Nitrogen compound removal processes

Programme 2014 - 2020 Kolarctic ENI CBC

Date of latest update: 2023-10-30

Description

Description (EN):

Nitrogen compounds (such as ammonia, nitrate and nitrite) form an important part of the nutrient cycle for plant growth. Significant advances in food production were made with the development of technologies to ‘fix’ nitrogen from air and make it available to plants in the form of nitrogen compounds in mineral fertilizers. However, the leakage of nitrogen compounds into waterways can lead to environmental problems such as eutrophication. In addition, microbial action can result in some of the nitrogen being emitted as nitrous oxide, which has a Greenhouse gas effect 300 times greater than that of carbon dioxide. Hence, there is a need to concentrate on reduction of nitrogen compound emissions to the environment.

Achievements (EN):

The potential for a main project on the topic of nitrogen compound removal was confirmed. However, the situation with Russia and Ukraine from Feb 2022 meaning the likely discontinuation of the Kolarctic NEXT programme poses difficulties for the pre-project's proposed continuation. The main source of NOx emissions is from fossil fuel combustion (70%), with transport being a major component of this. Diesel cars produce more NOx than petrol cars, and technologies (such as Ad-blue, urea additive and catalytic converters) to counter this. However, the catalytic converters convert some (about 20%) of the NOx to N2O which is a strong greenhouse gas. Biomass and biofuel also provide a significant emission; hence this requires focus as renewable fuels are promoted. A common misinformation regarding hydrogen is that combustion releases "only water", whereas in fact it will emit NOx if it is combusted with air. While explosives such as mining and road construction emissions are low (0,12%) on a global basis, they can be locally significant. Tightening emission demands are faced by mining companies and both UO and KSC have established cooperation with mining companies to further develop technologies for reducing the emissions of nitrogen compounds to waterways. In the project, literature reviews were made of the technologies for reducing nitrogen compound emissions, both to water and to air. KSC prepared a report with 30 references reviewing 13 technologies for reducing nitrogen compounds in water. Six of these were evaluated as poorly performed, four with potential and 3 as well performing. UO have studied these and a further three. SINTEF has focused on emissions to air, particularly from combustion processes and agriculture and added a further 9 technologies to the list. Lab testing was made of three technologies. KSC studied sorption of nitrates and ammonium in columns using zeolite, thermoactivated vermiculite and a silicate product obtained from mining waste. UO have examined at lab scale the use of biofilm reactors, as well as microalgae. Both are being developed further in collaboration with mining and fishery companies. The pre-project has established the basis for a main project, in terms of the emission sources and the available technologies for treatment. Contact with prospective end-users has also been established

Website: https://kolarctic.info/

Expected Results (EN): Project objective is to provide information on means of reducing emissions of nitrogen compounds to the environment. This information is directed to businesses and authorities with responsibility for reducing environmental impacts.

Thematic information

Managing natural and man-made threats, risk management

Thematic Objective: Business and SME development

Partners (3)

Lead Partner: SINTEF Narvik A.S.

Address: Postboks 250, 8504 Narvik, Norway

Legal status: private

Total budget: EUR 49 381.00

Kola Science Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Name: Kola Science Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Address: Akademgorodok 14a, 184209 Apatity, Russia

Legal status: public

Total budget: EUR 18 874.00

ERDF budget: EUR 7 643.50

ENI budget: EUR 7 643.50

Oulun yliopisto

Name: Oulun yliopisto

Address: Pentti Kaiteran katu 1, 90570 Oulu, Finland

Legal status: public

Total budget: EUR 31 091.00

ERDF budget: EUR 12 591.50

ENI budget: EUR 12 591.50

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Kola Science Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Nitrogen compound removal processes

Partners and Projects info

University of Oulu

Nitrogen compound removal processes

Partners and Projects info

SINTEF Narvik A.S.

Nitrogen compound removal processes

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Nitrogen compound removal processes

Project acronym: NITRGONE

Project start date: 2020-12-15

Project end date: 2021-11-30

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 99 346.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 40 470.00

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 20 235.00.
ENPI/ENI/NDICI: Amount, EUR 20 235.00.

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 Kolarctic ENI CBC

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2023-10-30

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

44 / 44 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

233 / 233 (100%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (https://kolarctic.info/), or a website directly linked from it, on 2023-01-09.

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Nitrogen compound removal processes

Description

Thematic information

Partners (3)

Partners map

Summary

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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