Grantee Research Project Results
2021 Progress Report: Three- Step Scrubber for Ammonia Removal
EPA Grant Number: SV839356Title: Three- Step Scrubber for Ammonia Removal
Investigators: Barsanti, Kelley
Current Investigators: Rupiper, Amanda , Barsanti, Kelley
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: Sustainable and Healthy Communities , P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources
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 (PM2.5), 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 projectSupplemental Keywords:
ammonia, agricultural biproducts, water conservation, emission control technologies, reuseProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractP3 Phase I:
Three-Phase Ammonia Air Scrubber Recycles Water | 2017 Progress Report | Final ReportThe 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
- 2023
- 2022 Progress Report
- 2020 Progress Report
- 2019 Progress Report
- 2018 Progress Report
- Original Abstract
- P3 Phase I | 2017 Progress Report | Final Report