Management of Aqueous

Ammonia Wastewater

Eileen Woodbury
Senior Hazardous Materials Specialist
Monterey County Health Department
Environmental Health Division
 Ammonia Properties
Quick review

Lighter than air

Gas at ambient, liquefied under pressure
Self alarming sight and smell with a pungent odor
Detectable by nose, from 5 to 25 ppm
Highly irritating to eyes, skin, respiratory tract
Affinity to water, mixes readily
Service technicians take advantage of this
property by bubbling vapor into water to work
on a section or component
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 Generation

Generated during routine maintenance or

servicing of an ammonia refrigeration
system. Technicians isolate a
component or section of pipe, and
removes pressure from a section of the
system, i.e. vapor, by directing ammonia
vapor into water. Also generated as an
emergency capture of ammonia vapors
from pressure relief devices to a
diffusion tank. 3

3
Purging Vapors into Water

Done safely, can reduce the

likelihood of employee
exposure and harm,
Reduce likelihood of offsite
consequences, and
Reduce potential exposure to
the public.

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 Improper disposal includes,
dumping, spilling, draining,
washing down, releasing, etc.
and is not allowed.

Therefore, do not release to:

Industrial Wastewater System

Land
Parking lot, street, gutter, etc.
Storm drain system
RELEASE
Unknown floor drain
Landscaping

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 Safe Operating Procedure:
Neutralization
Technician trained in ammonia
safety, awareness, and SOP,
including proper treatment and
disposal
Conducted away from plant
personnel,
public, in secure area
Monitoring equipment: pH
meter, ammonia detector
Donn PPE, gloves, faceshield,
apron
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SOP from former River Ranch foods refrigeration technician.

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Monitoring
Equipment
 Neutralization

Neutralization with
muriatic acid,
about 19% HCL, in
Ammonia/Water
resulted in strong
exothermic
reaction

HCl + NH3 ----> NH4Cl

 Neutralization

Neutralization with
muriatic acid,
about 19% HCL, in
Ammonia/Water
resulted in strong
exothermic
reaction
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HCl + NH3 ----> NH4Cl
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 Neutralization
Stand-alone automatic
neutralization system

Pump meters weak acid into

ammonia/water drum at 30-
second intervals
Concurrent agitation of drum
contents to promote even
mixing of solution
Tie-in pH meter to monitor
changes
Other designs have included 10
ammonia vapor scrubber at
vent For example: citric acid, acetic acid
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Neutralization
Neutralization with weak acid
to minimize pH and reduce
Ammonia Vapors

pH must fall within 7-10 range

Verify no ammonia vapors
present with ammonia
detector
Notify POTW, CUPA prior to
discharge
Discharge to sanitary sewer
system
Passive Neutralization:
Venting to Atmosphere
 Passive Neutralization:
Venting to Atmosphere

Unauthorized Personnel
Keep Out!
Safely ventilate the
container of ammonia
wastewater away from
the public, and any
Non-Hazardous employees; ventilate until
Ammonia
Wastewater Non-Hazardous
Ammonia
all the vapors have
Wastewater dissipated and the pH
measures between 7-10,
prior to discharge at an
authorized point.
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Disposal
Contact POTWs for disposal to
sanitary sewer.

Facilities in unincorporated area

must contact the Regional Water
Quality Control Board to
determine discharge requirements

..REUSE wastewater.
Disposal

Properly dispose ammonia wastewater,

contact a licensed hazardous waste transporter
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 Recordkeeping
Maintain the following records,
make available to regulatory
agencies during inspection:

Type of neutralization used

Date of notification & approval to

sewer agency or RWQCB

Volume of wastewater

Final pH reading

Alternatively, keep manifest documenting

transport by licensed hauler
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 Improper disposal includes,
dumping, spilling, draining,
washing down, releasing, etc.
and is not allowed.

Therefore, do not release to:

Industrial Wastewater System

Land
Parking lot, street, gutter, etc.
Storm drain system
RELEASE
Unknown floor drain
Landscaping

18