New tech removes ammonia from wastewater

July 10, 2026

Researchers in Germany have introduced an innovative wastewater treatment technology that removes ammonia from sewage while recovering it as a valuable industrial resource instead of treating it as waste. The pilot-scale system is currently being tested at a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Neu-Ulm and could help utilities meet stricter European environmental regulations.

The project was developed by engineers from the University of Ulm in collaboration with the Steinhäule Wastewater Treatment Association and industrial separation technology specialists. Their goal is to improve nitrogen removal from wastewater while supporting a circular economy through nutrient recovery.

Tackling harmful ammonia pollution

Ammonium and other nitrogen compounds released into rivers and lakes can seriously damage aquatic ecosystems. Excess nutrients trigger algal blooms, reduce oxygen levels in water, and threaten fish and other wildlife through a process known as eutrophication.

To address these environmental risks, the European Union's updated Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive will require wastewater facilities to remove significantly more nitrogen and phosphorus beginning in August 2027. The new German technology has been designed to help treatment plants comply with these tighter standards while recovering valuable resources from the process.

Steam-based process captures valuable ammonia

The pilot system relies on a thermal steam-stripping process that targets centrate water generated during sewage sludge dewatering. This liquid contains particularly high concentrations of ammonium.

Inside a stripping column, rising steam heats the wastewater until the dissolved ammonium converts into gaseous ammonia. The ammonia-rich vapor is then condensed, producing a concentrated ammonia solution while the treated water leaves the system with only small amounts of residual ammonium.

The recovered ammonia solution can be reused in industrial applications, including carbon dioxide capture from industrial exhaust gases, transforming what was once a pollutant into a commercially useful product.

Supporting a circular wastewater economy

Researchers believe the technology offers a sustainable alternative to conventional wastewater treatment by combining pollution control with resource recovery. Instead of simply removing nitrogen compounds, the process creates a reusable product that supports industrial decarbonization and reduces waste.

The pilot installation has been operating since May 2026 and will undergo several months of testing under real-world conditions. Data collected during the demonstration will help optimize the system before it is scaled for full commercial deployment.

If successful, the technology could provide wastewater utilities with an efficient way to meet future environmental regulations while recovering valuable nitrogen resources and advancing circular economy practices.