Source:
Ammonia (NH3) gas, usually expressed as Nitrogen, is extremely soluble in water, and is the natural product of decay of organic nitrogen compounds. Ammonia finds its way to surface supplies from the runoff in agricultural areas where it is applied as fertalizer. It can also find its way to underground aquifers from animal feed lots.
Ammonia is oxidized to nitrate by bacterial action. A concentration of 0.1 to 1.0 ppm is typically found in most surface water supplies, and is expressed as N.
Ammonia is not usually found in well water supplies because the bacteria in the soil convert it to nitrates.
The concentration of ammonia is not restricted by drinking water standards. Since ammonia is corrosive to copper alloys it is a concern in cooling and boiler systems.
Treatment:
Ammonia can be destroyed chemically by chlorination, during which chloramine is formed. Organic contaminants in the waste stream will be destroyed by the chlorine before it will react with the ammonia.
Ammonia can also be removed by cation exchange resin in the hydrogen form, when an acid is utilized as a regenerant. Degasification is another potential method which can be used to reduce ammonia.
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