Optimization of wastewater treatment technology selection using hybrid MCDM

Ilangkumaran, M.; Sasirekha, V.; Anojkumar, L.; Sakthivel, G.; Raja, M. Boopathi; Raj, T. Ruban Sundara; Siddhartha, Cns.; Nizamuddin, P.; Kumar, Sunil

doi:10.1108/meq-07-2012-0053

Cited by 29 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…GRA combined with fuzzy methodology is applied to evaluate qualitative parameters by expert-panel assessments [24,42,65,84,[95][96][97][98][99][100][101]. Fuzzy methodology is used to associate a numerical value with a linguistic criterion.…”

Section: Combined Tools: Gra and Weighting Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of grey-based methods in multi-criteria decision analysis for the evaluation of sustainable energy systems: A review

Arce

Saavedra

Mı́guez

et al. 2015

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

131

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Section: Combined Tools: Gra and Weighting Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of grey-based methods in multi-criteria decision analysis for the evaluation of sustainable energy systems: A review

Arce

Saavedra

Mı́guez

et al. 2015

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

131

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“…The results obtained from both the models were compared to determine best WWT option. Ilangkumaran et al (2013) applied hybrid MCDM methods comprising FAHP, preference ranking organization method for enrichment of evaluations (PROMETHEE) and GRA techniques to optimise WWT technology selection. Prasad and Tembhurkar (2013) developed an AHP based software for the selection of best WWT alternative.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The involvement of multiple conflicting factors such as cost, land use, reliability, and flexibility in the decision-making process, thus, makes the selection of WWT technology an MCDM problem (Ilangkumaran et al 2013;Molinos-Senante et al 2014). This issue is further aggravated due to the availability of several innovative WWT technological alternatives presenting a prominent challenge to decision analysts and policy makers in the domain of WWT and management (Kalbar et al 2012a, b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A hybrid life cycle assessment based fuzzy multi-criteria decision making approach for evaluation and selection of an appropriate municipal wastewater treatment technology

Kamble

Singh

Kharat

2017

Euro-Mediterr J Environ Integr

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Multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) has become a main area of research for dealing with complex environmental decision-making problems. In this paper, a hybrid life cycle assessment (LCA) based fuzzy MCDM methodology is developed for the evaluation and selection of appropriate municipal wastewater treatment (WTT) technology based on expert opinion and questionnaires. Further, the study also aims to identify the key evaluation criteria in the process of selecting WTT from a sustainability perspective. The use of fuzzy MCDM in wastewater management has the advantage of rendering subjective and implicit decision-making more objective and analytical, with its ability to accommodate both qualitative and quantitative data. This study provides a systematic approach towards WWT technology selection, in which four-phase procedure is proposed. First, the appropriate technology evaluation and selection criteria were derived from the literature, LCA and experts' opinion. Next, in the second stage, the fuzzy Delphi method was used to evaluate and screen the critical factors for the evaluation of technology alternatives by interviewing the experts. Twelve criteria including sustainability and those derived from LCA and life cycle costing were obtained consisting of both qualitative and quantitative criteria. In the third stage, the weights of the selection criteria as the measurable indices of the WWT technologies were determined by fuzzy pairwise comparison matrices of analytic hierarchy process. Finally, the fuzzy the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution technique was used for ranking the alternatives. The six most commonly used WWT technologies, viz. sequencing batch reactors (SBR), membrane bioreactor (MBR), moving bed bio-film reactor (MBBR), soil biotechnology, facultative aerated lagoon and activated sludge process were evaluated. The present study is the first study of its kind to develop a hybrid LCA-based fuzzy MCDM methodology for the selection of best WWT alternatives. Results illustrated that advanced technologies, MBR, SBR and MBBR are the preferred options with MBR the most preferred one followed by SBR and MBBR. The developed technology assessment framework enables decision makers to understand the complete evaluation and selection process better and provide a more accurate, effective, and systematic decision support framework. The framework is superior to existing methods since it has the capability of representing vague qualitative data and presenting all possible results with different degrees of membership. The framework developed and applied in this work will help identify appropriate WWT technologies for various decision-making situations faced while managing wastewaters.

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“…[25] For data normalization, the following calculation method was used: Considering that there are m programs, that is: with n properties of each program, that is:…”

Section: Weight Calculation Methods For the Evaluation Indicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance Evaluation of Constructed Wetlands Treating Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent in Taihu Lake, China

Shen

Huang

Zhang

et al. 2017

CLEAN Soil Air Water

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Constructed wetlands are often used for advanced treatment of the secondary effluent of municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Through assessing wetlands based on economic, technical, environmental, and social impacts, an optimal process is selected. In this study, a set of assessment methods for wetland treatment technology is established: The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used to establish the evaluation index system; the entropy weight method is employed to calculate the index weights; and the preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluation (PROMETHEE) is utilized for ranking of the selected treatment technologies. Then four processes applied in Taihu Lake basin, China are evaluated. The results show the following ranking: Vertical-flow wetlandecological pond-surface-flow wetland-horizontal-flow wetland, vertical-flow wetland-horizontal-flow wetland, ecological pond-horizontal-flow wetlandsurface-flow wetland, and ecological ditch-ecological pond. The wetland exhibits certain universality and space portability with regard to treatment of municipal WWTP effluent. From the view of comprehensive benefits, the ranking of the treatment technology based on the vertical-flow wetland is high (Φ values between 0.0224 and 0.0349), whereas that based on the ecological pond is low (Φ values between À0.2086 and À0.2652), owing to the mechanism of the process itself and the role of microorganisms in the system. Moreover, for organic matter removal, a vertical-flow wetland process is recommended (48%), whereas for the removal of N contamination, an integrated-flow wetland process is suggested (31.2% for NH 3 -N, 32.4% for TN removals).

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Optimization of wastewater treatment technology selection using hybrid MCDM

Cited by 29 publications

References 25 publications

The use of grey-based methods in multi-criteria decision analysis for the evaluation of sustainable energy systems: A review

The use of grey-based methods in multi-criteria decision analysis for the evaluation of sustainable energy systems: A review

A hybrid life cycle assessment based fuzzy multi-criteria decision making approach for evaluation and selection of an appropriate municipal wastewater treatment technology

Performance Evaluation of Constructed Wetlands Treating Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent in Taihu Lake, China

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