Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences in 2025
2026-02-06
Cost-Optimized Pathways for Carbon-Neutral Wastewater Treatment in China by 2035
Authors
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Hong Tao Li
Jianghan District Eco-Environmental Monitoring Station, Wuhan 430022, China
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Ling Huang
Jianghan District Eco-Environmental Monitoring Station, Wuhan 430022, China
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Hai Bo Zhang
Jianghan District Eco-Environmental Affairs Service Station, Wuhan 430022, China
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Hui Jun Wan
Jianghan District Eco-Environmental Affairs Service Station, Wuhan 430022, China
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Bin Yan
Jianghan District Eco-Environmental Monitoring Station, Wuhan 430022, China
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v8i8.13505Abstract
The wastewater treatment industry in China is under pressure to balance tighter pollution control with the national carbon-neutrality objectives. This review evaluates cost-effective solutions to achieve carbon-neutral wastewater treatment in China by 2035, focusing on the integration of carbon reduction, resource reuse, and regional infrastructure planning. Direct emissions of methane and nitrous oxide in the carbon profile of wastewater treatment plants result directly from biological and sludge processes and indirectly from electricity, chemicals, construction, and sludge disposal. Due to the large-scale variation in plants in China, the quality of influent, climate, grid carbon intensity, water shortage, and financial capability, it is unlikely that the uniform application of technology will be cost-effective. The review has found the following near-term priorities to be highly economically viable: energy-efficient aeration, intelligent process control, chemical optimization, and improved sludge management. More extreme decarbonization involves anaerobic digestion, co-digestion, biogas, heat recovery, nutrient recovery, reuse of reclaimed water, and integration of renewable electricity. The proposed alternative is a differentiated approach: large urban plants are to be transformed into resource-recovery centres; small and medium cities are to implement gradual retrofits and regional sludge management; the rural focus is to be on strong, low-energy decentralized treatment; and industrial parks are to be encouraged to establish source control and water-energy recycling. The life-cycle cost assessment, marginal abatement analysis, plausible monitoring, tariff reform, green finance, and integrated water-energy-waste governance will be essential to achieving carbon neutrality across sectors by 2035.
Keywords:
Carbon-Neutral Wastewater Treatment; China; Cost Optimization; Resource Recovery; Greenhouse Gas EmissionsReferences
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Li, H. T., Huang, L., Zhang, H. B., Wan, H. J., & Yan, B. (2026). Cost-Optimized Pathways for Carbon-Neutral Wastewater Treatment in China by 2035. Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences, 8(8), 670–695. https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v8i8.13505
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Copyright © 2026 Hong Tao Li, Ling Huang, Hai Bo Zhang, Hui Jun Wan, Bin Yan
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