Integrated Biogas Desulfurization and Membrane Extraction for Ammonium Sulfate Recovery – A New Publication by BOKU
Researchers from BOKU University have recently published a new scientific article entitled “Integrated biogas desulfurization and membrane extraction for ammonium sulfate recovery” in Water Science & Technology.
The study presents an innovative approach that combines biogas purification and nutrient recovery within a single integrated system. Designed for the treatment of nitrogen- and sulfur-rich waste streams, the process simultaneously removes hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) from biogas while recovering ammonia and converting it into ammonium sulfate, a valuable fertilizer product.
The system couples a two-stage biological desulfurization unit with a hollow-fiber membrane contactor. Hydrogen sulfide contained in the biogas is biologically oxidized into sulfuric acid, which is then used to capture ammonia recovered from the treatment process. This allows the production of ammonium sulfate without the need for external chemical additives, improving both resource efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Experimental results demonstrated high process performance, achieving more than 95% hydrogen sulfide removal while maintaining stable long-term operation. The integrated process produced ammonium sulfate concentrations of up to 12.5 g/L, confirming its potential as a scalable solution for nutrient recovery and circular resource management.
Beyond its technical performance, the study highlights how wastewater treatment and biogas upgrading systems can be transformed into resource recovery platforms. By converting pollutants into marketable products, the proposed approach contributes to reducing chemical consumption, increasing process efficiency, and supporting circular economy objectives.
This research represents another step towards the development of sustainable industrial symbiosis solutions, fully aligned with the goals of the SYMSITES project.
Publication: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2026.241
