Steam Stripping for Recovery of Ammonia from Wastewater Using a High-Gravity Rotating Packed Bed

Steam stripping of ammonia from ammonia-rich wastewater (5000–20,000 mg/L) was conducted in a continuous-flow rotating packed bed (RPB) at a pH of 11. This study aimed to elucidate the influence of key operational parameters, including the steam-to-liquid ratio, rotational speed (ω), initial ammonia concentration, steam inlet temperature (TSi), and liquid inlet temperature (TLi), on critical performance metrics such as the ammonia removal efficiency (ARE), the volumetric liquid mass transfer coefficient (KLa), and the concentration of the recovered ammonia solution (CR). The findings revealed that a CR of 22.88 wt.% was achieved under the optimal conditions of a steam-to-liquid ratio of 0.175 kg/kg, an initial concentration of 20,000 mg/L, a TSi of 120 °C, and a TLi of 70 °C. Key experimental factors, including the initial ammonia concentration, TSi, and TLi, significantly impacted the achievement of higher ARE and CR values. The KLa values exhibited a decrease with the increase in the steam-to-liquid ratio, while they increased with ω. However, the KLa remained relatively consistent with ω values within the range of 600 to 1200 rpm. In comparison with prior studies, steam stripping of ammonia exhibits a higher ARE than air stripping with RPB and a higher CR than conventional stripping methods. Moreover, RPB requires a smaller size to achieve equivalent ARE compared to conventional stripping apparatuses. Thus, the steam stripping process with RPB equipment emerges as a suitable method for ammonia recovery from ammonia-rich wastewater.