Sulfamic Acid Nitrite Conversion in Air Washer Liquid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for removing nitrite from air washer liquids, primarily used in livestock farming, result in high discharge water volumes and environmental concerns due to the use of corrosive and odor-emitting acids, while also inhibiting biological activity, which necessitates frequent water discharge and increased operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the addition of sulfamic acid or its salts to the nitrite-containing liquid, which converts nitrite into nitrogen gas through a chemical-biological process, maintaining a pH lower than 5.9, thereby reducing nitrite inhibition and allowing for the re-use of treated water, significantly reducing discharge water and enhancing ammonia removal efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sulfamic acid is added to convert nitrite into nitrogen gas, then nitrite inhibition is reduced and water re-use is enabled, but the process requires maintaining specific pH conditions which adds operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling pH within a specific range (2-6, preferably 3-5) to optimize the reaction between sulfamic acid and nitrite. This parameter control ensures complete nitrite conversion while minimizing harmful byproducts, resolving the contradiction between effective nitrite removal and operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
Sulfamic acid acts as an intermediary substance that converts nitrite into harmless nitrogen gas through a controlled chemical reaction. This intermediary approach allows nitrite removal without requiring complex biological treatment systems, maintaining reliability while managing operational complexity
2Loss of substance
If discharge water volume is reduced through nitrite conversion, then environmental impact is minimized and water resources are conserved, but ammonia removal efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the air washing process into two distinct stages: first, ammonia absorption in the air washer; second, nitrite conversion in a separate reaction step using sulfamic acid. This segmentation allows each process to be optimized independently, reducing discharge water through nitrite removal while preserving ammonia removal efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The converted water containing converted nitrite is recirculated back to the air washing process, maintaining continuous operation. This continuity ensures that ammonia removal efficiency is sustained while significantly reducing the volume of discharge water, as the treated water remains in the system for further use
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 approach effectively converts nitrite into harmless nitrogen gas, reduces discharge water by up to 98%, minimizes odor emissions, and maintains biological activity, making the process environmentally friendly and cost-effective by reusing treated liquid for subsequent air washing cycles.
Implementation Method 1
adding an amount of a nitrite-converting substance to the nitrite-comprising liquid, thereby converting nitrite into nitrogen gas, wherein the nitrite-converting substance comprises an amine group or amide group and a sulfamic group
Implementation Method 2
wherein the liquid comes from the oxidation of ammonia in an aqueous solution, wherein the ammonia in aqueous solution comes from washing ammonia-comprising air
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention comprises a method and a system for the treatment of liquid, such as coming from an air washer for removing ammonia from air streams, wherein the method comprises the following steps: (a) providing nitrite-comprising liquid, preferably from washing ammonia-comprising air; (b) adding a nitrite-converting substance, preferably sulfamic acid to the system, wherein the nitrite in the liquid is chemically converted into nitrogen gas, leading to a treated liquid. The invention can be used for the treatment of air streams generated in fertilizer processing, biogas plants, composting processes, livestock farming or industrial processes.