Carbon redirection in chemically enhanced primary treatment of domestic wastewater: A meta-analysis of laboratory to full-scale trials

Increasing energy demands combined with local scarcities and rising prices makes the valorisation of energy from domestic wastewater seen as a valuable resource. Chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) enables an increased redirection of organic compounds into sludge in the primary stage of a wastewater treatment for a transformation into biogas (carbon capture). Traditionally used coagulants consist of metal salts, but in the last two decades, the development of polymers, based on petroleum or synthesized from renewable sources such as plants, has been intensified. However, a direct comparison of the effectiveness of these products is missing. In this paper, we analysed the data peer-reviewed research from jar tests to full-scale studies, highlighting key parameters for successful carbon capture.