Denitrification in anaerobic lagoons used to treat swine wastewater

Anaerobic lagoons are commonly used for the treatment of swine wastewater. Although these lagoons were once thought to be relatively simple, their physical, chemical, and biological processes are very complex. This study of anaerobic lagoons had two objectives: (i) to quantify denitrification enzyme activity (DEA) and (ii) to evaluate the influence of lagoon characteristics on the DEA. The DEA was measured by the acetylene inhibition method. Wastewater samples and physical and chemical measurements were taken from the wastewater column of nine anaerobic swine lagoons from May 2006 to May 2009. These lagoons were typical for anaerobic swine lagoons in the Carolinas relative to their size, operation, and chemical and physical characteristics. Their mean value for DEA was 87 mg N2O-N m(-3) d(-1). In a lagoon with 2-m depth, this rate of DEA would be compatible with 1.74 kg N ha(-1) d(-1) When nonlimiting nitrate was added, the highest DEA was compatible with 4.38 kg N ha(-1) d(-1) loss. Using stepwise regression for this treatment, the lagoon characteristics (i.e., soluble organic carbon, total nitrogen, temperature, and NO3-N) provided a final step model R2 of 0.69. Nitrous oxide from incomplete denitrification was not a significant part of the system nitrogen balance. Although alternate pathways of denitrification may exist within or beneath the wastewater column, this paper documents the lack of sufficient denitrification enzyme activity within the wastewater column of these anaerobic lagoons to support large N2 gas losses via classical nitrification and denitrification.     

The measurement of intracellular zinc in human intestinal mucosa using x-ray microanalysis

The zinc content of intestinal epithelial cells in human jejunum and ileum has been measured using X-ray microanalysis. The range of values was wide, the highest being found in stem cells and enterocytes. Significant differences were found in jejunum from gastric carcinoma patients and ileum from Crohn's disease patients compared with patients with non malignant, non inflammatory disease.     

Evaluating peats for their capacities to remove odorous compounds from liquid swine manure using headspace "solid-phase microextraction".

This paper reports on research designed to investigate the capacities of different highly characterized peats to remove odorous compounds from liquid swine manure (LSM). Peat types representing a wide range of properties were tested in order to establish which chemical and physical properties might be most indicative of their capacities to remediate odors produced by LSM. Eight percent slurries (of peat/LSM) were measured for odor changes after 24 hours using odor panel and GC/MS-Solid-phase microextraction (GC/MS-SPME) analysis. The GC/MS-SPME and odor panel results indicated that, although all peats tested in this study were found to be effective at removing odor-causing compounds found in LSM, some peats tended to work better than others. Overall, the peats that were the most effective at removing odor-causing compounds tended to have lower bulk densities, ash contents, fulvic acids contents, and guaiacyl lignins contents, and higher water holding capacities, hydraulic conductivities, "total other lignins" contents, hydrogen contents, carbon contents, and total cellulose contents. GC/MS-SPME analysis was found to be a reasonably inexpensive and efficient way of conducting this type of research. It allows one to identify a large number of the odor-causing compounds found in LSM, and more importantly, to detect with some precision specific differences in the amounts of these compounds between peat types.     

Evaluating peats for their capacities to remove odorous compounds from liquid swine manure using headspace “solid‐phase microextraction”

Abstract

This paper reports on research designed to investigate the capacities of different highly characterized peats to remove odorous compounds from liquid swine manure (LSM). Peat types representing a wide range of properties were tested in order to establish which chemical and physical properties might be most indicative of their capacities to remediate odors produced by LSM. Eight percent slurries (of peat/LSM) were measured for odor changes after 24 hours using odor panel and GC/MS‐Solid‐phase microextraction (GC/MS‐SPME) analysis.

The GC/MS‐SPME and odor panel results indicated that, although all peats tested in this study were found to be effective at removing odor‐causing compounds found in LSM, some peats tended to work better than others. Overall, the peats that were the most effective at removing odor‐causing compounds tended to have lower bulk densities, ash contents, fulvic acids contents, and guaiacyl lignins contents,and higher water holding capacities, hydraulic conductivities, “total other lignins”; contents, hydrogen contents, carbon contents, and total cellulose contents.

GC/MS‐SPME analysis was found to be a reasonably inexpensive and efficient way of conducting this type of research. It allows one to identify a large number of the odor‐causing compounds found in LSM, and more importantly, to detect with some precision specific differences in the amounts of these compounds between peat types.     

