Wastewater Ammonia Removal - Do You Really Need to Remove Ammonia?

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Ammonia is a by-product of the decay of plant and animal proteins and fecal matter.
It is also formed from the decomposition of urea and uric acid in urine.
On dissolution in water, ammonia forms the ammonium cation; hydroxyl ions are formed at the same time.
The 5 equilibrium constant of this reaction, kb is 1.
78x10-.
The degree of ionization depends on the temperature, the pH, and the concentration of dissolved salts in the water.
The environmental cycling of nitrogen relies mainly on nitrate, followed by ammonia and the ammonium cation, which predominates.
The ammonium cation is less mobile in soil and water than ammonia and is involved in the biological processes of nitrogen fixation, mineralization and nitrification.
Wastewater Ammonia removal is important because Ammonia can be toxic to some people and can harm the workers at the treatment plant.
Ordinarily, the human body has the inbuilt capacity to combat toxicity of Ammonia.
Toxic effects are felt only when the amount of Ammonia goes beyond the detoxification capacity of the human body.
The effect of Anion on the human body must also be dealt with, if Ammonium salts are used to administer Ammonia into the human body.
If Ammonium Chloride is administered into the human body, the Chloride Ion assumes significance because of its acidotic effects.
The Ammonium Ion is of lesser significance.
If Ammonium Chloride is administered in excess of 100 mg/kg per day in relation to the body weight, it affects the metabolism of the human body.
This effect is the same as if Ammonium Ions were administered in excess of 33.
7 mg/day/kg weight of the human body.
As a result of the intake of Ammonium Chloride, the glucose tolerance levels of the human body undergo a change.
Also, the sensitivity of the human tissue to Insulin is reduced.
The equilibrium maintained in our body between acid and base is also disturbed.
By testing for ammonia you are able to indicate if there is sewage or sewage sludge entering the body of water.
Wastewater Ammonia removal is necessary before releasing water into streams because Ammonia is very poisonous to fish and other aquatic organisms even in very low concentrations.
When the level reaches 0.
06 mg/l, fish can suffer gill damage and when levels reach 0.
2 mg/l, sensitive fish like trout begin to die making Ammonia removal from wastewater absolutely necessary.
When level nears 2.
0 even the hardy, pollution tolerant fish like carp begin to die.
Levels greater than about 0.
1 mg/l usually indicate polluted water.
The danger ammonia poses for fish also depends on the temperature and pH of the water, the amount of dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide present.
Ammonia is much more poisonous to fish and aquatic life when water contains very little dissolved oxygen.
Wastewater Ammonia removal techniques should be followed before wastewater is released because its derivatives significantly accelerate the process of eutrophication in waterways.
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