Integrated urban water management by coupling iron salt production and application with biogas upgrading

Abstract

Integrated urban water management is a well-accepted concept for managing urban water. It requires efficient and integrated technological solutions that enable system-wide gains via a whole-of-system approach. Here, we create a solid link between the manufacturing of an iron salt, its application in an urban water system, and high-quality bioenergy recovery from wastewater. An iron-oxidising electrochemical cell is used to remove CO₂ (also H₂S and NH₃) from biogas, thus achieving biogas upgrading, and simultaneously producing FeCO₃. The subsequent dose of the electrochemically produced FeCO₃ to wastewater and sludge removes sulfide and phosphate, and enhances sludge settleability and dewaterability, with comparable or superior performance compared to the imported and hazardous iron salts it substitutes (FeCl₂, and FeCl₃). The process enables water utilities to establish a self-reliant and more secure supply chain to meet its demand for iron salts, at lower economic and environmental costs, and simultaneously achieve recovery of high-quality bioenergy.

Effective urban water management requires technological solutions that enable system-wide gains via a holistic approach. Here, authors propose an integrated system where an iron-oxidising electrochemical cell upgrades biogas while producing FeCO₃ and subsequently uses the salt in wastewater treatment.