Solids, organic load and nutrient concentration reductions in swine waste slurry using a polyacrylamide (PAM)-aided solids flocculation treatment.
Increased swine production results in concentration of wastes generated within a limited geographical area, which may lead to land application rates exceeding the local or regional assimilatory capacity. This may result in pollutant transfer through surface water or soil-groundwater systems, environmental degradation, and/or odor concerns. Existing swine waste pit storage and lagoon treatment technologies may be inadequate to store or treat waste prior to land application without these concerns resulting. Efficient swine waste solids separation may reduce environmental health concerns and generate a value-added bioresource (solids). This study evaluated the efficiency of a polyacrylamide (PAM) flocculant-aided solids separation treatment to reduce pollution indicator concentrations in raw (untreated) swine waste slurry. Swine waste slurry solids separation efficiency through gravity settling (sedimentation) was evaluated before and after the addition of a proprietary polymeric (PAM) flocculant. Results indicated that polymer amendments at concentrations of 62.5-750 mg/l improved slurry solids separation efficiency and significantly reduced concentrations of other associated aquatic pollution indicators in a majority of analyses conducted (33 of 50 total analyses conducted). Results also suggested that PAM-aided solids separation from swine waste slurry might facilitate further treatment and/or disposal and therefore reduce associated environmental degradation potential.
Walker
Paul
P
Department of Agriculture, College of Applied Science and Technology (CAST), Illinois State University (ISU), Normal, IL 61790, USA. pwalker@ilstu.edu
Kelley
Tim
T
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D005427:Flocculation; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008372:Manure / Q000032:analysis*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D013552:Swine; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D000099166:Polyacrylamides
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008372:Manure; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen; D010758:Phosphorus; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D000099166:Polyacrylamides