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ZEOLITE-ANAMMOX PROCESS
Robert Collison PhD PE
707 452 1088
Zeolite-anammox.com
INTRODUCTION What is zeolite-anammox? • Zeolite-anammox (ZE-AN) is the ammonia removal
process of the future. • It has the lowest unit costs for construction, operation,
and maintenance. • It works at any scale; and it reduces energy usage. • It is self-regulating and simple to run. • It slashes construction costs; requires only one tank or
pond. • It combines advantages of zeolite and anammox to
immobilize ammonium and convert it directly to nitrogen gas.
OLD DIGESTER TANK • Disused tank suitable for zeolite-anammox
HOW DOES ZE-AN WORK?
• IMMOBILIZATION - The zeolite-anammox process uses zeolite to immobilize ammonium by Cation exchange (CEC).
• COLONIZATION - Bacteria find ammonium-coated zeolite very attractive, and colonize it.
• REGENERATION - The bacteria eat the NH4 and regenerate the zeolite in-situ (it never becomes saturated).
• SINGLE STAGE - It is a single stage process converting NH4 to N2.
ANAMMOX • Anammox derive their energy from eating NH4. They
combine NH4 with nitrite (NO2) to form nitrogen gas: NH4 + NO2 = N2 + 2H2O. • The NH4 is provided in the influent. • The NO2 is from the first stage of nitrification
(NH4→NO2 → NO3). • Note: anammox are capable of dissimilatory reduction of
nitrate to nitrite (DNRA).
ZEOLITE - 40’ thick seam
TRADITIONAL N-REMOVAL
• Traditional nitrogen removal is nitrification- denitrification.
• Nitrification oxidizes ammonia to nitrate (via nitrite).
• De-nitrification reduces nitrate to nitrogen gas (requires 4 units of BOD for each unit of nitrate).
• Nitri/Deni are tried and tested systems – but expensive: two sets of infrastructure; high energy usage; intensive monitoring.
ADVANTAGES OF ZE-AN OVER NITRI-DENI
• HALF – needs half the infrastructure.
• HALF – uses half the air.
• HALF – releases half the greenhouse gas.
• FOOD - does not require BOD / methanol.
• EASY – simple to operate.
• SELF – self-regulating.
• LOW – low O&M costs.
ORO LOMA – 20,000 gallon tank treating 10,000 gpd NH4 side-stream
REVISED NITROGEN CYCLE Anammox removes LHS of N-cycle
ADVANTAGES OVER OTHER ANAMMOX SYSTEMS • LESS COMPLICATED. Less complicated because it is a fixed film reactor
designed to be self-sustaining. • LESS EXPENSIVE CONSTRUCTION. Can use tanks; existing infrastructure; earth berms;
ponds – or any container filled with zeolite and water..
• LESS EXPENSIVE TO RUN. Reduced O & M costs; self-regulating; minimal
monitoring and maintenance.
PARAMETERS INFLUENT CONCENTRATION
Zeolite-anammox treats ammonia from all of the following:
• High strength NH3 sidestreams (500 to 3000mg/L NH4-N).
• Low strength mainstream sewage (30 to 50 mg/L NH4-N).
• Very low strength water re-cycling (1 to 10mg/L NH4-N).
AERATION
Options - systems can be aerated, or non-aerated:
• Aerated – high efficiency; low volume; needs energy.
• Non-aerated – no energy needed; needs more space.
PILOT PLANT IN 50’ semi-trailer (under construction)
ZEOLITE-ANAMMOX PERFORMANCE TABLE
Side-stream; mainstream; water re-use.
INFLUENT CONC. TEMP REMOVAL
REMOVAL EFFLUENT
SOURCE (mg/L NH4) °(F) (gNH4/m^3) (lbs/1000cf)
(mg/L NH4)
Side-stream 1600 90 500 31 100
Side-stream 500 89 350 22 100
Mainstream 40 59-68 100 6 3
Re-use 5 to 10 40-60 10 to 25 0.6 to 1.5 0.1
SIDESTREAM
• Influent: Centrate or filtrate from anaerobic digesters.
• Ammonia influent concentration: 500 to 3000 mg/L.
• Effluent targets: NH4 100 mg/L; NO3 100mg/L.
• Temperature: Generally 90°F or 32°C.
• Detention/contact time: 6-12 hours.
• Centrate/filtrate is significant proportion of WWTP’s ammonia; easy to remove with anammox; “low hanging fruit”.
MAINSTREAM
• Influent: Secondary effluent from Municipal Waste Water Treatment Plants.
• Ammonia influent concentration: 25 to 40 mg/L.
• Effluent targets: NH4 3 mg/L; NO3 3-10mg/L.
• Temperature: Ambient (varies between 55 and 70°F).
• Detention/contact time: 5 hours.
• Typically removes 98% of ammonia.
• Much cheaper than nitrification/denitrification.
MAINSTREAM PILOT PLANT 2012-13 (system removes spikes
and surges of ammonia)
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•Y-axis = Ammonia as mg/L NH4 •X-axis = Distance flowed (feet) or time •RHS = Sample dates: Nov 2012 to Oct 2013
WATER RECYCLING
• Influent: Partially treated sewage (Final Sanitation Effluent) or grey water.
• Ammonia influent concentration: 10 to 30 mg/L.
• Effluent targets: NH4 1 mg/L; NO3 3mg/L.
• Temperature: Ambient (varies between 40 and 70°F).
• Detention/contact time: 5 hours.
• Cost effective and “green”.
• Easy to adjust targets: e.g. NH4 0.1mg/L.
ONSITE & SEPTIC
• Influent: Septic tank liquor.
• Ammonia influent concentration: 70 to 120 mg/L.
• Effluent targets: NH4 10 mg/L; NO3 10mg/L.
• Temperature: Generally 40-70°F.
• Detention/contact time: 5 hours; 20 hours non-aerated..
• Septic tanks are used in 25% of US households – and cause significant pollution by nitrogen species (NH4 & NO3).
SIDE-STREAM PILOT 2013 (system removes 80% of ammonia & nitrate)
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ORO LOMA SIDESTREAM PILOT 2TFS
NH4
NO3
INF.
CONCLUSIONS • Ze-an is the easiest sidestream treatment process. • Ze-an is the only anammox system for mainstream
treatment. • Ze-an is the only anammox system for water re-use. KEY POINTS • Flexibility – treats all concentrations; wide temperature
range. • Simplicity – largely self regulating; easy to run and
maintain. • Cost – construction, monitoring/maintenance costs,
energy use, all significantly lower.