Removal of Ammonium Ions from the Production Wastewater of Mineral Fluorine-Containing Salts

Abstract

When producing ammonium fluoric salts, NH+4 ions, the concentration of which can vary in a broad range, enter the acidic wastewater. The peculiarity of wastewater that is formed at enterprises for production of ammonium fluoric salts is its inconstant composition dependent on the assortment of fabricated products, which should be taken into account when developing the technical solutions for their local purification. We present the results of investigations into the reagent and sorption removal of ammonium ions from the acidic production wastewater of fluoric salts. The possibility is established to purify the wastewater by a reagent oxidizing method using the sodium hypochlorite solution as the oxidizer; and the optimal reagent ratio, contact time, and reaction conditions are determined. The removal of ammonium ions from the wastewater applying the natural sorption material—clinoptilolyte of the Kholinskoe deposit—is investigated. Process conditions with the use of the mentioned sorbent are determined and the results on applying regenerating solutions are presented. The flowchart of the two-stage removal of ammonium ions from the industrial wastewater including the preliminary purification with oxidizer and deep additional purification using the natural sorbent is presented.