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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 #377303
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: Synergistic recovery of phosphorus and amino acids from swine manure using fruit wastes

Author
item Vanotti, Matias
item Szogi, Ariel
item MORAL, RAUL - Miguel Hernandez University

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/4/2020
Publication Date: 9/1/2020
Citation: Vanotti, M.B., Szogi, A.A., Moral, R. 2020. Synergistic recovery of phosphorus and amino acids from swine manure using fruit wastes. Meeting Proceedings.

Interpretive Summary: A new approach for the recovery of nutrients and value-added products from wastes is to search for a synergistic effect from the combination of two or more wastes. In this work, the recovery of phosphorus and proteins/amino acids from swine manure was improved with the addition of a second waste to the manure: fruit waste. "The second waste rich in sugars acted as a natural acid generator that replaced the use of purchased acids and lowered the overall cost of recovery." In this study the two model wastes were: swine manure solids (source of extractable phosphorus and proteins) and peach waste (source of acid precursors). The new process was patented (US Patent No. 10,710,937, Issued 7/14/2020). It is contemplated that other sugar-containing agricultural products such as other fruits and vegetables could be used in this process for the same purpose with minor adjustments for amounts depending on the sugar concentration and initial pH of the fruit or vegetable.The co-recovery of phosphorus and proteins from two wastes could be advantageous to offset treatment and storage costs and to lessen the environmental impacts of land application. The recovered proteins can be used for production of amino acids and the recovered phosphorus can be used as a recycled material that replaces commercial phosphate fertilizers.

Technical Abstract: The synergistic combination of two agricultural wastes to enhance the recovery of phosphorus and protein products could be a potential new revenue stream from wastes. In this research, the recovery of phosphorus and proteins/amino acids from swine manure was enhanced with the addition of a second waste: fruit waste. The addition of the waste peaches and an inoculum to the manure produced abundant natural acids - lactic acid, citric acid and malic acid – that effectively solubilized the phosphorus in the manure. Once solubilized, the phosphorus was recovered with phosphorus precipitating compounds, obtaining concentrated calcium and magnesium phosphate products with > 90% plant available phosphorus. The proteins/amino acids in the manure were preserved and quantitatively recovered. The recovered proteins can be used for production of amino acids and the recovered phosphorus can be used as a recycled material that replaces commercial phosphate fertilizers. The synergistic combination of two wastes to enhance the recovery of phosphorus and protein products could be advantageous to offset treatment and storage costs and to lessen the environmental impacts of land application.