Sustainable advanced wastewater treatment via photoelectrocatalytic oxidation: insights from life cycle assessment

Abstract

This study presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of a scaled-up photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) oxidation system for wastewater treatment, modelled using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The system used a BiVO4/TiO2-GO photoanode for solar-driven degradation of micropollutants. The LCA assesses energy use, resource demand, and emissions to evaluate the system’s sustainability in line with EU wastewater regulations. Compared to a full-scale ozonation plant in the Netherlands, the PEC system shows superior environmental performance during operation and end-of-life phases, despite higher construction impacts. Solar energy use and potential material reuse drive these advantages. A comparison with theoretical pilot-scale oxidation technologies from literature adds depth, though the study acknowledges limitations such as micropollutant variability and wastewater complexity. Overall, the findings highlight PEC oxidation’s promise as a sustainable and effective approach for micropollutant removal in water treatment.