In Australia most biosolids are applied on agricultural land, providing a range of benefits including carbon sequestration, increasing water holding capacity and providing nitrogen, phosphorus and micronutrients to the soil. However, the economic benefits in terms of renewable energy generation, chemical fertiliser offsetting and increased drought resistence, while acknowledged, have not been comprehensively investigated.

This project aims to develop a generic and flexible framework for the solids processing train of existing and new biosolids treatment technologies. It will also develop pathways to enable the comparison of alternatives.

An existing innovative, economy-wide hybrid life cycle assessment tool will be adapted to enable Triple Top Line assessments for advanced transformation of biosolids and its management.

The major task of the PhD student will be to develop the hybrid life cycle assessment tool and its application in biosolids transformation and management.

The ICPD will work closely with water and agriculture industries and EPAs and will develop formal recommendations for these industries to consider.