Design and preliminary techno-economic assessment of a pilot scale pharmaceutical wastewater treatment system for ammonia removal and recovery of fertilizer. (1st November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shukla, Amol; Prakash, Om; Biswas, Rima; Vijay, Ritesh; Pal, Sukdeb
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental management. Volume 321(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11-01
• Subjects: Pharmaceutical wastewater -- Ammonia -- Techno-economic assessment -- Struvite -- Recovery of fertilizer; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 363.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115898
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4797

Abstract

Abstract: Recovery of nutrients from wastewater has a paramount importance for a sustainable and safe environment. In this study removal of ammonia and recovery of resources in the form of struvite from a complex pharmaceutical acidic wastewater having high concentration of ammoniacal nitrogen (NH4 –N > 40 g/L) and other co-existing contaminants (magnesium, phosphorous, phenol etc.) was explored. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed for design of experiments and process optimization. RSM results revealed that removal of ammoniacal nitrogen, i.e., struvite precipitation was found to be maximum in alkaline pH (10.5–11.0) at a N:Mg molar ratio (1:0.030 to 1:0.035) and N:P molar ratio (1:0.025 to 1:0.030). X-Ray diffraction, thermo-gravimetric analysis and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of struvite crystals in the obtained precipitate. Techno-economic assessment (TEA) based on mass energy balance principle and market equipment specifications revealed that a pilot-scale plant set up would have a break-even period of 1.06 years with a return on investment as 94.28%. This clearly elucidated the economic viability of the developed process for industrial applications for management of high ammonia laden pharmaceutical wastewater. While further specific technological improvements are needed for reduction of cost, this study will guide researchers and industries for careful selection of target markets to reduce the cost for successful implementation. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Ammonia is removed & struvite is recovered from a complex pharmaceutical wastewater. Influencing process factors are optimized employing Response Surface Methodology. Technoeconomic analysis reveals economic viability of a pilot-scale set-up. Process for material recovery & treatment of pharmaceutical effluent is elucidated.