Mineral ammonium ion absorber as a fertilizer. DT conference 2012 Taina Laiho. University of Turku

Transcription

1 Mineral ammonium ion absorber as a fertilizer DT conference 2012 Taina Laiho

2 Background Nano-modified silicate for ammonium absorption (GeoTrap) and fertilization (NGT) o Demand driven by more strict enforcement of EU directives around the Baltic Sea o Tackles the problems with the eutrophication and odor problems due nitrogen Patented technology o Based on research from the

3 KOVDOR Vermiculite Possible to utilize as: temperature insulator growth substrate, packing material, waste water treatment... Vermiculite reserves Currently the major mines are located in South Africa, China, Brazil, Zimbabwe, and the United States. (Mg,Fe,Al) 3 (Al,Si) 4 O 10 (OH) 2 4H 2 O Vermiculite is a sheet aluminosilicate of the hydromica group. It is soft and its structure contains water.

4 Nano-vermiculite (GeoTrap) Area of interest Water and some ions leave structure as a result of controlled heating.

5 Ammonium absorption + Works with gases + Surface adsorption The decrease of the amount of nitrogen in ammonium acetate solution when GeoTrap is added to the same solution.

6 Application possibilities Biogas Plants Landfill sites Agriculture Wastewater treatment plants Others o Dry toilets

7 heat, electricity and biogas Biogas plants industrial waste agricultural waste municipal waste homogenisation Vambio biogas plant hydrolysis hygienisation, 70 C, 60 min biogas production, C, >21 days degassing stabilisation reject water sludge dewatering +GeoTrap fertilizer fertilizer fertilizer

8 NH 4 + mg/l Biogas plants reject water initially reject water after GeoTrap treatment With GeoTrap treatment initial amount of ammonium nitrogen in the reject water diminishes from 2100 mg/l to 410 mg/l.

9 After ammonium absorption Material has been used as a fertilizer for: pine, spruce, wheat, rye-grass, chinese cabbage, geranium and begonia

10 Plant production Four different mixtures were used. Peat was mixed with clean GeoTrap (GT) or with GeoTrap that has been treated with reject water of biogas plant (NGT). Amount of GT or NGT in mixture was 1/3 or 2/3. One group of plants was fertilized with Hoagland s nutrient solution (+H) and one group was fertilized with Hoagland s solution without nitrogen (-H). 2/3 GT -H 2/3 NGT -H 2/3 GT +H 2/3 NGT +H 1/3 GT -H 1/3 NGT -H 1/3 GT +H 1/3 NGT +H

11 Plant production General view of seedlings after one month from sowing. Substrate depending size difference of plants is clearly visible.

12 Shoot fresh mass after the growth period. Substrates contain GeoTrap with no added nitrogen (1/3 GT and 2/3 GT) or GeoTrap loaded with nitrogen from the reject water of a biogas plant (1/3 NGT and 2/3 NGT). All plants have got Hoaglands solution for nutrition. Some plants got it without nitrogen (-H) and some with nitrogen (+H).

13 Conclusions Vermiculite based filtering sand was used at the biogas plant and so formed material was used as a fertilizer for chinese cabbage. Material increased the growth of plants. More research on this topic needs to be done in order to better understand processes at the GT and NGT substrates.

14 Now going on.. Growth experiments with geronium and begonium.

15 Thank you