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Analysis of institutional authors

Jimenez-Benitez, ACorresponding AuthorSerralta, JAuthor

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Life cycle assessment of AnMBR technology for urban wastewater treatment: A case study based on a demo-scale AnMBR system

Publicated to:Journal Of Environmental Chemical Engineering. 11 (6): 111141- - 2023-12-01 11(6), DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2023.111141

Authors: Jimenez-Benitez, A; Vazquez, J R; Seco, A; Serralta, J; Rogalla, F; Robles, A

Affiliations

FCC Aqualia SA, Avda Camino Santiago 40 - Author
Univ Politecn Valencia, Inst Univ Invest Engn Aigua & Medi Ambient IIAMA, CALAGUA Unidad Mixta UV UPV, Cami Vera s-n - Author
Univ Valencia, Dept Engn Quim, CALAGUA Unidad Mixta UV UPV, Ave Univ S-N - Author

Abstract

This study aims at assessing the environmental performance of a projected full-scale anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) treating urban wastewater (UWW) at ambient temperature. To this aim, data from an AnMBR demonstration plant equipped with commercially available equipment, including industrial hollow fiber and degassing membranes, was used for projecting a full-scale facility. The use of real operation data allows to obtain robust results that contribute to improve the knowledge of the environmental performance of this technology, pointing out its strengths and the challenges that still need to be addressed. Life cycle assessment (LCA) was applied by means of Ecoinvent data base and ReCiPe2016 methodology considering 1 kg of removed COD as functional unit. Additionally, sensitivity and uncertainty analysis were conducted. Energy balance showed AnMBR performing as energy producer (net energy surplus up to 0.688 kWh.kg CODrem-1) and carbon sink (emissions credit up to 0.223 kgCO(2eq)center dot kgCOD(rem)(-1)). Results also showed energy recovery, heavy metals in sludge, dissolved methane in the effluent, and effluent nutrient content as the most important aspects affecting LCA outcome. Construction phase affected some impact categories significantly (e.g., 51-71% in mineral resource scarcity, 18-27% in fossil resource scarcity, 21-28% in water consumption), therefore its exclusion should be carefully evaluated. CHP efficiency, dissolved methane recovery, filtration productivity, membrane scouring, reactor mixing, HRT and SRT appeared most influencing parameters. Finally, actions leading to increase the recovery and valorization of dissolved methane and/or of nutrients through, for instance, fertigation, improve the environmental performance of AnMBR for UWW treatment.

Keywords

Anaerobic membrane bioreactorDissolutionDissolved methaneEffluentsEnergyEnvironmental assessmentEnvironmental managementEnvironmental performanceEnvironmental sustainabilityEnvironmental technologyHeavy metalsImpactIndustrial scale systemsIndustrial water treatmentLife cycleLife cycle assessmentMetal recoveryMethaneMunicipal wastewater treatmentNutrientsPlantPrototype anerobic membrane bioreactorPrototype anmbrSemi-industrial scale systemSewageUncertainty analysisUrban wastewaterWastewater treatment

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Journal Of Environmental Chemical Engineering due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2023, it was in position 18/170, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Engineering, Chemical. Notably, the journal is positioned above the 90th percentile.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from the Field Citation Ratio (FCR) of the Dimensions source, it yields a value of: 1.25, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: Dimensions Jun 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-06-30, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 5
  • Scopus: 5

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-06-30:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 88 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

    Leadership analysis of institutional authors

    There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Jiménez Benítez, Antonio Luis) and Last Author (Robles, A).

    the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been Jiménez Benítez, Antonio Luis.