Ammonia Removal From Wastewater

Ammonia is an important macro-nutrient in the reproduction of bacteria in wastewater plants, but its presence must be balanced. Some processes have too much produced, and some too little. Nitrifying bacteria are very sensitive to changes in temperature; below 55 degrees C they survive but do not thrive, as reported by AquaFix Incorporated. This reduction in the bacteria results in excess ammonia production, which is detrimental. Removal of excess ammonia can be carried out using a variety of techniques, but not all are suitable on a large scale.

Things You'll Need

• Tarpaulin
• Nitrosomas bacteria or Nitrobacter
• Ammonia pH detection kit
• Glass beaker

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Instructions

• 1

  Cover the wastewater using a large tarpaulin. For larger, industrial applications, you will need a specially designed cover.

• 2

  Find out what state the ammonia is in. Ammonia can be in the form NH4 (nontoxic) or NH3 (toxic). Take this measurement by inserting a simple ammonia/pH detection kit into a sample of the water, making sure the sensors are immersed. Wait 15 minutes and then read the result. According to Pacific Sentry, the sensors are highly sensitive to NH3 and will detect amounts as small as 0.005 parts per million (ppm). If you have NH3 present, you need to remove it using aeration and nitrification. If you have NH4 only, the water does not need to be treated.

• 3

  Increase the surface area of the water to provide a larger medium for useful bacteria to grow.

• 4

  Introduce a higher concentration of ammonia-consuming bacteria into the effluent. Two strains are suitable: Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter, which convert ammonia (NH3) to nitrite (NO2-). Control their increase carefully for best results. Two useful products on the market contain suitable bacteria for reducing ammonia. One works very effectively in cold climates, and the other in warm to hot climates. A good cold climate solution is Aquafix's VitaStim Polar Blend and Nitrifier, which help keep ammonia low in the winter. In the summer, use ordinary VitaStim.

• 5

  Extend aeration times to create lower sludge production and also to improve the ammonia concentration in the discharge.

• 6

  Increase the level of dissolved oxygen in the water to improve the aerobic conditions required by the bacteria for nitrification. According to Paradise Northwest, the minimum required concentration of oxygen is 2 mg per liter (mg/L) of wastewater.

• 7

  Ensure the pH is in a suitable range. It should be between 7.2 and 8.0 for nitrification.

• 8

  Ensure that a minimum of 70 mg per liter (mg/L) alkaline is present in the system for the process of nitrification to occur. To achieve this, add 70 mg sodium hydroxide to every liter of water to be treated. Check the pH of a sample using a simple indicator strip. The pH should be about 9.5 before treatment.

• 9

  If applicable, measure the levels of ammonia in your influent to ensure that other industrial processes happening nearby are not affecting your system. Composite samples over a 24-hour period are usually sufficient to work out what is happening.