Effects of temperature on the removal of urea as ammonia by enzymatic conversion and by gas absorption using an oxygenator.

Urea in dialysate solution was converted by urease into ammonium and bicarbonate. Ammonium and bicarbonate can be removed using a gas absorption unit (e.g. oxygenator) to remove ammonia gas and carbon dioxide. The times for the total ammonium levels in the dialysate to be lowered by 50% were 95 minutes at 25 degree C and 15 minutes at 60 degree C. Increasing the dialysate temperature alone was effective in increasing the removal of ammonium, without the need to add NaOH.