ST CLOUDS 081516

ZEOLITE-ANAMMOX PROCESS

Robert Collison PhD PE

rob.collison@ymail.com

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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0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

N (m

g/L)

Time (weeks)

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.