Grantee Research Project Results

2021 Progress Report: Three- Step Scrubber for Ammonia Removal

EPA Grant Number: SV839356
Title: Three- Step Scrubber for Ammonia Removal
Investigators: Barsanti, Kelley
Current Investigators: Rupiper, Amanda , Barsanti, Kelley , Limon, Gwyndolin , Flores, Alexis , Sanchez-Diaz, Nancy , Iqbal, Usman , Bang, Eric , Orozco, Omar , Chan, Dylon , Martinez, Dianna-Kristina
Institution: University of California - Riverside
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: II
Project Period: March 1, 2018 through February 29, 2020 (Extended to February 28, 2025)
Project Period Covered by this Report: March 1, 2021 through February 28,2022
Project Amount: $40,240
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Phase 2 (2017) Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , Sustainable and Healthy Communities

Objective:

Agricultural producers are primary contributors to atmospheric ammonia (NH₃) pollution throughout the US. Although NH₃ is not a hazardous air pollutant regulated at the federal level, or a state-identified toxic air contaminant, its acute and chronic non-cancer health effects justify limiting its concentration in the atmosphere. Specifically, NH₃ reacts with other constituents in the air to produce fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), which is a federally-regulated criteria pollutant, and causes adverse health effects. Current conventional chemical scrubbers for NH₃ do not represent a sustainable solution, as they have high economic and environmental costs. Therefore, we have designed a three-step NH₃ scrubbing and filtration system for agricultural NH₃ emissions that promotes sustainability by reusing water, recycling waste, and reducing costs.

Reducing the release of NH₃ to the atmosphere contributes to improved air quality for individuals in close proximity to agricultural operations. The use of the collected NH₃ as an amendment for soil, rather than releasing it in waste streams as ammonium sulfate (a salt) improves water quality, which has a benefit for people and the planet. The ability to recycle water leads to reduced waste, providing an environmental benefit; in addition, this reduces costs, providing an economic benefit and contributing to prosperity. It is in these ways that the design project addresses people, prosperity, and the planet.

Progress Summary:

Each academic year, a team of four undergraduate students in Chemical & Environmental Engineering lead the project design, implementation, evaluation, and iteration. Team members have included typically underrepresented minorities in STEM and first-generation college students. This often represents their first research experience. The students work closely with a graduate student or postdoctoral researcher in the PI’s group, which provides teaching and mentoring opportunities for these graduate students and postdocs. Finally, the students participate in at least one community outreach event, in which they share their project and findings with the general public.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 3 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

ammonia, agricultural biproducts, water conservation, emission control technologies, reuse

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

P3 Phase I:

Three-Phase Ammonia Air Scrubber Recycles Water | 2017 Progress Report | 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.