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Grantee Research Project Results

Developing a Vacuum Distillation - Acid Absorption System for Recovery of Ammonia from Dairy Manure

EPA Grant Number: SU835937
Title: Developing a Vacuum Distillation - Acid Absorption System for Recovery of Ammonia from Dairy Manure
Investigators: Tao, Wendong
Institution: The State University of New York
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Phase: II
Project Period: October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2017
Project Amount: $74,968
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Phase 2 (2015) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Sustainable and Healthy Communities , P3 Awards , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Challenge Area - Chemical Safety

Objective:

SUNY ESF's team is developing a vacuum distillation – acid absorption system for sustainable recovery of ammonia from dairy manure. In Phase I of this P3 project, free ammonia was stripped out of dairy manure in 3 hours and absorbed into a dilute sulfuric acid solution, producing 6.1‐7.9 grams of ammonium sulfate with every liter of dairy manure. In Phase II, this P3 project will evaluate the optimum combination of vacuum and temperature for ammonia stripping, optimize design of the ammonia stripping and absorption processes, examine the benefits of ammonia recovery to anaerobic digestion of dairy manure, and assess economic sustainability of this technology.

Approach:

The optimum vacuum and temperature for ammonia stripping will be explored with a laboratory vacuum distillation assembly. A pilot‐scale ammonia recovery system will be used to optimize the design of a reboiler for ammonia stripping, a demister installed between the reboiler and a gas absorption column, and the gas absorption column for ammonium sulfate production. Bench‐scale anaerobic digesters will be operated to evaluate the benefits of ammonia recovery to methane production in anaerobic digestion of dairy manure. Cost‐benefit analysis will be performed to evaluate economic sustainability of integrating ammonia recovery into anaerobic digestion of dairy manure.

Expected Results:

The technology we are developing will provide dairy farms with a sustainable approach to manure nutrient management, minimizing the risks of ammonia release and nitrogen export and enhancing biogas production from anaerobic digestion of dairy manure while producing a marketable product (ammonium sulfate).

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 4 publications for this project

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 4 journal articles for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

Bio‐based feedstock, resource recovery, waste to value, concentrated animal feeding operations;

Relevant Websites:

P3 Phase 1: Developing a Vacuum Distillation – Acid Absorption System for Recovery of Ammonia from Dairy Manure

Progress and Final Reports:

  • 2016 Progress Report
  • Final Report

  • P3 Phase I:

    Developing a Vacuum Distillation – Acid Absorption System for Recovery of Ammonia from Dairy Manure  | Final Report

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    The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

    Project Research Results

    • Final Report
    • 2016 Progress Report
    • P3 Phase I | Final Report
    4 publications for this project
    4 journal articles for this project

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    Last updated April 28, 2023
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