pH-based control strategies for the nitrification of high-ammonium wastewaters
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Date
Authors
Van Rooyen, Ignatius Leopoldus
Brink, Hendrik Gideon
Nicol, Willie
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
Aquatic nitrogen pollution is one of the most urgent environmental issues requiring
prevention and mitigation. Large quantities of high-ammonium wastewaters are generated by several
industrial sectors, such as fertilizer and anaerobic-digestion plants. Nitrification of these wastewaters
is commonly carried out, either to remove nitrogen or produce liquid fertilizers. Standard control
methodologies for the efficient nitrification of high-ammonium wastewaters to produce liquid
fertilizers have not yet been established and are still within their early stages of development.
In this paper, novel pH-based control algorithms are presented that maintain operation at the
microbial maximum reaction rate (umax) in batch and continuous reactors. Complete conversion of
ammonium to nitrate was achieved in a batch setup, and a conversion of 93% (1%) was achieved in
a continuously-stirred-tank-reactor. The unparalleled performance and affordability of the control
schemes proposed offer a steppingstone to the future of sustainable fertilizer production.
Description
Keywords
Ammonium, Nitrate, Proton, Hydroponic, Wastewater, Aquatic nitrogen pollution, High-ammonium wastewaters
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Van Rooyen, I.L., Brink, H.G. & Nicol, W. pH-Based Control Strategies for the Nitrification of High-Ammonium Wastewaters. Fermentation 2021, 7, 319. https://DOI.org/10.3390/fermentation7040319.