Abstract: In this paper, the anaerobic digestion process and anaerobic digestion-aerobic composting combined treatment process, which are the typical food waste treatment methods in China, were selected as the research objects. Based on actual engineering cases, the environmental impact of the two processes was evaluated and compared by the method of life cycle assessment (LCA). The results showed that the total environmental impact potentials of the anaerobic digestion process and the anaerobic digestion-aerobic composting process were $ 4.88 \times 10^{-12} $ and $ 8.20 \times 10^{-12} $, respectively, and the environmental benefit of the anaerobic digestion process was better. Sensitivity analysis showed that reasonable planning of food waste collection and transportation distance and reduction of energy consumption could effectively reduce the environmental impact of the treatment processes. After excluding the influence of biological $ CO_{2} $, the environmental impact of the two treatment processes regarding global warming was significantly reduced, and the anaerobic digestion-aerobic composting process had a greater decrease. The results can provide reference for the selection and optimization of the food waste treatment process.
Keywords: food waste; anaerobic digestion; aerobic composting; life cycle assessment (LCA); environmental impact
合肥工业大学学报自科版