Zeolites for Nitrogen Recovery from the Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Permeate: Zeolite Characterization

Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor technology has great advantages for treating wastewater, including energy recovery from organic matter. However, when the legislation requires that effluent standards be met in sensitive areas, this treatment cannot remove nutrients, thus permeate generated needs post-treatment. Apart biological processes, ion exchange is an alternative stream since it can nutrients and concentrate them later as fertilizers. In work, feasibility of using a natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) NH4 AnMBR was studied tests were carried out on adsorption kinetics ammonium. Isotherm verified activating to its -Na form improves performance by 20% increases qe 2.37 2.86 mg NH4-N/g Co 30 NH4-N/L. It also found cations present water (especially Ca2+ Na+) caused 22% reduction ammonium while matter responsible improving retained 22%. working pH (7.2 ± 0.2) close optimal range (6–7) performance. The indicate clinoptilolite suitable material retain up 7.44 NH4-N/g.