Ammonia Production via Mixed Bacterial Fermentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a longstanding need for economical methods to produce ammonia from organic materials, such as organic waste, as existing methods are inefficient and not fully optimized for ammonia production.
Innovation Solution
A process involving microbial fermentation using a mixed bacterial population capable of ammonification, specifically under aerobic or anaerobic conditions, to convert nitrogenous compounds in organic materials into ammonia or ammonium, with optimal temperature and pH ranges of 30-60°C and 5-11, respectively, utilizing bacteria like Sporanaerobacter acetigenes and Clostridium spp.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional ammonification methods are used, then ammonia production is achieved, but production efficiency is low and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes fermentation parameters including temperature (30-60°C), pH (5-11), and aeration conditions to maximize ammonia production rate. The mixed bacterial population thrives under these specific parameter ranges, achieving 50-80% nitrogen conversion to ammonia within 24-48 hours, representing a 15-30 times improvement over prior art.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a mixed bacterial population comprising multiple species (Sporanaerobacter acetigenes, Clostridium spp., and other ammonifying bacteria) working synergistically. This composite microbial system achieves higher ammonia production efficiency compared to single-strain cultures, converting 50-80% of nitrogen in organic materials to ammonia within 24-48 hours.
2Productivity
If single-strain bacterial cultures are used, then process simplicity is maintained, but ammonia production efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a mixed bacterial population containing Sporanaerobacter acetigenes, Clostridium spp., and other ammonifying bacteria that work synergistically to achieve high ammonia production (up to 12 g/l). This composite microbial system overcomes the limitations of single-strain cultures while maintaining manageable process complexity through defined cultivation conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines multiple bacterial strains with complementary metabolic capabilities into a single fermentation system. The mixed population integrates hydrolytic, ammonifying, and fermentative functions, achieving synergistic ammonia production that exceeds the sum of individual strain performances.
3Quantity of substance
If extensive nitrogen conversion is achieved, then ammonia yield increases, but process optimization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes optimized parameter ranges for temperature (30-60°C), pH (5-11), and aeration that enable extensive nitrogen conversion (50-80%) to ammonia without requiring complex process control. The mixed bacterial population is resilient to variations within these ranges, simplifying manufacturing while achieving high ammonia yields (up to 12 g/l).
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This process achieves significant ammonia production, with ammonia concentrations up to 12 g/l, representing a 15-30 times improvement over prior art, efficiently converting 50-80% of nitrogen in the media to ammonia within 24-48 hours, and can be optimized for various organic materials.
Implementation Method 1
fermenting, under aerobic or anaerobic conditions, an aqueous medium including organic material in the presence of a mixed bacterial population capable of ammonification
Implementation Method 2
Mineralization of nitrogen in organic macromolecules, i.e. conversion of organic nitrogen to ammonium or ammonia, is called ammonification. The release of organic nitrogen as ammonia is a part of the nitrogen cycle, and is performed by ammonifying bacteria.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a process for producing ammonia or ammonium from an organic material by fermenting a medium comprising organic material in the presence of a mixed bacterial population capable of ammonification, wherein the fermenting is under conditions, and for a sufficient period of time, to produce a fermentation product that comprises ammonia or ammonium. The organic material includes nitrogenous compounds suitable for conversion to ammonia or ammonium.