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Aerobic Granular Sludge Technology: Challenges and Frontiers in Stability, Scalability, Carbon-Neutral Operation
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DOI：10.1007/s40726-026-00424-7.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) is a promising biological wastewater treatment technology owing to its compact footprint, low energy demand, and simultaneous removal of organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus. However, despite more than 100 full-scale installations worldwide, major challenges remain in granule stability, large-scale implementation, and carbon-neutral operation. This review critically synthesizes evidence from laboratory-, pilot-, and full-scale studies using a Multidimensional Socio-Biological (MSB) framework integrating temporal, spatial, evidence-quality, and governance perspectives. The literature is evaluated across three interconnected themes: granule stability, scalability, and pathways toward carbon-neutral AGS systems. Three key findings are identified. First, granule disintegration occurs in approximately 42% of full-scale AGS plants annually, highlighting unresolved mechanisms governing long-term stability. Second, the only available full-scale N₂O emission dataset (0.33%) differs by a factor of 5–15 from laboratory estimates (0.54–4.8%), indicating considerable uncertainty in the carbon balance of AGS. Third, no published full-scale AGS studies are available from Southeast Asia, South Asia, or sub-Saharan Africa, despite these regions representing future growth in wastewater treatment infrastructure. Although AGS has substantial potential for sustainable wastewater treatment, its widespread adoption is constrained by critical evidence gaps. Future research should prioritize long-term full-scale monitoring, greenhouse gas assessment, and demonstration projects in tropical and developing regions to enable reliable and carbon-neutral AGS implementation.
Keywords:
Aerobic granular sludge (AGS)
Stability
Scalability
Low-carbon operation
Life cycle assessment
Journal
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8.1
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1.7K
Citations:
2.8K
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