AIR Option 2: Research Alliance Nitrogen Removal with Energy Recovery Through N2O Decomposition

这个PFI: AIR技术翻译项目的重点是翻译一种新的废水处理技术，以填补废水氮处理技术的空白。转化后的技术具有以下独特的特点：将氨转化为一氧化二氮，使用一氧化二氮氧化沼气中的甲烷，以及提高能量回收，与市场上领先的竞争技术（传统的硝化和反硝化）相比，在减少能源使用的同时，为保护水道免受氮污染提供了示范机会，减少了需要处理的残余固体，并提高了能量回收率。该项目通过缩短传统的脱氮过程，将废铵转化为一氧化二氮，并使用一氧化二氮氧化沼气进行能量回收，从而实现了这一目标，在旧金山湾区领先的污水处理厂厌氧消化有机物过程中产生的富氮废水进行了现场概念验证。该合作伙伴关系涉及东湾市政公用事业区（奥克兰，加州）、南湾系统管理局（红木城，加利福尼亚州）和德尔塔迪亚布罗卫生区（安提阿，加利福尼亚州），为废水处理部门和其他方面提供指导：融资、商业化、现有基础设施的改造和规模扩大，因为它们涉及到将技术转化为可能导致竞争的商业现实的潜力。采用转化技术的处理厂预计每年可节省30万至50万美元的运营成本，这将有助于在3至5年内提高美国在废水处理方面的竞争力。长期的社会影响将是开发一种具有成本效益的技术，用于去除废水中的氮，防止水道施肥和形成破坏性缺氧死区的可能性，同时还为能源回收创造机会，将有害温室气体中的氧化亚氮转化为可再生能源的新来源。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translation of a new wastewater treatment technology to fill the wastewater nitrogen treatment technology gap. The translated technology has the following unique features: conversion of ammonia to nitrous oxide, use of nitrous oxide to oxidize methane in biogas, and enhanced recovery of energy that provides exemplary opportunities for protection of waterways from nitrogen pollution while decreasing energy usage, decreasing residual solids for disposal, and increasing energy recovery compared to the leading competing technology (conventional nitrification and denitrification) in this market space. The project accomplishes this goal by short-circuiting the conventional nitrogen removal process, converting waste ammonium to nitrous oxide and using nitrous oxide to oxidize biogas for energy recovery resulting in on-site proof-of-concept with nitrogen-rich wastewater generated during the anaerobic digestion of organic matter at leading wastewater utilities in the San Francisco Bay area. The partnership engages East Bay Municipal Utility District (Oakland, CA), South Bayside System Authority (Redwood City, CA), and Delta Diablo Sanitation District (Antioch, CA) to provide guidance in the wastewater treatment sector and other aspects: financing, commercialization, adaptation of existing infrastructure, and scale-up, as they pertain to the potential to translate the technology along a path that may result in a competitive commercial reality. The expected economic impact is $300k to $500k in annual operational savings at treatment plants that adopt the translated technology, which will contribute to the U.S. competitiveness in wastewater treatment within 3 to 5 years. The societal impact, long term, will be the development of a cost-effective technology for removal of nitrogen from wastewater, preventing fertilization of waterways and potential for formation of destructive anoxic dead zones while also creating opportunities for energy recovery, converting nitrous oxide from harmful greenhouse gas to a new source of renewable energy.