ABSTRACT
Anaerobic digestion (AD) was used for the stabilization of manure and human excreta solids, but was then largely applied to treat biomass solid waste from biological processes for domestic wastewater treatment until the 1970s. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) has been widely used to evaluate the environmental and economic feasibility of AD applied to sludge management. The modeling of wastewater sludge management requires a change of perspective regarding the main objective of LCA application. LCA methodology has been also applied as a tool for the analysis of the best available technology for the treatment of wastewater generated in the dairy industry. Climate change, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, photochemical oxidation potential, ozone depletion potential, human toxicity, ecotoxicity, and depletion of abiotic resources are commonly evaluated in LCAs Anaerobic digestion of Wastewater Sludge (ADDWS). In establishing the boundaries of the system, most LCAs consider ADWWS separately from wastewater treatment plant.
