Developing a multi-criteria decision support system based on fuzzy analytical hierarchical process (AHP) method for selection of appropriate high-strength wastewater treatment plant

The selection of optimum high strength wastewater treatment process is complicated. Be familiar with wastewater treatment methods is not enough to design a plant. In this research, five alternative wastewater treatment methods (upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) + membrane bioreactor (MBR), UASB + Extended aeration (EA), Anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR), anaerobic lagoon (ANL) + aerated lagoon (AL), and sequencing batch reactor (SBR) + ABR) for high strength wastewater were investigated and ranked based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) fuzzy method. These treatment methods were investigated and ranked based on five criteria (energy consumption, effluent total suspended solid (TSS), effluent chemical oxygen demand (COD), cost, and level of technology). Rating the different options of wastewater treatment plant was done by expert decision makers in this field. The results show that for typical high strength wastewater using an UASB reactor followed by a MBR is the most appropriate alternative to treating the wastewater.