Processing of the liquid fraction

Ammonia stripping-adsorption

Ammonia stripping-adsorption

Objective

Removal of ammonium through its volatilization from a liquid phase by air, steam or vacuum, followed by the recovery of ammonium in an acid solution (H2SO4, HNO3) or by condensation.

Inlets

Liquid pig and cattle manure, pig and cattle slurry, products from other processes

Efficiency

Reduction up to 95% of ammonium present in the material; Ammonium can be almost completely recovered by adsorption in solutions with a slight stoichiometric excess of acid

Weaknesses

Possible need to treat the condensates depending on the previous pre-treatment applied;

Products

Liquid ammonium solution, or ammonium salts (fertilizer)

Other outlets

-

Consumption

Energy: Medium
Water: Not applicable
Reagents: Medium

Investment

€0.4 -0.5 Million (industrial plant in Catalonia that treats 10 m3/h of digested pig slurry; Plant in Slovenia (Ihan): €0.25 Million (15 m3/h). Quantifiable income: €0.35/kg of nitrogen recovered in a solution of (NH4)2SO4 with 10% N.

Operation

Cost of reagents: €0.66/m3 of NaOH; €0.21/m3 H2SO4; €2.5-4.5/kg stripped nitrogen. A similar range should be considered for the adsorption process

Observations

Often, a solid-liquid separation is required as a pre-treatment to reduce the dry matter content and avoid jams;
The application of anaerobic digestion as a pre-treatment increases the efficiency of the stripping, reduces the production of pollutants and provides energy and heat for the process itself;

Combination with other technologies

1. Anaerobic digestion -> Separation technologies -> acidification -> stripping-ammonium absorption -> thermal drying;
2. Separation technologies -> Acidification -> Stripping-ammonium absorption -> thermal drying;
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TRL - 9
Status Consolidated
Complexity High

Information made by:

BETA Tech Center