处理厂升级带来的额外温室气体排放范围为每立方米处理废水0.14至0.43 千克二氧化碳当量（CO2eq）。与高级处理工艺相比，垂直地下流化粪池可避免33.8% %至66.9% %的温室气体排放。然而，在北方省份，地表流和水平地下流CWs没有表现出碳减排潜力。能源消耗被确定为大多数过程中温室气体排放的主要因素。我们的研究结果强调了在污水处理厂升级过程中优化能源结构和制定区域特定战略以减少温室气体排放的重要性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Resources Conservation and Recycling 环境科学-工程：环境

CiteScore

22.90

自引率

6.10%

发文量

625

审稿时长

23 days

期刊介绍： The journal Resources, Conservation & Recycling welcomes contributions from research, which consider sustainable management and conservation of resources. The journal prioritizes understanding the transformation processes crucial for transitioning toward more sustainable production and consumption systems. It highlights technological, economic, institutional, and policy aspects related to specific resource management practices such as conservation, recycling, and resource substitution, as well as broader strategies like improving resource productivity and restructuring production and consumption patterns. Contributions may address regional, national, or international scales and can range from individual resources or technologies to entire sectors or systems. Authors are encouraged to explore scientific and methodological issues alongside practical, environmental, and economic implications. However, manuscripts focusing solely on laboratory experiments without discussing their broader implications will not be considered for publication in the journal.