Co-composting of food waste and swine manure augmenting biochar and salts: Nutrient dynamics, gaseous emissions and microbial activity

Environmental impact associated with odor and gaseous emissions from animal manure is one of the challenges for communities, farmers, and regulatory agencies. Microbe-based manure additives treatments are marketed and used by farmers for mitigation of emissions. However, their performance is difficult to assess objectively. Thus, comprehensive, practical, and low-cost treatments are still in demand. We have been advancing such treatments based on physicochemical principles. The objective of this research was to test the effect of the surficial application of a thin layer (¼"; 6.3 mm) of biochar on the mitigation of gaseous emissions (as the percent reduction, % R) from swine manure. Two types of biochar were tested: highly alkaline and porous (HAP) biochar made from corn stover and red oak (RO), both with different pH and morphology. Three 30-day trials were conducted with a layer of HAP and RO (2.0 & 1.65 kg∙m-2, respectively) applied on manure surface, and emissions of ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), greenhouse gases (GHG), and odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured. The manure and biochar type and properties had an impact on the mitigation effect and its duration. RO significantly reduced NH3 (19-39%) and p-cresol (66-78%). H2S was mitigated (16~23%), but not significantly for all trials. Significant (66~78%) reductions for p-cresol were observed for all trials. The phenolic VOCs had relatively high % R in most trials but not significantly for all trials. HAP reduced NH3 (4~21%) and H2S (2~22%), but not significantly for all trials. Significant % R for p-cresol (91~97%) and skatole (74~95%) were observed for all trials. The % R for phenol and indole ranged from (60~99%) & (29~94%) but was not significant for all trials. The impact on GHGs, isobutyric acid, and the odor was mixed with some mitigation and generation effects. However, larger-scale experiments are needed to understand how biochar properties and the dose and frequency of application can be optimized to mitigate odor and gaseous emissions from swine manure. The lessons learned can also be applicable to surficial biochar treatment of gaseous emissions from other waste and area sources.

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Assessing the changes in E. coli levels and nutrient dynamics during vermicomposting of food waste under lab and field scale conditions

Environmental Science and Pollution Research ◽

10.1007/s11356-016-7528-x ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 23 (22) ◽

pp. 23195-23202 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Wenlong Cao ◽

Venkata Vaddella ◽

Sagor Biswas ◽

Katherine Perkins ◽

Cameron Clay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Waste ◽

Nutrient Dynamics ◽

Field Scale ◽

E Coli

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Influence of mesophilic and thermophilic conditions on the anaerobic digestion of food waste: Focus on the microbial activity and removal of long chain fatty acids

Waste Management & Research ◽

10.1177/0734242x18801195 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 (11) ◽

pp. 1106-1112 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Xiaohui Guo ◽

Kang Kang ◽

Gaoyuan Shang ◽

Xiunan Yu ◽

Ling Qiu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Anaerobic Digestion ◽

Microbial Activity ◽

Food Waste ◽

Biogas Production ◽

Organic Loading Rate ◽

Long Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Methanogenic Activity ◽

Long Chain ◽

Chain Fatty Acids

The mesophilic reactor (MR) exhibited advantages in biogas production and performance stability over thermophilic reactor (TR) during the long-term anaerobic digestion (AD) of food waste (FW) with stepwise organic loading rate elevating. It was interesting to explore the mechanism causing the divergences in performances between these two reactors. The microbial activity was compared on day 110 when TR began to deteriorate. The results show that MR had significantly higher specific acetoclastic methanogenic activities (SAMA) and specific propionate and butyrate oxidative activities (SPOA and SBOA) than TR. The SAMA, SPOA and SBOA in TR were only 50.3%, 18.6% and 46.4% of those values in MR, respectively. Remarkably, the specific hydrogenotrophic methanogenic activity of 15.5±2.1, 15.7±4.6 mmol CH4·L−1 original slurry·d−1 in MR and TR was comparative with insignificant difference, which indicates that the microbial activity in TR had been inhibited widely apart from the hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. Additionally, many particles with the diameters of 1–2 mm were observed to form in MR and identified as complexes of calcium and long chain fatty acids (LCFAs). The formation of calcium crystallization might alleviate the inhibition of LCFAs during AD of FW, which further supports the better performance in MR than TR.

