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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Florence, South Carolina » Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #152213
Title: NITRIFICATION OF SWINE WASTEWATER PULSED THROUGH VERTICAL-FLOW, MEDIA FILTERS

Author
item Poach, Matthew
item Hunt, Patrick

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/3/2003
Publication Date: 11/3/2003
Citation: POACH, M.E., HUNT, P.G. NITRIFICATION OF SWINE WASTEWATER PULSED THROUGH VERTICAL-FLOW, MEDIA FILTERS. AGRONOMY ABSTRACTS [abstract]. 2003 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The research objective was to investigate the ability of vertical media filters to nitrify swine wastewater under pulsed loads. The wastewater was pulsed to enhance oxygen pumping into the filter. It was anticipated that the lag time between pulses would prevent the excess production of biomass which can clog the filter. Four 19-L containers were filled with 25 cm of filter media (two contained sand media and two contained zeolite media) and topped with 5 cm of marl gravel. Zeolite was used as a filter media because of the mineral's ability to absorb ammonia. The zeolite filter was expected to exhibit more nitrification than the sand filter because absorption should increase the contact time of ammonia with the nitrifiers and oxygen entering after a pulse. The filters received 3 L of swine wastewater during a two-minute interval every three hours for a total of 24 liters per day. Results were consistent with the general hypothesis. Both systems exhibited nitrification as evidenced by nitrate/nitrite in the outflow. Nitrification increased for both systems over time with the zeolite filters tending to nitrify more ammonia than the sand filters. The zeolite filters also reduced wastewater chemical oxygen demand while the sand filters had little effect.