A Bench-Scale Study on Swine Manure Stabilization by Aeration in Batch Reactor for Odor Control

Jun Zhu, Assistant Professor, Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca, MN
Zhijian Zhang, Post-Doctoral Associate, Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca, MN
Curtis Miller, Assistant Scientist, Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca, MN
Keum J. Park, Sabbatical Professor, Sunchon State University, South Korea

Funding Source

Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station Rapid Agricultural Response Fund

Objective

The objective of the project is to reveal the characteristics of organic materials, nitrogen, and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) with respect to manure stabilization as well as odor control during the 90-day storage period after aeration treatment in batch reactors. The manure stability was evaluated by the changes in total volatile solids (TVS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and VFAs and the odor generation potential was evaluated by using concentrations of VFAs.

Need or Impact

The findings from this study will impact the economics and effectiveness of pre-treating swine manure at different levels using aerobic batch reactors to increase long-term storage without the return of offensive odor.

Project Status

Completed. The decomposition of organic, nitrogen and volatile fatty acids was improved by extension of the aeration process. Increasing ambient temperature would contribute to more biodegradation of organics, nitrogen loss, and breakdown of VFAs. Low solids level (less than TS 4.0% in this study) in manure offered a more advantageous environment for manure stabilization as well as odor control. The 4.0-day aeration scheme might be sufficient to stabilize the post-aeration manure during the whole three-month storage under ambient temperature.