Mass transfer coefficient of ammonia in the air stripping process for municipal wastewater: An experimental study

Zangeneh, Arezoo; Sabzalipour, Sima; Takdastan, Afshin; Jalilzadeh Yengejeh, Reza; Abdullatif  Khafaie, Morteza

doi:10.22104/aet.2022.5345.1447

Mass transfer coefficient of ammonia in the air stripping process for municipal wastewater: An experimental study

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

¹ Department of Environmental Engineering, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran

² Environmental Technologies Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

³ Department of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

10.22104/aet.2022.5345.1447

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of different operating conditions and the air-to-water ratio (G/L) on the kinetics and the mass transfer coefficient of ammonia (K_L) in the air stripping method for removing ammonium ions (NH₄⁺) from wastewater with low concentrations in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The impact of operating conditions including the temperature, initial ammonium ion concentration, pH, and air-to-water ratio (G/L) of <2000:1 (60:1, 70:1, and 80:1) on K_L in the air stripping method was investigated using artificial wastewater at laboratory scale. The NH₄⁺ concentrations in the wastewater samples were determined with the Nesslerization method (the standard method for the examination of water and wastewater). According to the results, the minimum (0.0528 h^-1) and maximum (0.64825 h^-1) of K_Lwere obtained within 1 to 4 h in the operating status that included an initial ammonium ion concentration of 33.63-52.81 mg/l, a temperature of 34-45.7 °C, a pH of 9.48-12.2, and an air-to-water ratio of 60:1-80:1. A comparison of the results of three regression models showed that the air-to-water ratio was the most effective factor on K_L. Furthermore, in Model 3 (multivariate linear regression model/comparing four parameters), the effects of the air-to-water ratio, pH, and temperature increased, leading to the acceleration and conversion of ammonium ions (NH₄⁺) to a gaseous form (NH₃). Also, the initial NH₄⁺ concentration and pH in Model 4 (multivariate linear regression model by subgroup) at a low (60:1) and high (80:1) G/L ratio were the most influential factors on K_L, respectively. The results of this study revealed that the air-to-water ratio (60:1, 70:1, and 80:1) could be used successfully for the elimination of ammonium ions from municipal WWTPs, leading to lower energy costs for the required aeration in the air stripping method.

Keywords

Main Subjects

water and wastewater treatment

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