Carbon Dioxide Emission in Thrace Region and Neighboring Countries as A Result of Aerobic Stabilization of Urban Treatment Sludges

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aerobic sludge stabilization on global carbon dioxide emission. Treatment sludge formed in the whole region has been determined based on the current population of provinces and districts. Aerobic sludge stabilization efficiency was obtained as a result of experimental study. The solid matter per capita obtained from the treatment sludges formed in the existing domestic treatment plants (TP1-TP4) was applied to the entire region population. The estimated minimum and maximum annual total treatment sludge produced in these three provinces and districts are respectively 20,627 and 32,605 tons for the year 2020. The average annual solid material equals 2.66% of the total solids to be produced nationwide in Turkey (1 million tons) and 0.205% of the total amount in the European Union (13 million tons). The total CO2 emission in the provinces of Tekirdag, Edirne, and Kirklareli, together with their districts were calculated as minimum and maximum for 2020 with the following results, respectively: 32,532 and 51,420 tons of CO2/year. Estimated minimum and maximum CO2 emission (total of Tekirdag, Edime, and Kirklareli provinces and their districts) for 2050 were found to be 47,442 and 74,989 tons of CO2/year, respectively. The highest carbon dioxide emission per capita produced in the region occurs in Cyprus and Greece.