TY - JOUR ID - 1275 TI - A pilot study on the removal of ammonia from aqueous solution using the integration of struvite synthesis and breakpoint chlorination JO - Advances in Environmental Technology JA - AET LA - en SN - 2476-6674 AU - Mugwili, Muyahavho E AU - Waanders, Frans Boudewijn AU - Masindi, Vhahangwele AU - Fosso-Kankeu, Elvis AD - Water Pollution Monitoring and Remediation Initiatives Research Group, School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering, North-West University, South Africa AD - Magalies Water, Scientific Services, Research & Development Division, South Africa AD - Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (iNanoWS), College of Science Engineering and Technology (CSET), University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, South Africa Y1 - 2023 PY - 2023 VL - 9 IS - 2 SP - 85 EP - 97 KW - Operational expenditure (OPEX) analysis KW - hybrid approach KW - struvite synthesis KW - breakpoint chlorination KW - ammonia removal KW - Calcium hypochlorite (HTH) KW - Real surface water treatment DO - 10.22104/aet.2023.5912.1623 N2 - Herein, a pilot study on the removal of ammonia from surface water using the integration of struvite precipitation and breakpoint chlorination is reported. A two staged pilot plant with a capacity of 1000 liters (1 m3) per run (LPR) was utilized, of which Stage 1 comprised struvite precipitation and Stage 2 comprised breakpoint chlorination. Optimum conditions (i.e., Stage 1) for struvite precipitation were 110 mg/L of Mg and P dosage (concentration), 150 rpm of mixing speed, 60 minutes of contact time, and lastly, 120 minutes of sedimentation, while optimum condition for the breakpoint chlorination (i.e., Stage 2) were 30 minutes of mixing and an 8:1 Cl2-NH4+ weight ratio. The synergistic effects of this hybrid system proved to be effective, with Stage 1 increasing the pH from 6.8 to 10.1, reducing Mn (≥97.0%) and Fe (≥99.6%) concentrations steeply, and concomitantly deactivated E coli and TPC to ≥ 99% and ≥91%, respectively, while ammonia was reduced from 5.4 mg/L to 2.7 mg/L-N (51.8 %). In Stage 2, i.e., breakpoint chlorination, ammonia was reduced from 2.7 mg/L to 0.02 mg/L-N whilst fully depleting residual microorganisms. Finally, the OPEX amounted to $ 0.31/m3; however, there is a potential for cost savings (≈53.2%) by replacing Kh2PO4 with waste phosphoric acid. Lastly, the results from this techno-economic evaluation study showed great potential compared to similar technologies, making this approach a game-changer towards the prudent management of elevated levels of ammonia amongst other problematic contaminants. UR - https://aet.irost.ir/article_1275.html L1 - https://aet.irost.ir/article_1275_32a8d1cdc17539c298dd16753bb56c95.pdf ER -