ammonium removal from conc. waste water

[siretb]

Hi,
I have a concentrated waste stream that contains ammonium (sulfates & chlorides)
concentration is high (10-50 g/l), flowrate is small (<0.5m3/hr)

What would be the best technique for removing ammonia?(transformation into nitrates is not an option, use of NaCl0 is not an option)
Will a nitrification denitrification (2 steps bio) be my only choice?
Do I need to dilute?

 

[bimr]

Have you thought about giving the material away as aqueous ammonia? This material is commonly used as a nutrient.

If you have an existing wastewater treatment plant, you can probably just meter this material in as a nutrient.

 

[dg47]

The ammonium is too concentrated for anoxic biological treatment. It is toxic to autotrophic bacteria needed to denitrify. I like the idea of feeding as a nutrient in an existing biological plant. Look for an industrial plant b/c municipal plants typically have excess nitrogen for nutrient. Typically 5 lbs N is need for 100 lb BOD.

 

[Nicksun]

air stripping first, then oxidation or bio treatment. but someone may help with more detail, like when to use stripping, when to use bio, and when to oxidize..

 

[siretb]

Thank you all, this helps.
The idea of using it as a nutrient is attractive. We have to be very careful about the possible other contaminants, but this is an option. Air stripping? but where does the ammonia go? in the air? This is pollution transfer.
dg47 what would be the maximum allowable concentration for anoxic bio treatment?

 

[Debaser]

siretb

I'm not a water engineer, but have you heard of the SHARON process? It's a Dutch technique my company's been involved in.

'SHARON - stable high activity ammonia removal over nitrate'

 

[Debaser]

Link to a description of SHARON;

http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/DEPUTATE/Watermgt/WSM/WSM_TAO/InnovTech/ProjReviews/SharonHiRate.htm

As I said, I'm no water engineer, but I hope it helps someone.