Wastewater Treatment

Our ammonia stripping plants deliver a highly effective solution for separating ammonia from wastewater streams. This process is ideally suited for recovering ammonia and preventing environmental pollution through controlled abatement. The system combines thermal treatment, alkalization, stripping, and gas scrubbing to efficiently remove ammonia and convert it into a valuable ammonium sulfate solution.

How does it work?

1.) Heating and alkalization of the wastewater
The ammonium-rich wastewater is initially heated to optimize the stripping process. It is then alkalized using sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) to convert ammonium ions into strippable ammonia (NH₃). Thanks to an advanced heat recovery system, the plant can even operate autothermally above a certain ammonium concentration - meaning thermal energy is only required during startup.

2.) Stripping in the packed column
The alkaline wastewater enters a packed-bed column, where it is stripped countercurrently with air. This technique drives the ammonia out of the wastewater and transfers it into the air stream. The stripping air is recirculated in a closed loop to keep heat loss to an absolute minimum.

3.) Absorption of the ammonia
Downstream of the stripper, the ammonia is absorbed in a second packed-bed column and subsequently reacts with sulfuric acid to produce valuable ammonium sulfate. The final product is discharged as a 40 % solution containing 8 % ammonium nitrogen - perfectly suited for use as an agricultural fertilizer. This turns your emissions into a valuable resource.

Your benefits at a glance

• Efficient ammonia separation from industrial and municipal wastewater
• Minimal energy consumption due to closed-loop stripping air recirculation
• Autothermal operation enabled by highly efficient heat recovery
• High ammonia recovery rates with conversion into a commercial-grade 40 % ammonium sulfate solution
• Economical and sustainable by reducing environmental impact and turning waste streams into resources
• Flexible and adaptable configuration suitable for widely varying wastewater compositions