Removal of nitrate and ammonium ions from livestock wastewater by hybrid systems composed of zero-valent iron and adsorbents

• Published in: Environmental technology 2011-12, Vol.32 (16), p.1851-1857
• Main Authors: Ji, Min-Kyu, Ahn, Yong-Tae, Ali Khan, Moonis, Abou-Shanab, Reda A.I., Cho, Yunchul, Choi, Jae-Young, Je Kim, Yong, Song, Hocheol, Jeon, Byong-Hun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Animals; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Exact sciences and technology; filtralite; General processes of purification and dust removal; General purification processes; granular activated carbon; Iron - chemistry; Livestock; livestock wastewater; Nitrates - isolation & purification; Pollution; Prevention and purification methods; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds - isolation & purification; sepiolite; Temperature; Wastewaters; Water Pollutants, Chemical - isolation & purification; Water Purification - methods; Water treatment and pollution
• ISSN: 0959-3330; 1479-487X
• DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2011.565079

The feasibility of hybrid systems for simultaneous removal of nitrate (NO ) and ammonium ions (NH ) from livestock wastewater was examined in batch experiments. As a part of efforts to remove nitrate and ammonium simultaneously, Fe 0 and adsorbents including coconut-based granular activated carbon (GAC), sepiolite and filtralite were used. Various parameters such as adsorbent dosages and temperature were studied. Removal of NO increased with increase in temperature. Maximum NO removal (85.3%) was observed for the Fe 0 -filtralite hybrid system at 45 °C for a 24 h reaction time. Increase in GAC and sepiolite dosages had significant (Psepiolite>GAC, and the order of the removal of NH was GAC>sepiolite>filtralite. The results of the present study suggest that the use of hybrid systems could be a promising innovative technology for achieving simultaneous removal of NO and NH from livestock wastewater.