Ammonia Sequestering System Ion Exchange Electrolysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wastewater treatment methods are energy-intensive and inefficient for removing ammonia from wastewater, as they rely on aerobic processes and are limited by the inability of ion exchange systems to effectively manage ammonia-contaminated regeneration liquids, posing risks to aquatic ecosystems and human/animal health.
Innovation Solution
An ammonia sequestering system utilizing ion exchange columns with a regenerant stream of sodium cations and an ammonia brine stream, which undergoes electrolysis to break down ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen gases, reducing energy consumption and safely managing ammonia waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If aerobic processes are used to remove ammonia from wastewater, then ammonia removal efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the chemical parameters of the wastewater by converting ammonia to ammonium ions through pH adjustment, enabling selective ion exchange removal. This parameter transformation allows the use of ion exchange columns to capture ammonium ions while regenerating them as concentrated brine, achieving high ammonia removal efficiency without the energy-intensive aeration required by aerobic biological processes
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts ammonia from the wastewater stream using ion exchange columns that selectively capture ammonium ions. The extracted ammonium is then concentrated into a small volume of brine solution through regeneration, separating the ammonia removal function from the bulk wastewater treatment and enabling efficient disposal or further processing of the concentrated ammonia stream
2Productivity
If ion exchange processes are used to remove ammonia, then ammonia removal is achieved, but the ability to dispose of ammonia-contaminated regeneration liquids is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers ammonium ions from the ion exchange resin through regeneration with a salt solution, concentrating the ammonia into a small volume of brine. This recovered concentrated ammonia stream can then be disposed of in controlled manner or further processed through methods like air stripping, distillation, or biological treatment, transforming the waste disposal problem into a manageable concentrated stream rather than large volumes of lightly contaminated water
Solution Approach 2:
The regeneration process changes the concentration parameter of ammonia by transferring it from a dilute state in the wastewater to a concentrated state in the brine solution. This parameter transformation makes the ammonia more manageable for disposal or further treatment, as concentrated streams require less volume for treatment and can be more efficiently processed
3Use of energy by moving object
If anaerobic processes are used for wastewater treatment, then energy consumption is reduced, but ammonia degradation capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment process is segmented into separate functional stages: ion exchange columns for ammonia capture, regeneration systems for concentrating ammonium, and separate disposal or processing units for the concentrated brine. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, enabling low-energy ion exchange and regeneration while addressing ammonia removal without requiring energy-intensive aerobic processes
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 system efficiently removes ammonia from wastewater without oxygen input, reducing energy consumption and enabling safe ammonia management, thus addressing the limitations of existing anaerobic and ion exchange processes.
Implementation Method 1
The ion column includes an ion exchange material
Implementation Method 2
which undergoes electrolysis to break down ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen gases
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is an ammonia sequestering system including a system controller connected to a plurality of flow control valves, a feed stream extending through a system inlet, and a system outlet. The feed stream is a liquid contaminated with ammonia. At least one exchange column is located between the system inlet and the system outlet. The ion column includes an ion exchange material, a column inlet connected to one of the flow control valves, and a column outlet connected to another of the flow control valves. The system also includes a regenerant stream of an aqueous solution of sodium cations, as well as an ammonia brine stream made up of the regenerant stream and ammonia.