A curious insight into removal and recovery of ammonia from struvite thermal decomposition unit outlet by acidic adsorption
department or school: Applied Science, Faculty of
department or school: Civil Engineering, Department of
data provider: DSpace
degree campus: UBCV
creator: Basiri, Neshat
issued: 2016-10-31T00:00:00
issued: 2016
related degree: Master of Applied Science - MASc
degree grantor: University of British Columbia
description: In this study investigated the recovery of ammonia from the hot and humid gas outlet of a struvite thermal decomposition unit. Based on the project objectives and the initial studies, adsorption of the ammonia by oxalic acid dihydrate was selected as the ammonia removal method. Oxalic acid’s solid form not only would reduce the energy loss through adsorption, but also could be a potential carrier for the final product that could be used as a nitrogen fertilizer. This research presents experimental stages specifically designed for recovering the ammonia and energy of this stream. Experiments started in ambient temperatures and humidity to gain a good understanding of the process. Later, it evolved to simulate the actual conditions of the struvite thermal decomposition unit outlet. During the investigation phase, factors such as flow rate, adsorbent crystal size, and contact time were recognized as the most influential parameters for this process. The efficiency of ammonia removal could be optimized to stay above 90% by controlling these factors in a two-hour period. In the next phase, as the struvite thermal decomposition unit had output conditions of 80°C and relative humidity of 80%, experiments were continued by accommodating these conditions. At this stage, difficulties were observed in the stability of initial adsorbent. This led to a substitution of this adsorbent with anhydrous oxalic acid and potassium tetraoxalate dehydrate. The results indicated a high capacity and potential for ammonia adsorption. Despite the adverse effects of high temperature on adsorption processes, ammonia removal efficiency could be kept above 93% at all times, with modifications in the reactor for setting a good range of contact times for the adsorption. Although ammonia removal from the stream could achieve high efficiencies the ammonia capture in the adsorbents never exceeded 10-15% of the maximum theoretical adsorption. This suggested that the adsorption is only occurring in the s…
aggregated CHO: https://circle.library.ubc.ca/rest/handle/2429/57797
note: i A CURIOUS INSIGHT INTO REMOVAL AND RECOVERY OF AMMONIA FROM STRUVITE THERMAL DECOMPOSTION UNIT OUTLET BY ACIDIC ADSORPTION by Neshat Basiri B.Sc. Eng. (Chemical), University of Tehran, 2011 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF APPLIED SCIENCE in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE AND POSTDOCTORAL STUDIES (Civil Engineering) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) April 2016 © Neshat Basiri, 2016 ii Abstract In this study investigated the recovery of ammonia from the hot and humid gas outlet of a struvite thermal decomposition unit. Based on the project objectives and the initial studies, adsorption of the ammonia by oxalic acid dihydrate was selected as the ammonia removal method. Oxalic acid’s solid form not only would reduce the energy loss through adsorption, but also could be a potential carrier for the final product that could be used as a nitrogen fertilizer. This research presents experimental stages specifically designed for recovering the ammonia and energy of this stream. Experiments started in ambient temperatures and humidity to gain a good understanding of the process. Later, it evolved to simulate the actual conditions of the struvite thermal decomposition unit outlet. During the investigation phase, factors such as flow rate, adsorbent crystal size, and contact time were recognized as the most influential parameters for this process. The efficiency of ammonia removal could be optimized to stay above 90% by controlling these factors in a two-hour period. In the next phase, as the struvite thermal decomposition unit had output conditions of 80°C and relative humidity of 80%, experiments were continued by accommodating these conditions. At this stage, difficulties were observed in the stability of initial adsorbent. This led to a substitution of this adsorbent with anhydrous oxalic acid and potassium tetraoxalate dehydrate. The results indicated a high capacity and potential for ammonia adsorption. Despi…
has type: Thesis/Dissertation
date issued: 2016-05
is shown at: 10.14288/1.0300132
language: eng
degree discipline: Civil Engineering
provider: Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
publisher: University of British Columbia
rights: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
rights URI: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
scholar level: Graduate
type: Text
identifier URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/57797