Patent ID: 7326348
Filing Date: 2008-02-05
Classification: B01J,C02F

Abstract:
1. A method for removing ammonia from an aqueous medium comprising: providing an aqueous medium having a first level of ammonia; passing the aqueous medium through one or more housing members containing an amount of zeolite in an up-flow configuration at a flow-rate sufficient to fluidize the zeolite; migrating the zeolite in a counter-current configuration to the passing of the aqueous medium causing contact between the zeolite and the aqueous medium for a period of time sufficient to decrease the concentration of the ammonia in the aqueous medium to a second level and releasing the aqueous medium having a second level of ammonia from the media separating the zeolite having ammonia absorbed thereto from the aqueous medium having a second level of ammonia; treating the zeolite with a brine solution for a period of time sufficient to remove ammonia from the zeolite, thereby creating a pregnant brine; stripping the ammonia from the pregnant brine by treating the pregnant brine with an amount of lime sufficient to raise the pH of the pregnant brine to approximately 10-11 and causing contact between the pregnant brine and air to release a mixture of air and ammonia gas; washing the ammonia gas with sulfuric acid to release an ammonium sulfate solution; mixing the ammonium sulfate with lime to produce an ammonium hydroxide solution; and contacting the ammonium hydroxide solution with air to release of a mixture of air and ammonia gas.