Conversion of wastewater, municipal solid waste and algae to electricity, treated water, and valuable products
Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Thesis
Publisher
Edith Cowan University
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
School
School of Engineering
First Supervisor
Mehdi Khiadani
Second Supervisor
Muhammad Azhar
Third Supervisor
Masoumeh Zargar
Abstract
The thesis is research for a conceptual design to convert wastewater, municipal solid waste, and algae into electricity, treated water, and valuable products. The system objectives were created and used as the foundation of the research.
A detailed literature review identified the integration research gaps which led to the proposed research questions. The research questions guided the development of an iterative design process. The process design used and integrated technologies of waste sorting, biological decomposition and conversion, multiple thermal treatments and combustion of fuel from the waste. A simulation was created and simulated in Aspen Plus V11.0 which was then optimized. The result of the simulation affirmed the potential synergies to achieve system objectives while determining the power requirements and sizing of operating units for financial analysis. The financial analysis of the simulated process yielded a positive net present value of $1.33 billion AUD, confirming the economic viability of the conceptual design and the robust range of valuable products.
The conceptual design achieved the system objectives to negate power demands on an electric network for treating water with excess of 30kW, reducing municipal solid waste from being landfill, and produce a diverse range of 23 valuable products and negate any carbon emissions from 72% of the baseline land requirements of similar wastewater treatment plants. The conversion of waste materials into valuable resources and power in this thesis provides a viable solution for sustainable waste management and resource recovery to support environmental, social and economic objectives.
Access Note
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Recommended Citation
Carden, N. B. (2025). Conversion of wastewater, municipal solid waste and algae to electricity, treated water, and valuable products. Edith Cowan University. Retrieved from https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2883