Recovery of ammonia from wastewater by liquid-liquid membrane contactor: A review

Abstract

Liquid-liquid membrane contactor (LLMC), a device that exchanges dissolved gas molecules between the two sides of a hydrophobic membrane through membrane pores, can be employed to extract ammoniacal nitrogen from a feed solution, which is transported across the membrane and accumulated in a stripping solution. This LLMC process offers the promise of improving the sustainability of the global nitrogen cycle by cost-effectively recovering ammonia from wastewater. Despite recent technological advances in LLMC processes, a comprehensive review of their feasibility for ammonia recovery is rarely found in the literature. Our paper aims to close this knowledge gap, and in addition to analyze the challenges and provide potential solutions for improvement. We begin with discussions on the operational principles of the LLMC process for ammonia recovery and membrane types and membrane configurations commonly used in the process. We then assess the performance of the process by reviewing publications that demonstrate its practical application. Challenges involved in the implementation of the LLMC process, such as membrane fouling, membrane wetting, and chemical requirements, are presented, along with discussions on potential strategies to address each. These strategies, including membrane modification, hybrid process design, and process optimization based on cost-benefit analysis, guide the reader to identify key areas of future research and development.