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Title: Sludge processors have wide choice of solutions for waste ammonia problems

Abstract

The Ocean Dumping Act of 1988 phased out dumping of sewage sludge into the ocean. To use sewage sludge beneficially, facilities treat and process it using such techniques as digestion, dewatering, composting, thermal drying and chemical stabilization. All of these processes create waste discharges containing high concentrations of nitrogen, mainly in the form of ammonia. When nitrification occurs in receiving waters, ammonia is oxidized to nitrate and can lower dissolved oxygen levels in the water. Excess ammonia also is toxic to fish and other aquatic life. Nitrogen reduction alternatives for sludge dewatering and processing waste discharges include the following: air stripping; steam stripping; breakpoint chlorination; selective ion exchange; reverse osmosis; and chemical precipitation. To remove wastewater nitrogen using biological processes, ammonia and organic nitrogen first are oxidized aerobically (nitrification) to nitrate nitrogen, which then is converted biologically to nitrogen gas (denitrification) under zero or low dissolved oxygen (anoxic) conditions. Because sludge treatment discharges contain valuable quantities of ammonia, they may be considered for reuse as supplemental fertilizer for land application or for reclamation through spraying or injection into soil. Such discharges also may be used in combustion processes.

Authors:
;  [1];
  1. Stone and Webster Engineering Corp., Boston, MA (United States). Environmental Technology and Services Div.
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
7010426
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Environmental Solutions; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 7:9
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; AMMONIA; MATERIAL SUBSTITUTION; WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION; NITRATES; WATER POLLUTION CONTROL; SEWAGE SLUDGE; WASTE PROCESSING; INDUSTRIAL WASTES; RECYCLING; BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS; BIOLOGICAL WASTES; CONTROL; HYDRIDES; HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS; MANAGEMENT; MATERIALS; NITROGEN COMPOUNDS; NITROGEN HYDRIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; POLLUTION CONTROL; PROCESSING; SEWAGE; SLUDGES; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTES; 540320* - Environment, Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-); 320305 - Energy Conservation, Consumption, & Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Industrial Waste Management

Citation Formats

Chen, Y S.R., Samela, D, and Kaylor, F. Sludge processors have wide choice of solutions for waste ammonia problems. United States: N. p., 1994. Web.
Chen, Y S.R., Samela, D, & Kaylor, F. Sludge processors have wide choice of solutions for waste ammonia problems. United States.
Chen, Y S.R., Samela, D, and Kaylor, F. 1994. "Sludge processors have wide choice of solutions for waste ammonia problems". United States.
@article{osti_7010426,
title = {Sludge processors have wide choice of solutions for waste ammonia problems},
author = {Chen, Y S.R. and Samela, D and Kaylor, F},
abstractNote = {The Ocean Dumping Act of 1988 phased out dumping of sewage sludge into the ocean. To use sewage sludge beneficially, facilities treat and process it using such techniques as digestion, dewatering, composting, thermal drying and chemical stabilization. All of these processes create waste discharges containing high concentrations of nitrogen, mainly in the form of ammonia. When nitrification occurs in receiving waters, ammonia is oxidized to nitrate and can lower dissolved oxygen levels in the water. Excess ammonia also is toxic to fish and other aquatic life. Nitrogen reduction alternatives for sludge dewatering and processing waste discharges include the following: air stripping; steam stripping; breakpoint chlorination; selective ion exchange; reverse osmosis; and chemical precipitation. To remove wastewater nitrogen using biological processes, ammonia and organic nitrogen first are oxidized aerobically (nitrification) to nitrate nitrogen, which then is converted biologically to nitrogen gas (denitrification) under zero or low dissolved oxygen (anoxic) conditions. Because sludge treatment discharges contain valuable quantities of ammonia, they may be considered for reuse as supplemental fertilizer for land application or for reclamation through spraying or injection into soil. Such discharges also may be used in combustion processes.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7010426}, journal = {Environmental Solutions; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 7:9,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994},
month = {Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994}
}