Electrodialysis as an Ammonium Reuse Process for Covering the Nitrogen Demand of an Industrial WWTP

Electrodialysis (ED) is a promising membrane technology for nutrient recovery from different water matrices. This study explores its potential for ammonium reuse by concentrating an anaerobic digestion liquor (ADL), produced by two municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) A and B, to meet the nitrogen demand of a neighbouring, nutrient-deficient industrial WWTP C from the Pulp & Paper industry. Two lab-scale concentration stages were conducted: (a) a feed-and-bleed mode and (b) a subsequent concentration stage from the concentrate obtained in the first stage, reaching ADL concentrates with the concentration factors of 8.3 and 12.2 for the first and second stage, respectively. The obtained concentrate from WWTP A, which may be transported via trucks due to its reduced volume, holds the potential to cover approximately a third of the daily nitrogen demand of WWTP C.