Optimization of wastewater treatment technology selection using hybrid MCDM

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to describe an application of hybrid Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) technique for the selection of wastewater treatment (WWT) technology for treating wastewater.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed approach is based on Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) under fuzzy environment, Preference Ranking Organization METHod for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE) and hierarchy Grey Relation Analysis (GRA) techniques. Two models are proposed to evaluate the best WWT. The first model, Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) is integrated with Preference Ranking Organization METHod for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE) technique. The second model, FAHP is integrated with hierarchy Grey Relation Analysis (GRA) technique. The Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) is used to determine the weights of criteria and then ranking of the WWT technology is determined by PROMETHEE and GRA.

Findings

An efficient pair‐wise comparison process and ranking of alternatives can be achieved for WWT technology selection through the integration of FAHP and PROMETHEE, FAHP and GRA.

Originality/value

The paper highlights a new insight into MCDM techniques to select an optimum WWT technology selection for the paper manufacturing industry.

Citation

Ilangkumaran, M., Sasirekha, V., Anojkumar, L., Sakthivel, G., Boopathi Raja, M., Ruban Sundara Raj, T., Siddhartha, C., Nizamuddin, P. and Praveen Kumar, S. (2013), "Optimization of wastewater treatment technology selection using hybrid MCDM", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 24 No. 5, pp. 619-641. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-07-2012-0053