skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Solids and nutrient removal from flushed swine manure using polyacrylamides

Abstract

Most of the organic nutrients and reduced carbon (C) materials in liquid swine manure are contained in fine suspended particles that are not separated by available mechanical separators. Treatment with polyacrylamide (PAM) polymers prior to mechanical removal or gravity settling has the potential for enhancing solids-liquid separation, thus concentrating nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and organic C. In this work, the authors determined PAM charge and density characteristics most desirable for swine wastewater applications and established the optimum chemical requirement. Treatments were applied to flushed manure from two swine operations in North Carolina. Cationic PAMs significantly increased solids separation while performance of neutral and anionic types was not different from a control. Cationic PAMs with moderate-charge density (20%) were more effective than polymers with higher charge density. Flocs were large and effectively retained with a 1-mm screen. Optimum PAM rate varied with the amount of total suspended solids (TSS) in the liquid manure; 26 and 79 mg PAM/L for samples containing 1.5 and 4.1 g TSS/L, respectively. Corresponding TSS removal efficiencies were 90 to 94%. In contrast, screening without PAM treatment captured only 5 to 14% of the suspended solids. Polymer usage rate was consistent and averaged 2.0{degree} based on weightmore » of dry solids produced. Volatile suspended solids (VSS) were highly correlated with TSS and comprised 79.5% of TSS. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) and organic nutrient concentrations in the effluent were also significantly decreased by PAM treatment. The decrease of COD concentration, an important consideration for odor control, was linearly related with removal of suspended solids, at a rate of 2.0 g COD/g TSS and 2.6 g COD/g VSS. Removal efficiency of organic N and P followed approximately a 1:1 relationship with removal efficiency of TSS. Chemical cost to capture 90% of the suspended solids was estimated to be $0.026 per hog per day ($2.79 per finished hog). Results obtained indicate that PAM treatment is very effective for removal of manure solids, COD, and organic nutrients from flushed swine effluents. The technology provides an attractive alternative to existing liquid manure handling methods for conserving nutrients and avoiding excessive nutrient application in areas where swine production is concentrated.« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Dept. of Agriculture, Florence, SC (US)
OSTI Identifier:
20080243
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Transactions of the ASAE
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 42; Journal Issue: 6; Other Information: PBD: Nov-Dec 1999; Journal ID: ISSN 0001-2351
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; SWINE; MANURES; POLYAMIDES; SEPARATION PROCESSES; NUTRIENTS

Citation Formats

Vanotti, M B, and Hunt, P G. Solids and nutrient removal from flushed swine manure using polyacrylamides. United States: N. p., 1999. Web. doi:10.13031/2013.13347.
Vanotti, M B, & Hunt, P G. Solids and nutrient removal from flushed swine manure using polyacrylamides. United States. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.13347
Vanotti, M B, and Hunt, P G. 1999. "Solids and nutrient removal from flushed swine manure using polyacrylamides". United States. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.13347.
@article{osti_20080243,
title = {Solids and nutrient removal from flushed swine manure using polyacrylamides},
author = {Vanotti, M B and Hunt, P G},
abstractNote = {Most of the organic nutrients and reduced carbon (C) materials in liquid swine manure are contained in fine suspended particles that are not separated by available mechanical separators. Treatment with polyacrylamide (PAM) polymers prior to mechanical removal or gravity settling has the potential for enhancing solids-liquid separation, thus concentrating nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and organic C. In this work, the authors determined PAM charge and density characteristics most desirable for swine wastewater applications and established the optimum chemical requirement. Treatments were applied to flushed manure from two swine operations in North Carolina. Cationic PAMs significantly increased solids separation while performance of neutral and anionic types was not different from a control. Cationic PAMs with moderate-charge density (20%) were more effective than polymers with higher charge density. Flocs were large and effectively retained with a 1-mm screen. Optimum PAM rate varied with the amount of total suspended solids (TSS) in the liquid manure; 26 and 79 mg PAM/L for samples containing 1.5 and 4.1 g TSS/L, respectively. Corresponding TSS removal efficiencies were 90 to 94%. In contrast, screening without PAM treatment captured only 5 to 14% of the suspended solids. Polymer usage rate was consistent and averaged 2.0{degree} based on weight of dry solids produced. Volatile suspended solids (VSS) were highly correlated with TSS and comprised 79.5% of TSS. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) and organic nutrient concentrations in the effluent were also significantly decreased by PAM treatment. The decrease of COD concentration, an important consideration for odor control, was linearly related with removal of suspended solids, at a rate of 2.0 g COD/g TSS and 2.6 g COD/g VSS. Removal efficiency of organic N and P followed approximately a 1:1 relationship with removal efficiency of TSS. Chemical cost to capture 90% of the suspended solids was estimated to be $0.026 per hog per day ($2.79 per finished hog). Results obtained indicate that PAM treatment is very effective for removal of manure solids, COD, and organic nutrients from flushed swine effluents. The technology provides an attractive alternative to existing liquid manure handling methods for conserving nutrients and avoiding excessive nutrient application in areas where swine production is concentrated.},
doi = {10.13031/2013.13347},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20080243}, journal = {Transactions of the ASAE},
issn = {0001-2351},
number = 6,
volume = 42,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1999},
month = {Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1999}
}