Abstract
In this work the feasibility of an ion exchanger loop stripping plant (ILS) for the recovery of nitrogen from digestate is investigated. The ILS process is intended to serve as an extension of a biogas plant to recover ammonium from the digestate and converted it into a marketable product. In the course of the profitability analysis, all essential units for the plant are designed and operating parameters are determined. The calculation of operating and investment costs is based on current market research. Based on the results of the feasibility study, the most important economic performance indicators for different regeneration, product and size scenarios are presented and discussed. The provision of Na+ ions for zeolite regeneration by appropriate regeneration media (e.g. NaOH) was found to be the major cost factor in any of the considered case scenarios. Together with NaOH, additionally required chemicals for plant operation (e.g sulphuric acid) represent the major share of the total operating costs whilst the amortisation of investment costs has very little impact on the plant profitability. Based on the design model developed in the present study, potential scenarios for an economic operation of ILS plants were determined to enable the economic recovery of nitrogen from biogas plants in the future.
Translated title of the contribution | Feasibility analysis of an ion exchanger loop stripping plant for nitrogen recovery at a biogas plant |
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Original language | German |
Qualification | Dipl.-Ing. |
Awarding Institution |
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Supervisors/Advisors |
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Award date | 28 Jun 2019 |
Publication status | Published - 2019 |
Bibliographical note
embargoed until 07-06-2024Keywords
- digestate
- nitrogen recovery
- natural zeolite