Continuous Thermal Stripping Process for Ammonium Removal from Digestate and Centrate

The state of California has passed legislation to divert organic materials from landfills reduce the emission methane atmosphere. A large amount this source separated (SSO) material is expected be used as a feedstock for anaerobic digestion processes. Based on review properties likely SSO feedstocks, it clear that while are high in volatile solids, they also concentrated sources nutrients (principally, ammonium). When feedstocks digested, these released into digestate, where ammonium can cause problems both within digester and downstream treatment focus paper performance two pilot studies designed remove ammonia effluent. process study thermal stripping column with tray configuration, operating under vacuum. In first study, food waste digestate was treated slurry without NaOH addition. At temperatures near 90 °C, caustic similar. second centrate co-digestion facility, blends processing wastewater same conditions chemical results studies, which described using curves, presented discussed paper.