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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Florence, South Carolina » Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #386974
Research Project: Innovative Manure Treatment Technologies and Enhanced Soil Health for Agricultural Systems of the Southeastern Coastal Plain

Location: Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research

Title: Best ammonia recovery from wastewater using gas-permeable membranes based on natural alkalinity supply

Author
item Vanotti, Matias
item DUBE, PATRICK - Water Environment Federation
item GARCIA-GONZALEZ, MARIA CRUZ - Instituto Tecnológico Agrario De Castilla Y León (ITACYL)
item MORAL, RAUL - Miguel Hernandez University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2021
Publication Date: 11/3/2021
Citation: Vanotti, M.B., Dube, P., Garcia-Gonzalez, M., Moral, R. 2021. Best ammonia recovery from wastewater using gas-permeable membranes based on natural alkalinity supply. Meeting Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Conservation and recovery of nitrogen (N) from animal wastes and industrial effluents is important because of economic and environmental reasons. This research determined the role of natural alkalinity on the effectiveness of ammonia recovery using gas-permeable membrane technology and low-rate aeration. There were two distinct and interconnected mechanisms involved: One was the release of hydroxide from the natural carbonates that increased pH and ammonia uptake by the membrane. The other was the release of acidity and consumption of alkalinity by the N recovery process that can completely halt the N recovery process.Therefore, an abundant alkalinity supply in balance with the ammonia content in wastewater is needed for a successful operation of the technology. The relationship between alkalinity consumption and ammonia recovery using gas-permeable membranes was determined using three types of wastewater: anaerobically digested swine wastewater, raw swine wastewater and anaerobically digested side-stream municipal wastewater. Fortunately, most swine manures contain ample supply of alkalinity and the new process can be used to more economically recover ammonia using the natural inorganic carbon in the manure instead of expensive alkali chemicals. The process can be combined with phosphorus precipitation and therefore it can produce two recovered nutrient steams: ammonia and phosphate concentrates.