Zeolite-anammox (ZE-AN) is the ammonia removal process of the future. It has the lowest unit costs for construction, operation, and maintenance. It works at any scale; and it reduces energy usage. It is self-regulating and simple to run. It slashes construction costs; requires only one tank or pond. It combines advantages of zeolite and anammox to immobilize ammonium and convert it directly to nitrogen gas.

1. ST CLOUDS 081516
ZEOLITE-ANAMMOX
PROCESS
Robert Collison PhD PE
rob.collison@ymail.com
707 452 1088
Zeolite-anammox.com

2. INTRODUCTION
What is zeolite-anammox?
• Zeolite-anammox (ZE-AN) is the ammonia removal
process of the future.
• It has the lowest unit costs for construction, operation,
and maintenance.
• It works at any scale; and it reduces energy usage.
• It is self-regulating and simple to run.
• It slashes construction costs; requires only one tank or
pond.
• It combines advantages of zeolite and anammox to
immobilize ammonium and convert it directly to nitrogen
gas.

3. OLD DIGESTER TANK
• Disused tank suitable for zeolite-anammox

4. HOW DOES ZE-AN WORK?
• IMMOBILIZATION - The zeolite-anammox process
uses zeolite to immobilize ammonium by Cation
exchange (CEC).
• COLONIZATION - Bacteria find ammonium-coated
zeolite very attractive, and colonize it.
• REGENERATION - The bacteria eat the NH4 and
regenerate the zeolite in-situ (it never becomes saturated).
• SINGLE STAGE - It is a single stage process converting
NH4 to N2.

5. ANAMMOX
• Anammox derive their energy from eating NH4. They
combine NH4 with nitrite (NO2) to form nitrogen gas:
NH4 + NO2 = N2 + 2H2O.
• The NH4 is provided in the influent.
• The NO2 is from the first stage of nitrification
(NH4→NO2 → NO3).
• Note: anammox are capable of dissimilatory reduction of
nitrate to nitrite (DNRA).

6. ZEOLITE - 40’ thick seam

7. TRADITIONAL N-REMOVAL
• Traditional nitrogen removal is nitrification-
denitrification.
• Nitrification oxidizes ammonia to nitrate (via nitrite).
• De-nitrification reduces nitrate to nitrogen gas (requires
4 units of BOD for each unit of nitrate).
• Nitri/Deni are tried and tested systems – but expensive:
two sets of infrastructure; high energy usage; intensive
monitoring.

8. ADVANTAGES OF ZE-AN OVER
NITRI-DENI
• HALF – needs half the infrastructure.
• HALF – uses half the air.
• HALF – releases half the greenhouse gas.
• FOOD - does not require BOD / methanol.
• EASY – simple to operate.
• SELF – self-regulating.
• LOW – low O&M costs.

9. ORO LOMA – 20,000 gallon tank
treating 10,000 gpd NH4 side-stream

10. REVISED NITROGEN CYCLE
Anammox removes LHS of N-cycle

11. ADVANTAGES OVER
OTHER ANAMMOX SYSTEMS
• LESS COMPLICATED.
Less complicated because it is a fixed film reactor
designed to be self-sustaining.
• LESS EXPENSIVE CONSTRUCTION.
Can use tanks; existing infrastructure; earth berms;
ponds – or any container filled with zeolite and
water..
• LESS EXPENSIVE TO RUN.
Reduced O & M costs; self-regulating; minimal
monitoring and maintenance.

12. PARAMETERS
INFLUENT CONCENTRATION
Zeolite-anammox treats ammonia from all of the following:
• High strength NH3 sidestreams (500 to 3000mg/L NH4-N).
• Low strength mainstream sewage (30 to 50 mg/L NH4-N).
• Very low strength water re-cycling (1 to 10mg/L NH4-N).
AERATION
Options - systems can be aerated, or non-aerated:
• Aerated – high efficiency; low volume; needs energy.
• Non-aerated – no energy needed; needs more space.

13. PILOT PLANT IN 50’ semi-trailer
(under construction)

14. ZEOLITE-ANAMMOX
PERFORMANCE TABLE
Side-stream; mainstream; water re-use.
INFLUENT CONC. TEMP REMOVAL REMOVAL EFFLUENT
SOURCE
(mg/L
NH4) °(F) (gNH4/m^3) (lbs/1000cf)
(mg/L
NH4)
Side-stream 1600 90 500 31 100
Side-stream 500 89 350 22 100
Mainstream 40 59-68 100 6 3
Re-use 5 to 10 40-60 10 to 25 0.6 to 1.5 0.1

15. SIDESTREAM
• Influent: Centrate or filtrate from anaerobic digesters.
• Ammonia influent concentration: 500 to 3000 mg/L.
• Effluent targets: NH4 100 mg/L; NO3 100mg/L.
• Temperature: Generally 90°F or 32°C.
• Detention/contact time: 6-12 hours.
• Centrate/filtrate is significant proportion of WWTP’s
ammonia; easy to remove with anammox; “low hanging
fruit”.

16. MAINSTREAM
• Influent: Secondary effluent from Municipal Waste Water
Treatment Plants.
• Ammonia influent concentration: 25 to 40 mg/L.
• Effluent targets: NH4 3 mg/L; NO3 3-10mg/L.
• Temperature: Ambient (varies between 55 and 70°F).
• Detention/contact time: 5 hours.
• Typically removes 98% of ammonia.
• Much cheaper than nitrification/denitrification.

17. MAINSTREAM PILOT PLANT
2012-13 (system removes spikes
and surges of ammonia)
-10.0
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
100.0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
5-Nov
11-Dec
14-Jan
12-Mar
16-Apr
21-May
1-Jul
6-Aug
29-Aug
13-Sep
7-Oct
30-Oct
•Y-axis = Ammonia as mg/L NH4
•X-axis = Distance flowed (feet) or time
•RHS = Sample dates: Nov 2012 to Oct 2013

18. WATER RECYCLING
• Influent: Partially treated sewage (Final Sanitation
Effluent) or grey water.
• Ammonia influent concentration: 10 to 30 mg/L.
• Effluent targets: NH4 1 mg/L; NO3 3mg/L.
• Temperature: Ambient (varies between 40 and 70°F).
• Detention/contact time: 5 hours.
• Cost effective and “green”.
• Easy to adjust targets: e.g. NH4 0.1mg/L.

19. ONSITE & SEPTIC
• Influent: Septic tank liquor.
• Ammonia influent concentration: 70 to 120 mg/L.
• Effluent targets: NH4 10 mg/L; NO3 10mg/L.
• Temperature: Generally 40-70°F.
• Detention/contact time: 5 hours; 20 hours non-aerated..
• Septic tanks are used in 25% of US households – and
cause significant pollution by nitrogen species (NH4 &
NO3).

20. SIDE-STREAM PILOT 2013 (system
removes 80% of ammonia & nitrate)
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
N(mg/L)
Time (weeks)
ORO LOMA SIDESTREAM PILOT 2TFS
NH4
NO3
INF.

21. CONCLUSIONS
• Ze-an is the easiest sidestream treatment process.
• Ze-an is the only anammox system for mainstream
treatment.
• Ze-an is the only anammox system for water re-use.
KEY POINTS
• Flexibility – treats all concentrations; wide temperature
range.
• Simplicity – largely self regulating; easy to run and
maintain.
• Cost – construction, monitoring/maintenance costs,
energy use, all significantly lower.