Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The role of air bubbles in the desorption of ammonia from landfill leachates in high pH aerated lagoon

  • Published:
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Desorption of NH3 from wastewater in a laboratory scale aerated lagoon was investigated. Landfill leachate of around 575 mg L−1 NH3-N was used as the wastewater. The pH was raised to above 11.0 to achieve almost 100 conversion of NH+ 4 to NH3. The study quantifies the percentage NH3 desorbed at the free liquid surface and that desorbed into the air bubbles. Theoretical calculations and practical observations showed that between 15 to 38% of the total NH3 that was lost could be accounted for by desorption into the air bubbles. The rest of the NH3 desorption was at the upper liquid surfaces. The main role of the air bubbles is to create surface turbulence; NH3 desorption into the bubbles is of secondary importance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arab, F. K.: 1985, ‘A Study of Desorption of NH3 from Landfill Leachates’, Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. of Strathclyde.

  • Bayley, R. W.: 1967, Eff. Water Treat. J. 7, 78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, J. F. and Smith P. G.: 1985, Landfill Technology, Butterworths.

  • Idelovitch, E. and Michail, M.: 1985, J. Water Pollut. Control Fed. 53, 1391.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kavanaugh, M. C. and Trussell, R. R.: 1980, J. Am. Water Wks. Ass. 72, 684.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lalezary, S., Pirbazari, M., McGuire, M. J., and Krasner, S. W.: 1984, J. Am. Water Wks. Ass. 76, 83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munz, C. and Roberts, P. V.: 1983, Proc. Am. Water Wks. Ass. Ann. Conf. 172, 35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schpirt, E.: 1981, Water Res. 15, 739.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, P. G.: 1984, Public Health Eng. 12, 159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srinath, E. G. and Loehr, R. C.: 1974, J. Water Pollut. Control Fed. 46, 1939.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Colville Building, 48N, Portland Street, GI IXN, Glasgow, UK

    Paul. G. Smith & Faxz. K. Arab

Authors
  1. Paul. G. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Faxz. K. Arab
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Smith, P.G., Arab, F.K. The role of air bubbles in the desorption of ammonia from landfill leachates in high pH aerated lagoon. Water Air Soil Pollut 38, 333–343 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00280764

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00280764

Keywords

Search

Navigation