Simulating long-term and residual effects of nitrogen fertilization on corn yields, soil carbon sequestration, and soil nitrogen dynamics

Soil carbon sequestration (SCS) has the potential to attenuate increasing atmospheric CO2 and mitigate greenhouse warming. Understanding of this potential can be assisted by the use of simulation models. We evaluated the ability of the EPIC model to simulate corn (Zea mays L.) yields and soil organic carbon (SOC) at Arlington, WI, during 1958-1991. Corn was grown continuously on a Typic Argiudoll with three N levels: LTN1 (control), LTN2 (medium), and LTN3 (high). The LTN2 N rate started at 56 kg ha(-1) (1958), increased to 92 kg ha(-1) (1963), and reached 140 kg ha(-1) (1973). The LTN3 N rate was maintained at twice the LTN2 level. In 1984, each plot was divided into four subplots receiving N at 0, 84, 168, and 252 kg ha(-1). Five treatments were used for model evaluation. Percent errors of mean yield predictions during 1958-1983 decreased as N rate increased (LTN1 = -5.0%, LTN2 = 3.5%, and LTN3 = 1.0%). Percent errors of mean yield predictions during 1985-1991 were larger than during the first period. Simulated and observed mean yields during 1958-1991 were highly correlated (R2 = 0.961, p < 0.01). Simulated SOC agreed well with observed values with percent errors from -5.8 to 0.5% in 1984 and from -5.1 to 0.7% in 1990. EPIC captured the dynamics of SOC, SCS, and microbial biomass. Simulated net N mineralization rates were lower than those from laboratory incubations. Improvements in EPIC's ability to predict annual variability of crop yields may lead to improved estimates of SCS.     

Greenhouse gas emission reduction and environmental quality improvement from implementation of aerobic waste treatment systems in swine farms

Trading of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions is an attractive approach to help producers implement cleaner treatment technologies to replace current anaerobic lagoons. Our objectives were to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions from implementation of aerobic technology in USA swine farms. Emission reductions were calculated using the approved United Nations framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC) methodology in conjunction with monitoring information collected during full-scale demonstration of the new treatment system in a 4360-head swine operation in North Carolina (USA). Emission sources for the project and baseline manure management system were methane (CH4) emissions from the decomposition of manure under anaerobic conditions and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions during storage and handling of manure in the manure management system. Emission reductions resulted from the difference between total project and baseline emissions. The project activity included an on-farm wastewater treatment system consisting of liquid-solid separation, treatment of the separated liquid using aerobic biological N removal, chemical disinfection and soluble P removal using lime. The project activity was completed with a centralized facility that used aerobic composting to process the separated solids. Replacement of the lagoon technology with the cleaner aerobic technology reduced GHG emissions 96.9%, from 4972 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2-eq) to 153 tonnes CO2-eq/year. Total net emission reductions by the project activity in the 4360-head finishing operation were 4776.6 tonnes CO2-eq per year or 1.10 tonnes CO2-eq/head per year. The dollar value from implementation of this project in this swine farm was US$19,106/year using current Chicago Climate Exchange trading values of US$4/t CO2. This translates into a direct economic benefit to the producer of US$1.75 per finished pig. Thus, GHG emission reductions and credits can help compensate for the higher installation cost of cleaner aerobic technologies and facilitate producer adoption of environmentally superior technologies to replace current anaerobic lagoons in the USA.     

Recovery of ammonia from poultry litter using flat gas permeable membranes

The use of flat gas-permeable membranes was investigated as components of a new process to capture and recover ammonia (NH₃) in poultry houses. This process includes the passage of gaseous NH₃ through a microporous hydrophobic membrane, capture with a circulating dilute acid on the other side of the membrane, and production of a concentrated ammonium (NH₄) salt. Bench- and pilot-scale prototype systems using flat expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes and a sulfuric acid solution consistently reduced headspace NH₃ concentrations from 70% to 97% and recovered 88% to 100% of the NH₃ volatilized from poultry litter. The potential benefits of this technology include cleaner air inside poultry houses, reduced ventilation costs, and a concentrated liquid ammonium salt that can be used as a plant nutrient solution.     

Reduction of malodorous compounds from a treated swine anaerobic lagoon

There is a need for treatment technologies that can eliminate environmental problems associated with anaerobic lagoons. These technologies must be able to capture nutrients, kill pathogens, and reduce emissions of ammonia and nuisance odors. To meet these needs, a full-scale wastewater treatment plant was installed as a demonstration project on one of three 4360-pig (Sus scrofa) production units in a finishing farm in Duplin County, North Carolina. Once the treatment plant was operational, flow of raw manure into the unit's corresponding lagoon was discontinued and the lagoon was used to store treated wastewater. Water quality was monitored in the converted lagoon and in the two conventional lagoons. A gas chromatographic method was developed to measure concentration of five selected malodorous compounds (phenol, p-cresol, 4-ethylphenol, indole, and skatole) in liquid lagoon samples. Dramatic improvements in the water quality parameters TKN, NH3-N, solids, COD, and BOD in the converted waste lagoon paralleled reductions in malodorous compounds. Nine months after conversion, identified malodorous compounds in liquid extractions averaged 6.6 and 38.8 ng mL(-1) in water from the converted lagoon and the conventional lagoons, respectively. The reduction was particularly marked for p-cresol, 4-ethylphenol, and skatole, all of which make important contributions to swine waste odors due to their characteristic odors and low detection thresholds.