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Abstract
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A rising need to design the wastewater treatment configurations with the uppermost economic and
environmental compatibility is felt thanks to the increasing trend of water dilemma all over the universe.
In light of this subject, the present study for the first time manifests a comprehensive cost-coupled life
cycle assessment data of a highly efficient optimized integrated fixed-film activated sludge-membrane
bioreactor (IFAS-MBR) configuration. For this purpose, a broad range of analyses was conducted
comprising greenhouse gas emission, energy demand, economic burden, and sensitivity analysis
regarding the optimization approach. The maximum removal efficiency at optimum condition was as
follows: COD (94.54%), BOD (99.86%), TN (97%), TSS (99.99%), and total carbon (93.45%). From an environmental perspective, climate change dominantly emanated from greenhouse gases emission (27.5%)
with the most impact on human health (67.57%). The configuration used an 8.27 MJ energy derived from
fossil fuels utilization. However, the IFAS unit played a key role in carbon footprint, dominantly associated with CO2 emission (86.4%). The construction expenditures of IFAS and MBR units illustrated the
maximum economic burdens (87.3%). Accordingly, this study can present a stepwise guideline for further
related investigations.
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