IP Library › Granted Patent US 12697583
Granted Patent B2
US 12697583 · App. 17/111,150 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Method and device for removing ammonia from exhaust air from a livestock stable

Inventor: Bonno Koers (Doesburg, NL)
B01D53/85B01D53/1425B01D53/1493B01D53/58B01D53/73C02F3/305B01D2251/95B01D2252/103B01D2257/406B01D2258/0266
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12697583
App. No.
17/111,150
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a method for complete or near complete removing ammonia from exhaust air from a livestock stable. Moreover, the method allows for full nitrification to nitrate, thus obviating the problem of toxic nitrite in the waste water after scrubbing the exhaust air.

Claims (20)

1 . A method for removing ammonia from exhaust air from a livestock stable, comprising passing said exhaust air and an aqueous liquid in a co-current manner through a device having multiple zones, which method comprises:

i) passing said air and said aqueous liquid through a first zone of said device in which ammonia contained in said air is dissolved in the aqueous liquid while maintaining the pH in said first zone between 3.5 and 6.5 to allow conversion of ammonia to ammonium in said aqueous liquid;

ii) passing said air and aqueous liquid containing dissolved ammonium from said first zone to a second zone of said device, wherein the second zone contains microorganisms capable to convert ammonium into nitrite, while maintaining the pH in said second zone between 2 and 8 to allow said microorganisms to convert ammonium to nitrite in said aqueous liquid;

iii) passing said air and aqueous liquid containing dissolved nitrite from said second zone to a third zone of said device, in which the third zone the pH is maintained below 2 to convert nitrite to nitrate in said aqueous liquid,

iv) discharging said air and aqueous liquid containing dissolved nitrate from said third zone.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the first zone the pH is maintained between 4 and 5.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the second zone the pH is maintained between 3 and 8.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the third zone the pH is maintained at 1 or lower.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the aqueous liquid from the second zone is recycled to the first zone.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the aqueous liquid from the third zone is recycled to the first and/or second zone.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein additional aqueous liquid is supplied between the first and second zone and/or between the second and third zone.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein following step iv) said aqueous liquid containing dissolved nitrate is subjected to denitrification.

9 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein in the second zone the pH is maintained between 3 and 8.

10 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein in the third zone the pH is maintained at 1 or lower.

11 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the aqueous liquid from the second zone is recycled to the first zone.

12 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the aqueous liquid from the third zone is recycled to the first and/or second zone.

13 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein additional aqueous liquid is supplied between the first and second zone and/or between the second and third zone.

14 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein following step iv) said aqueous liquid containing dissolved nitrate is subjected to denitrification.

15 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the third zone the pH is maintained between 0.5 and 1.

16 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein in the third zone the pH is maintained between 0.5 and 1.