Treatment of cattle manure with aerated tanks in a free-stall system

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess a cattle manure treatment system in aerated tanks in a free-stall confinement system, where the recycled wastewater was used to clean the facilities and the effluent was applied to forage cultivation areas. A batch activated sludge reactor with a prolonged intermittent aeration system scaled to a 24-day hydraulic retention time was used, and the wastewater was diluted at a volume ratio of 1:1. Samples were taken at the input and interior of the aeration tanks, at the irrigation pipe exit, and from pure animal waste. The following parameters were determined: pH, temperature, oil and grease, total biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), total solids, total nitrogen and ammoniacal nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium. The results indicated that the aerobic biological treatment is effective in reducing and stabilising organic matter in wastewater.