ARS | Publication request: DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SUPERIOR TECHNOLOGY TO REPLACE SWINE LAGOONS IN THE USA

Submitted to: Recycling of Agricultural Municipal and Industrial Residues
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: October 6, 2004
Publication Date: October 6, 2004
Citation: Vanotti, M.B., Szogi, A.A., Hunt, P.G., Ellison, A.Q., Millner, P.D. 2004. Development of environmentally superior technology to replace swine lagoons in the usa. Proceedings of the 11th RAMIRAN Conference, October 6-9, 2004, Murcia, Spain. p. 151-154.

Technical Abstract: A treatment system was developed to eliminate animal-waste discharge to surface and ground waters and contamination by nutrients and heavy metals, along with related release of ammonia, odor, and pathogens. The system greatly increased the efficiency of liquid-solid separation by injection of polymer to increase solids flocculation. Nitrogen management to reduce ammonia emissions was accomplished by passing the liquid through a module where bacteria transform ammonia into harmless nitrogen gas. Subsequent alkaline treatment of the wastewater in a phosphorus module precipitated recoverable phosphorus and killed pathogens. Treated wastewater was recycled to clean hog houses and crop irrigation. The system was tested during one year at full-scale in a 4,400-head finishing farm as part of the Agreement between the Attorney General of North Carolina and Smithfield Foods/Premium Standard Farms to replace current anaerobic lagoons with environmentally superior technology. The system removed 97.6% of the suspended solids, 99.7% of BOD, 98.5% of TKN, 98.7% of ammonia, 95% of total P, 98.7% of copper and 99.0% of zinc. It also removed 97.9% of odor compounds in the liquid and reduced pathogen indicators to non-detectable levels. It was verified that the technology was technically and operationally feasible. Based on performance results obtained, it was determined that the treatment system meets the technical performance standards that define an environmentally superior technology.