Monitoring Ammonia and Nitrogenous Greenhouse Gases in Agriculture and Wastewater

There are a range of gases that contribute to climate change apart from carbon dioxide (CO2). Nitrous oxide (N2O) is one of particular concern as it contributes about 300x the global warming potential of CO2. N2O is emitted naturally by the global nitrogen cycle, particularly when bacteria convert nitrate (NO3-) to N2 gas during the denitrification process.

Human activity impacts on the N-cycle when we add more N to ecological and engineered systems as fertiliser, organic matter or wastewater. Denitrification can be promoted in wastewater treatment plans or wetlands to remove N from effluents, or else it can happen at enhanced rates in the environment when nutrient rich runoff is exposed to reducing conditions. These process and soil emissions mean that the wastewater treatment, agricultural and waste management sectors are becoming concerned about the contribution they make towards the plans for Net Zero emissions.

Monitoring these emissions usually involves either extrapolating from dissolved phase, bulky kiosk or hand held devices or diffusion tubes giving time average concentrations. This proposal intends to build miniaturised, low cost sensors, which can be deployed as a network to assess emissions at site boundaries or for more intensive monitoring of single processes. This will involve B4T developing the sensor platform that will be tested at the University of Portsmouth Environmental Technology Field Station at an operational wastewater treatment works.

This will involve monitor existing unit processes and also controlled release experiments to see MCERTS accreditation. This will be disseminated to the water and waste sectors at industry facing conferences and other events. This will significantly enhance the capabilities for intensive monitoring of gaseous N species and for the development of strategies to reduce emissions.

1) Miniaturised low cost developed by the technical experts at B4T in collaboration with the UoP who will undertake consultations with the sectors who will use the technology to ensure the utility of the product for the planned applications.

2) Test the sensor in the field at the UoP Environmental Technology Field Station (ETFS) and at various other operational wastewater treatment plants. This will involve developing the protocols for applying the sensors in a site boundary and more detailed internal investigation modes.

3) Seek MCERT accreditation - the sensors will be tested with standards and controlled release experiments.

4) Disseminate and introduce to market via industry focussed conference and during a demonstration workshop at the ETFS.

There are a range of gases that contribute to climate change apart from carbon dioxide (CO2). Nitrous oxide (N2O) is one of particular concern as it contributes about 300x the global warming potential of CO2. N2O is emitted naturally by the global nitrogen cycle, particularly when bacteria convert nitrate (NO3-) to N2 gas during the denitrification process.

Human activity impacts on the N-cycle when we add more N to ecological and engineered systems as fertiliser, organic matter or wastewater. Denitrification can be promoted in wastewater treatment plans or wetlands to remove N from effluents, or else it can happen at enhanced rates in the environment when nutrient rich runoff is exposed to reducing conditions. These process and soil emissions mean that the wastewater treatment, agricultural and waste management sectors are becoming concerned about the contribution they make towards the plans for Net Zero emissions.

Monitoring these emissions usually involves either extrapolating from dissolved phase, bulky kiosk or hand held devices or diffusion tubes giving time average concentrations. This proposal intends to build miniaturised, low cost sensors, which can be deployed as a network to assess emissions at site boundaries or for more intensive monitoring of single processes. This will involve B4T developing the sensor platform that will be tested at the University of Portsmouth Environmental Technology Field Station at an operational wastewater treatment works.

This will involve monitor existing unit processes and also controlled release experiments to see MCERTS accreditation. This will be disseminated to the water and waste sectors at industry facing conferences and other events. This will significantly enhance the capabilities for intensive monitoring of gaseous N species and for the development of strategies to reduce emissions.

1) Miniaturised low cost developed by the technical experts at B4T in collaboration with the UoP who will undertake consultations with the sectors who will use the technology to ensure the utility of the product for the planned applications.

2) Test the sensor in the field at the UoP Environmental Technology Field Station (ETFS) and at various other operational wastewater treatment plants. This will involve developing the protocols for applying the sensors in a site boundary and more detailed internal investigation modes.

3) Seek MCERT accreditation - the sensors will be tested with standards and controlled release experiments.

4) Disseminate and introduce to market via industry focussed conference and during a demonstration workshop at the ETFS.