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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 #352977
Research Project: Improvement of Soil Management Practices and Manure Treatment/Handling Systems of the Southern Coastal Plain

Location: Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research

Title: New concepts for the recovery of ammonia from wastes

Author
item Vanotti, Matias
item Millner, Patricia
item HASHEM, FAWZY - University Of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)
item BUABENG, FELIX - University Of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)
item DUBE, PATRICK - Water Environment Federation
item Szogi, Ariel
item SANCHEZ-BASONCES, MERCEDES - University Of Valladolid

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/20/2018
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: ntroduction: Conservation and recovery of nitrogen from livestock and urban wastes is important because of economic and environmental reasons. Purpose: We are developing new systems and methods that use gas-permeable membranes to collect and reuse ammonia harvested from wastes when operated in: 1) liquid wastewater such as livestock, municipal and septic tank effluents, and 2) poultry barns to remove the ammonia from the air. Methods: The new process includes the passage of gaseous ammonia through gas-permeable membrane modules and subsequent capture and concentration in a stripping acid solution. For air applications, the membrane manifolds are suspended inside the barns and the gaseous ammonia is removed close to the litter. For liquid applications, the membrane manifolds are submerged in the liquid, and the gaseous ammonia is removed from the liquid before it escapes into the atmosphere. Results: For air applications, ARS cooperated with University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) through a NIFA grant to demonstrate the technology at UMES chicken houses. In rooms fitted with ammonia recovery system, the ammonia decreased 46% in the air and 45% in the litter, and bird mortality was reduced 47%. For liquid applications, cost of treatment of livestock effluents was reduced 70% by replacing alkali chemicals with low-rate aeration to favor gaseous ammonia release and capture. In both applications, a drawback of the technology is the purchase of acid chemicals for the stripping solution. Significance: To further reduce costs of the technology, a new approach that could be developed is the replacement of acid chemicals with the use of natural acidifiers. For example: 1) the use of acid from the quick fermentation of manures with molasses using L. acidophilus, or 2) the use of carbon dioxide and water as stripping solution to produce ammonium carbonate fertilizer.