Separator can ease disposal of pig manure
1 February 2002
Separator can ease disposal of pig manure
MANURE disposal from Denmarks 23,000 dairy farms and 13,000 pig units continues to present a problem for the country as increasing legislation limits the spreading techniques that can be employed.
Hence the search for different, environmentally acceptable systems. Echberg Manutech has now devised a method which is claimed to reduce the cost of treatment, reduce odours, reduce ammonia evaporation and improve nutrient value.
Which would appear to fulfil the requirements of the vast majority of big stock farms where significant volumes of manure have to be dealt with.
The system works like this: Manure stored in a pit is pumped up a sieve-type separator which employs rubber paddles to force the liquid through and leave solids with a moisture content of about 25%.
The liquid content is then pumped to a covered storage tank where it is aerated to create nitrates and an odour-free liquid.
Solids, meanwhile, are elevated to a fermentation tank through which it takes about 12 days to pass through before emerging as a composted, odour-free matter with a dry-matter content of about 70%. This product could be sold as fertiliser or even burned to create energy, says Echberg.
From both the aeration and composting processes ammonia is released which is collected in a liquid. There is also an air cleaner incorporated in this system. The liquid can then be returned to the liquid storage tank or the composting tank.
Still very much a concept but one which could make a useful contribution to Denmarks manure disposal problem, Echberg says it intends installing the first system on a pig-farm later this year. *