Ammonia removal from giant fresh water prawn farm by using zeolite from oil palm ash

Expert Centre of Innovative Clean Energy and Environment, Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR) 35Mu 3, Technopolis, Khlong 5, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.

^* Corresponding author: rewadee_a@tistr.or.th

Abstract

The Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) and Mesocarp fiber ash (FB) was obtained from the boiler at NAM HONG Palm Oil Company Limited, Thailand. The optimum condition was used in Na-A zeolite synthesis from oil palm ash. The obtain produce was Na₁₂Al₁₂Si₁₂O₄₈· 27H₂O. The sample was dried in hot air oven. The calcium exchange capacity (CEC) of 386.39 mg CaCO₃/g of product, and the 86.05% of pure Na-A zeolite phase was formed. In batch experimental study, the synthetic wastewater was prepared. In order to find out the optimal zeolite dosage was added into 10 mg/L of total ammonium nitrogen solution. The results of unionized ammonia (NH₃) removal efficiency indicated that zeolite A standard and zeolite from oil palm ash are better than commercial zeolite. The optimum dosage of 0.2, 0.25 and 0.2 g of zeolite A standard, zeolite from oil palm ash and commercial zeolite, respectively. The NH₃ removal capacity from giant freshwater prawn farm, zeolite A standard is better than zeolite from oil palm ash and commercial zeolite, respectively. In the large volume of synthetic wastewater (1000 mL), the zeolite from oil palm ash is the best ammonia removal capacity when compared with zeolite A standard and commercial zeolite.