Study of removal of ammonia from urine vapor by dual catalyst

The feasibility of ammonia removal from urine vapor by a low temperature dual-catalyst system was investigated. The process is based on the initial catalytic oxidation of ammonia present in urine vapor to nitrogen and nitrous oxide, followed by a catalytic decomposition of the nitrous oxide formed into its elements. The most active catalysts for the oxidation of ammonia and for the decomposition of N2O, identified in screening tests, were then combined into dual catalyst systems and tested to establish their overall efficiencies for the removal of ammonia from artificial gas mixtures. Dual catalyst systems capable of ammonia removal from the artificial gas mixtures were then tested with the actual urine vapor produced by boiling untreated urine. A suitable dual catalyst bed arrangement was found that achieved the removal of ammonia and organic carbon, and recovered water of good quality from urine vapor.