Nitrogen compounds, such as aqueous ammonia, are a widespread problem in the wastewater industry as they are toxic to numerous aquatic life, cause eutrophication, and contribute to various environmental concerns. Environment Canada has mandated new wastewater regulations, limiting un-ionized ammonia discharge to 1.25 mg/L, expressed as nitrogen. This study provides insight into methods for removing nitrogen compounds, specifically aqueous ammonia, from wastewater. Two wastewater treatment technologies were compared: Ultra Violet light and an electrochemical process. These treatments were evaluated individually, as well as in combination, to determine potential synergistic effects.

Livestock agriculture is a source of methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and ammonia (NH3) emissions. A comprehensive approach aimed at mitigating these emissions is needed to reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture. This thesis examined three aspects of a comprehensive mitigation strategy which included: evaluating a management consideration, improving flux measurement techniques, and modeling emissions. The relationships between total solids (TS), gas emissions and surface crust dynamics were assessed. Diurnal and long–term CH4 and N2O flux variations were examined in the context of improving discrete sampling protocols. Finally, a mechanistic model that predicts CH4 emissions from manure slurries was evaluated. Over long–term storage, the crusts were not effective in mitigating total gas emissions because the slurries remained open to the atmosphere for a significant portion of the time. Total CH4 and NH3 emissions were related linearly to TS, while N2O exhibited a sigmoid response. The linear response to TS observed for CH4 and NH3 occurred despite varying crust conditions suggesting that the availability of substrates in slurries is the more important regulator of emissions over long–term storage. Diurnal CH4 and N2O flux variations were linked with the diurnal surface temperature (T0) cycle, with the strength of the relationship depending on surface crust conditions. An assessment of discrete sampling protocols revealed that sampling intervals should be ≤7 d. In terms of the timing, it is best to sample these gases when the T0 is closest to the daily mean, which would typically be before 0900 h or after 1700 h. A mechanistic model of CH4 emissions from slurries was evaluated. The model was most accurate during the first 47 d of storage, after which the accuracy decreased. However, total emissions estimated over 145 d were within –21.1 to 6.0% of measured emissions for slurries with TS 3.2%, 5.8% and 8.2%. Emissions were also modeled using the USEPA inventory method. There was relatively good agreement between the USEPA and mechanistic models, with relative percent differences ranging from 19.9 to 37.3%, which is encouraging from the standpoint of advancing greenhouse gas inventory methods. / Ontario Graduate Scholarship

Considerable amounts of N can be lost from manure through NH$ sb3$ volatilization. Four laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of organic amendments on reducing NH$ sb3$ loss from liquid hog manure (LHM). The organic amendments used in these studies were sugar, sawdust and paper products including filter paper (FP), paper bag (PB), newsprint (NP) and pulp sludge (PS). Generally, organic amendments had significant effects on reducing NH$ sb3$ loss from LHM and their effectiveness increased with increasing addition rates. Sugar addition of 3% or higher could eliminate the NH$ sb3$ loss, depending on LHM properties and incubation conditions. The effectiveness of sugar, especially lower rates, decrease with time. The unrecovered NH$ sb4$ loss increased and manure pH decreased with the increase in sugar rates, indicating that the reduction in NH$ sb3$ loss due to sugar addition may have been caused by N immobilization and pH reduction. Sawdust addition reduced the NH$ sb3$ loss by as much as 20% compared to the control. The mixture of 5.5% sugar and 5% sawdust was more effective in reducing NH$ sb3$ loss than 5.5% sugar alone but, lower sugar rates were not similarly affected by sawdust addition. Addition of 5% FP, PB, NP and PS resulted in the decrease in NH$ sb3$ loss by as much as 40, 47, 37 and 29% in comparison to the non-amended manure. The unrecovered NH$ sb4 sp+$ loss and the loss of added C increased with increasing C addition, indicating that N immobilization may be the cause of the decrease in NH$ sb3$ due to paper product additions. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Ammonia (NH$ sb3$) volatilization from manure can represent a major process through which nitrogen (N) is lost from the soil-plant-animal system. Reductions in NH$ sb3$ volatilization have significance both in economic and ecological aspects. Calcium lignosulphonate (CaLS), an acidic, water-soluble organic waste product of the pulp and paper industry, is expected to reduce NH$ sb3$ volatilization from liquid hog (Sus scrofa dometicus) manure (LHM) and consequently increase fertilizer value of LHM. Reduction of NH$ sb3$ loss from LHM was studied using added CaLS at 0, 6% 12% and 18% CaLS (based on fresh LHM weight) during 21 d incubation. Cumulative losses of NH$ sb3$-N ranged between 0 to 46% of initial total N. Compared to untreated LHM, the 6% CaLS treatment control N loss for 7 d and promoted N loss thereafter, while 12% and 18% CaLS treatments effectively reduced N losses throughout the 21 d incubation period. The N availability and the effect of CaLS-LHM mixtures on ryegrass (Lolium multiform Lamb.) growth were assessed on two soils mapped as St. Amable (sandy loam) and Ste. Rosalie (clay loam) from eastern Canada. Calcium lignosulphonate showed adverse effect on ryegrass plant growth, while as an amendment it did not reduce the effectiveness of LHM-N for ryegrass dry matter yield (DMY) and chemical composition at application rate up to 12% of LHM for the sandy loam soil and 18% of LHM for the clay loam soil. These findings suggested that CaLS may be used as an amendment for controlling N losses from animal manures.

No description available.

The overall objective of this dissertation work was to optimize the performance of biotrickling filters in reducing emissions of odour and harmful substances from swine facilities. The parameters and operating conditions that have significant impact on the treatment process were identified through a modelling study. Key odour components were selected to serve as model pollutants, which were identified from linear relationships between the logarithm of odour emission and the logarithm of pollutant emission/odour intensity and from odour indices. The potential model pollutants identified were ammonia, dimethyl sulphide, and p-cresol. Different sets of shake-flask experiments were conducted to assess different inocula, to determine the optimum pH, and to estimate the biokinetic parameters for the biodegradation of ammonia and p-cresol. Among the three inocula evaluated, the complex inoculum taken from an existing biotrickling filter showed the best performance in terms of p-cresol and ammonium reduction. The results also showed that the highest p-cresol uptake and reduction rates and NO3- production rate were at pH 7. Moreover, it was found that the biodegradation of p-cresol was better described by the Monod equation (R2 = 0.96) with estimated values of 0.10 h-1 for µm and 103.4 mg L-1 for Ks. The biodegradation of ammonia, on the other hand, was better described by the Haldane equation (R2 = 0.72) with estimated values of 0.17 h-1 for µm, 11.9 mg L-1 for Ks, and 617.9 mg L-1 for Ki. Mass balance equations were formulated to describe the processes occurring in the gas, liquid, and biofilm phases of the treatment system. The differential equations were solved using the finite difference numerical analysis method. A one-at-a-time sensitivity analysis was conducted to identify parameters that have significant impact on ammonia removal. Calibration and validation results showed good agreement between predicted and measured values; based on the fractional bias (FB) results, the normalized model’s prediction errors were within ±1 to 7%. After model calibration and validation, a simulation study was conducted using the model to evaluate the impacts of selected process and design parameters for a biotrickling filter system.

Typescript (photocopy) / xxiv, 254 leaves, [71] leaves of plates : ill. ; 30 cm / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Agricultural Biochemistry, 1982

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2000. / Adviser: Mary Jane Shultz. Submitted to the Dept. of Chemistry. Includes bibliographical references. Access restricted to members of the Tufts University community. Also available via the World Wide Web;

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Tulsa, 1976. / Bibliography: leaves 96-98.