The Use of LCA Method to Assess Environmental Impact of Sewage Sludge Incineration Plants

Abstract

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is one of the new, little more popular in Poland of elements of environmental management. In the world literature one can find many examples of the use of LCA but mainly for comparison purposes. The paper presents results of LCA analysis made on the basis of data from a running incineration of sewage sludge. Performing a thorough analysis of this process enables improved operational system, including through a better use of the resulting products of combustion, as well as determining the impact of the thermal treatment of sludge on the environment and compared the results with data from the literature. To date, in Poland has not been carried out environmental impact assessments and the process of thermal treatment of both sludge and waste, based on the assumptions of LCA.

Spatial distribution of pollutants in the area of the former CHP plant

“…The problem of environmental pollution is to be considered both globally [1][2][3][4][5][6] and locally [7][8][9][10][11][12], since individual elements can affect the environment at different scales and at different times. This is a result of the simultaneous increase of industrial production, and consequently the increase of demand for heat and electricity, as well as the systematic increase of population and of its density in a given area and the creation or development of the so-called urban and rural tissue [13][14][15].…”

A Neural Network Model for Decision-Making with Application in Sewage Sludge Management

“…In Reference [14], the LCA methodology was applied to identify the most environmentally sustainable way to dispose of SS between fluidized bed incineration and a cement kiln employing SS as a secondary fuel. Similarly, Wielgosinki et al developed an LCA to evaluate the environmental performance of SS incineration and to provide information for improving the operating conditions of the treatment from an environmental sustainability perspective [15]. Gourdet et al applied the LCA methodology to evaluate the environmental impact of the technological parameters related to the SS treatments, considering the thickening treatment, the anaerobic digestion with the cogeneration of heat and electricity, the mechanical dewatering, and the spreading of the SS on agricultural land.…”