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

本次PFI：空气技术翻译项目致力于翻译一种新的废水处理技术，以填补废水氮处理技术空白。转换后的技术具有以下独特功能：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，以及加强能源回收，这为保护水道免受氮污染提供了示范机会，同时减少了能源消耗，减少了处置的剩余固体，并与该市场领域领先的竞争技术(传统硝化和反硝化)相比，提高了能源回收。该项目通过短路传统的脱氮工艺，将废氨转化为一氧化二氮，并使用一氧化二氮氧化沼气进行能源回收，从而实现了旧金山湾区主要污水处理设施在有机物厌氧消化过程中产生的富氮废水的现场概念验证。该合作伙伴关系涉及东湾市政公用事业区(加利福尼亚州奥克兰)、南湾区系统管理局(加利福尼亚州雷德伍德市)和Delta Diablo卫生区(加利福尼亚州安提奥赫)，以在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扩大，因为这些方面与将技术转化为可能导致竞争性商业现实的道路有关。采用转换后的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，这将在3至5年内提高美国在废水处理方面的竞争力。从长远来看，社会影响将是开发一种具有成本效益的技术来去除废水中的氮，防止水道肥化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一氧化二氮转化为一种新的可再生能源。

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.