Energy Consumption, Chemical Use and Carbon Footprints of Wastewater Treatment Alternatives: Assessment Methodology and Sustainability Solutions

This thesis focuses on the energy, chemical and carbon implications of diverse wastewater treatment alternatives, and offers effective solutions for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to achieve sustainability goals. The author first uses the life cycle philosophy to explore the environmental performance of several representative wastewater treatment systems, and then proposes a refined assessment framework, accompanying analytical toolkit and case study for further quantifying the environmental sustainability of various wastewater management scenarios. Allowing readers to gain a better understanding of the existing wastewater treatment technologies from a sustainability perspective, this book helps decision makers identify promising approaches to the environmentally friendly operation of WWTPs and make infrastructure investments that are appropriate for future changing conditions.

While Dr. Xu Wang has an environmental engineering background, he has presented his extensive capacities and research interests in conducting multidisciplinary investigations on urban water systems in the context of sustainability, as well as to assess and develop both technological and management strategies for promote energy neutrality, carbon reduction, and resource efficiency in the water sector. Although in the early stage of his career (PhD in 2013), he has made great contribution to his research field, as evidenced by his over 14 internationally top-tier peer-reviewed journals, including PNAS, Environmental Science & Technology, Water Research, Scientific Reports. Thus far, he has received numerous scientific prizes and awards for young researchers, including one prestigious, the CAS Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award in 2015. Dr. Wang is currently a Member of CAS Youth Innovation Promotion Association, a Member of Steering Committee of International Water Association (IWA) Cities of the Future Programme, and also involved with IWA Specialist Group on Modelling and Integrated Assessment.

Prizes and Awards
1. Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China, 2015
2. Second Prize of Technology Progress, China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, 2014
3. Postgraduate Scholarship (Champion), Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, CAS, 2013
4. Academic Rookie Award for PhD students, Chinese Ministry of Education (CME), China, 2012
5. National Scholarship for PhD students, CME, China, 2012
6. Outstanding Environmental Protection Talent Award for Youth PhD Student, Shanghai Tongji Gao Tingyao Environmental Science and Technology Develop Foundation, China, 2012
7. ORGANO Water and Enviornmental Scholarship, ORGANO Corporation, Japan, 2012
8. Baosteel Scholarship for Outstanding students, Baosteel Education Foundation, China, 2012
9. P&G Scholarship for Outstanding Postgraduates, P&G, 2012
10. Postgraduate Scholarship (Champion), RCEES, CAS, China, 2012
11. Outstanding MSc Award, Heilongjiang Province, China, 2012