A new framework uses artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor wastewater treatment in real time. This system ensures environmental safety and maximizes resource recovery. This "twin transition" approach allows facilities to predict system health. It also optimizes energy use simultaneously.
Wastewater management now addresses climate change, carbon reduction, and resource recovery. It also meets the demand for smarter infrastructure. Ammonia-nitrogen is a key pollutant. It can harm aquatic ecosystems if not controlled. However, it can also be recovered and reused. This supports a circular economy.
The "Twin Transition" integrates green transformation with digital transformation. Wastewater systems should become more sustainable and data-driven. This approach is particularly useful for nitrogen management. Nitrogen transformation in wastewater is complex. It is affected by many changing conditions.
Future wastewater treatment should move beyond traditional pollutant removal. Ammonia-nitrogen can be viewed as part of a larger nitrogen cycle. Wastewater treatment plants can become platforms for nutrient recovery. They can also reduce emissions and support resource circulation. This requires better process design, monitoring, and decision-making tools.
Digital tools are crucial for this transition. Sensors, data analysis, and intelligent control help operators understand treatment systems. These tools improve stability and reduce energy use. They also support better decisions under changing wastewater conditions. Green technologies reduce environmental impacts. They also make nitrogen recovery more practical.
Sustainable wastewater management requires both technological innovation and system-level thinking. Digitalization alone is not sufficient. Green treatment alone faces practical limitations. Combining the two makes wastewater treatment more reliable, lower-carbon, and resource-efficient. Professor Shu-Yuan Pan of National Taiwan University stated that this approach connects digital innovation with sustainable nitrogen management.
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