Influence of pH on the performance of anaerobic piggery wastewater treatment coupled with membrane-based NH3 extraction

The influence of the pH of piggery wastewater (PWW) on both ammonia recovery and anaerobic digestion performance during PWW treatment was evaluated in a continuous stirred tank reactor coupled with a membrane-based extraction module. The anaerobic digester was operated at a hydraulic retention time of 20 days at 37 degrees C, while the flat sheet PTFE membrane module operated continuously at liquid recirculation rates of 250 mL min-1. The membrane module was able to gradually decrease the total ammoniacal concentration from 1.27 & PLUSMN; 0.01 to 0.62 & PLUSMN; 0.01 g L-1 after 360 days of operation. Membrane-based NH3 extraction induced a CH4 yield increase of 1.3-fold. Moreover, COD and VS removal efficiencies increased up to 1.2-fold and 1.5-fold, respectively, along with the increase in PWW pH from 7.5 to 12. Total VFAs removal efficiencies were higher at a PWW pH of 9.

Automated summary

The influence of pH of piggery wastewater on ammonia recovery and anaerobic digestion performance was evaluated. The results showed that using a membrane-based extraction module could effectively decrease ammonia concentration and improve the removal efficiencies of methane, COD, and VS. Moreover, a higher total VFAs removal efficiency was observed at a pH of 9 for the piggery wastewater.