PRESSURE DROP MEASUREMENT IN AIR STRIPPING SYSTEM FOR AMMONIA REMOVAL

It is usually desirable to have low ammonia concentration in the final effluent streams of the treatment processes due to its harmful toxicity even in the low concentration level. Owing to the worldwide emphasis on the eutrophication problem, especially in lakes and recreation areas, the discharge of ammonia-containing water to aquifers is a major concern. In the present investigation, an aqueous solution of ammonia is used to simulate the waste stream. This solution was then stripped in a packed column using two different types of packing. Air was blown counter currently through the stripping column. Pressure drop measurements at various air and liquid rates for this system are carried out. It is found that Ergun equation is suitable for fitting the data. The shape factor is proportional to liquid rate and approaches unity at high rates.