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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 #353097
Research Project: Improvement of Soil Management Practices and Manure Treatment/Handling Systems of the Southern Coastal Plain

Location: Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research

Title: High-rate solid-liquid separation coupled with nitrogen and phosphorus treatment of swine manure: Effect on water quality

Author
item Vanotti, Matias
item Ro, Kyoung
item Szogi, Ariel
item Loughrin, John
item Millner, Patricia

Submitted to: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/25/2018
Publication Date: 8/16/2018
Citation: Vanotti, M.B., Ro, K.S., Szogi, A.A., Loughrin, J.H., Millner, P.D. 2018. High-rate solid-liquid separation coupled with nitrogen and phosphorus treatment of swine manure: Effect on water quality. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 2:49. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2018.00049.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2018.00049

Interpretive Summary: This study determined the water quality improvements in lagoons by an innovative swine manure treatment system operating at full-scale during five pig production cycles. The system performed high-rate solid-liquid separation, biological ammonia treatment and phosphorus treatment. Based on performance results obtained, it was determined that the treatment system met the technical environmental performance criteria for swine waste management systems in new or expanding operations in North Carolina. The system substantially reduced odor by 99.9%; pathogens by 99.99%, nitrogen and phosphorus by > 90%, and heavy metals by 99%. As the treated effluent and rainwater renovated the liquid in the anaerobic lagoons, they became aerobic (Eh > 300 millivolts). By the end of the second year, the ammonia-N concentration in the lagoons liquid was reduced from the initial 370-485 milligram per liter to lower than 15. After conversion, the sludge accumulation in the former lagoons was halted. This was a significant outcome because one converted lagoon served twice the number of animals than before implementation of the new treatment system, which is similar to a situation of herd expansion. These findings overall showed that cleaner alternative technologies can have significant positive impacts on water quality.

Technical Abstract: This study determined the water quality improvements in swine lagoons by an innovative swine manure treatment system operating at full-scale during five pig production cycles. The system performed high-rate solid-liquid separation, biological ammonia treatment and phosphorus treatment. Based on performance results obtained, it was determined that the treatment system met the technical environmental performance criteria for swine waste management systems in new or expanding operations in North Carolina. The system substantially reduced odor by 99.9%; pathogens by 99.99%, nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) by > 90%, and heavy metals by 99%. As the treated effluent and/or rainwater renovated the liquid in the anaerobic lagoons, they became aerobic (Eh > 300 millivolts). By the end of the second year, the ammonium-N concentration in the lagoons liquid was reduced from the initial 370-485 mg per liter to lower than 15. After conversion, the sludge accumulation in the former lagoons was halted. This was a significant outcome because one converted lagoon served twice the number of animals than before implementation of the innovative manure treatment system, which is similar to a situation of herd expansion. These findings overall showed that cleaner alternative technologies can have significant positive impacts on water quality in intensive swine production.