Current status: project finished

Last updated: 16 may 2022

On this page, you’ll find more information on the pilot installation that has been developed as part of the N.E.W.B.I.E.S. project.

Along with the most notable (physical) characteristics of the installation, up-to-date Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the installation as they result from operation on different waste waters will be presented.

Design principles

• Removal and recovery of 1 kg N / day from selected waste waters
• At a electrical energy expense of less than 2.75kWh per kg N recovered
• automated cleaning-in-place procedures to minimize waste pre-treatment requirements
• future upgradeability – omit use of external stripping acid

Specifics per test site

Phase 1: Reject water from digestate sludge centrifuge

Location: Municipal Waste Water Treatment Facility “Trargisa”, Girona, Spain

Period of pilot operation: October 2019 – July 2020

Achieved KPIs:

• Ammonium Sulfate Concentration in the product: up to 150 g / L
• Coulombic Efficiency towards recovered NH4: 20-30%
• %Removal efficiency: 60 % max
• Energy demand per g N recovered: 10-20 kWh / kg N

Site/waste-specific remarks: Excessive CIP required due to too high Ca : N ratio

Phase 2: Human urine (source separated, hydrolyzed)

Location: Eco-community Arneco, Arnhem, The Netherlands

Period of pilot operation: July 2020 – February 2021

Achieved KPIs:

• Ammonium Sulfate Concentration in the product: up to 250 g / L
• Coulombic Efficiency towards recovered NH4: 30-40%
• Removal efficiency: up to 80%
• Energy demand per g N recovered: 6-12 kWh / kg N

Site/waste-specific remarks: N concentration in hydrolyzed urine was somewhat lower than expected due to flushing water dilution (1 g N / L instead of 3-4 g / L anticipated)

Phase 3: Landfill leachate

Location: Evides operated Landfill site, Nieuwdorp, The Netherlands

Period of pilot operation: March  – September 2021

Achieved KPIs:

• Ammonium Sulfate Concentration in the product: approx. 200 g /L
• Coulombic Efficiency towards recovered NH4: 13%
• Removal efficiency: 30%
• Energy demand per g N recovered: 28 kWh / kg N

Site/waste-specific remarks: due to high sodium content of the wastewater, a substantial part of energy was directed towards sodium transport and not to recovery of ammonia. This wastewater was therefore not deemed compatible with the developed technology.