Results of experimental studies of the effect of electric fields on the ammonium content in livestock wastewater

When applying livestock wastewater to agricultural fields, it is necessary to reduce its ammonium content. In order to develop more effective methods of wastewater treatment, the authors studied the effect of electric field on the change in the concentration of ammonium nitrogen compounds in aqueous solutions (the electrolyte). Experimental studies were carried out on the developed installation using the principle of electrolysis. Distilled water with added ammonium nitrate was used to simulate the ammonium content in the electrolyte. The 500 ml electrolyte was placed between the electrodes and treated with direct current for 1, 3, 4, and 9 min. The studies were carried out at the NH4⁺ concentration in the electrolyte of 60, 90 and 300 mg/liter. When the experiment was completed, the authors determined the concentration of nitrogen compounds and the hydrogen pH of the electrolyte. It was found that the exposure of NH₄⁺ aqueous solution to the electric field leads to a decrease in the concentration of ammonium nitrogen compounds and a change in the pH of the electrolyte from the acidic to alkaline reaction. No ammonium compounds were detected in the solution after a 9-minute treatment of the electrolyte with the NH₄⁺ concentration of 60 and 90 mg/liter. Treatment of the solution with the NH₄⁺ concentration of 300 mg/l for 1 min led to a decrease in the ammonium concentration to 75 mg/l. This fact indicates the viability of this method of treatment and the development of an industrial sample of technical means to treat livestock wastewater. Reducing the ammonium nitrogen concentration will decrease the ecological load on soil, ground and surface waters, and improve the quality of crops grown on the farmland, supplied with wastewater from livestock facilities. Changing the pH of electrolyte from the acid to alkaline reaction will have a positive effect on the acidic soils of the Central Non-Chernozem (Black Soil) Zone of the Russian Federation.

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