Experimental Simulation Setup for Reducing the Concentration of Nitrogen Compounds in Livestock Farm Effluents

Abstract

Evgrafov Alexey Vladimirovich, Didmanidze Otari Nazirovich, Filimonov Dmitry Alexandrovich, Guzalov Artyombek Sergeevich, Pulyaev Nikolay Nikolayevich and Kurilenko Alexey Viktorovich

In order to reduce the concentration of ammonium in wastewater from livestock farms, the main pollutant for its subsequent application to agricultural fields, a laboratory flow-through electrolysis unit was developed and tested. The experimental setup involved the use of an analog of livestock wastewater, which was constituted by an aqueous solution, designated as the electrolyte. This electrolyte comprised distilled water with the incorporation of ammonium nitrate, at a concentration of 300 mg per liter of NH4 . The objective of the experiment was to study the effect of an electric field on the change of ammonium concentration in the aqueous solution for demineralization of wastewater from livestock farms. Experimental studies were carried out on the developed dynamic electrolysis unit, during which the effect of electric fields on the moving flow of electrolyte simulating wastewater was studied. The electrolyte was passed through electrodes where it was treated by direct electric current with parameters of 12 V and 5 A. The flow rate was 0.45 l/s, the length of the working part was varied during the research and was 0.5 m, 1 m and 1.53 m, respectively. At the end of the experiment, the concentration of nitrogen compounds and hydrogen pH of the electrolyte were determined. It was found that the effect of electric field on NH4 aqueous solution leads to a decrease in the concentration of ammonium nitrogen compounds, at the working part of 0.5 m to 152 mg/l, 1 m - 114 mg/l and 1.5 m - 76 mg/l and a change in the pH of the electrolyte from acidic reaction 5.54 to alkaline - 8.86. Reducing the concentration of ammonium nitrogen reduces the ecological burden on the soil, ground and surface waters and improves the quality of plant products grown on agricultural land where animal husbandry wastewater is used. Changing the pH of the electrolyte from acid to alkaline reaction will have a positive effect on acid soils of the Central Non-Black Earth Zone of the Russian Federation.

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