Influence of Aeration Rates on Ammonia Emissions for Different Liquid Temperatures

Abstract

The influences of aeration rates (0.5, 1.2 and 1.9 L/M) for different temperatures (5,15, and 25 oC) on the ammonia emission and the breakdown of organic material were studiedfor 21 days of biodegradation using 15.3 L of batch reactors. From 9.7 to 37.7 % of totalKjeldahl nitrogen was removed during the experiment with higher values for the higher manuretemperatures and the higher aeration rates. From 0.7 to 25.8 % of initial TKN was volatilized asammonia gas showing higher value according to manure temperature and aeration rate. Theratio of volatilized ammonia gas to the reduced TKN was from 6.5 to 68.5 showing also highervalue according to manure temperature and aeration rate. BOD5 removal was also higher withthe higher temperature and the higher aeration rates with the exception between 0.5 and 1.2L/M for the manure of 5 and 15 oC. Higher aeration (1.9 L/M) for the lower temperature (5 oC),and lower aeration (0.5 L/M) for the higher temperature (15 25 oC) were desirable to reduceammonia emission while satisfying BOD5 removal to a certain extent.