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Mitigation of Odor, NH3, H2S, GHG, and VOC Emissions With Current Products for Use in Deep-Pit Swine Manure Storage Structures

Frontiers in Environmental Science ◽

10.3389/fenvs.2020.613646 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Baitong Chen ◽

Jacek A. Koziel ◽

Chumki Banik ◽

Hantian Ma ◽

Myeongseong Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Swine Manure ◽

Pilot Scale ◽

Scientific Data ◽

Gaseous Emissions ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Deep Pit ◽

Wide Range ◽

Manure Storage ◽

User Friendly ◽

Storage Structures

Odorous gas emissions from swine production have been a concern for neighbors and communities near livestock farms. Manure storage is one of the main sources of gaseous emissions. Manure additive products are marketed as a simple solution to this environmental challenge. Manure additives are user-friendly for producers and can be applied (e.g., periodically poured into manure) without changing the current manure storage structure. Little scientific data exist on how these products perform in mitigating gaseous emissions from swine manure. The research objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of 12 marketed manure additives on mitigating odor, ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), greenhouse gases (GHG), and odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from stored swine manure. A controlled pilot-scale setup was used to conduct 8-week long trials using manufacturer-prescribed dosages of additives into swine manures. Manure was outsourced from three swine farms to represent a variety of manure storage types and other factors affecting the properties. Measured gaseous emissions were compared between the treated and untreated manure. None of the tested products showed a significant reduction in gaseous emissions when all (n = 3) manures were treated as replicates. Selected products showed a wide range of statistically-significant reduction and generation of gaseous emissions when emissions were compared in pairs of manure types from one farm. The latter observation highlighted the lack of consistent mitigation of gaseous emissions by manure additives. The results of this study do not warrant full-scale trials with the tested products.

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Organic Fertilizers for Greenhouse Tomatoes: Productivity and Substrate Microbiology

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.44.3.800 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 44 (3) ◽

pp. 800-809 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Zhengli Zhai ◽

David L. Ehret ◽

Tom Forge ◽

Tom Helmer ◽

Wei Lin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Activity ◽

Root Rot ◽

Organic Liquid ◽

Organic Fertilizer ◽

Swine Manure ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Liquid Fertilizer ◽

Yard Waste ◽

Crown And Root Rot ◽

Greenhouse Tomatoes

Organic fertilizer regimens consisting of combinations of composts (yard waste, swine manure, or spent mushroom substrate) and liquid fertilizers (fish- or plant-based) were evaluated against conventional hydroponic fertilizers in two experiments with greenhouse tomatoes grown in peat-based substrate. Crop yield and fruit quality were evaluated and several assays of substrate microbial activity and community profiles (fluorescein diacetate analysis and EcoLog, values, nematode counts) were conducted. Crops grown in 20% to 40% compost (yard waste or yard waste plus swine manure) plus a continuously applied liquid source of organic potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulphate (SO4) could not be sustained more than 1 month before nutrient deficiencies became visible. Supplementation with a nitrogen (N)- and phosphorus (P)-containing plant-based liquid fertilizer at the point when plant deficiencies became apparent subsequently produced yields ≈80% that of the hydroponic control. In a second experiment, the proportion of mushroom or yard waste compost was increased to 50% of the mix, and liquid delivery of K, Ca, Mg and SO4 plus either plant-based or fish-based N- and P-containing liquid feeds was started at the date of transplanting. In this case, organic yields equal to that of the hydroponic control (8.5 kg/plant) were observed in some treatments. The most productive organic treatment was the mushroom compost supplemented with a low concentration of the plant-based liquid fertilizer. In general, organic tomatoes had a lower postharvest decay index (better shelf life) than did the hydroponic controls, possibly as an indirect consequence of overall reduced yield in those treatments. High concentrations of both organic liquid feeds resulted in lower yields as a result of treatment-induced fusarium crown and root rot. In contrast to some previous studies, those treatments showing fusarium crown and root rot also had the highest gross microbial activity. Measures of gross microbial activity and numbers of microbivorous nematodes were higher (average of 37% and 6.7 times, respectively) in compost/organic feed treatments than in the hydroponic control. Community physiological profiles of the bacterial populations, on the other hand, did not differ between organic and hydroponic treatments. Nematode populations were significantly correlated with gross microbial activity in the organic treatments.

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Mitigation of Gaseous Emissions from Swine Manure with the Surficial Application of Biochars

10.20944/preprints202009.0614.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Zhanibek Meiirkhanuly ◽

Jacek A. Koziel ◽

Baitong Chen ◽

Andrzej Białowiec ◽

Myeongseong Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hydrogen Sulfide ◽

Environmental Impact ◽

Low Cost ◽

Swine Manure ◽

Animal Manure ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Regulatory Agencies ◽

Gaseous Emissions ◽

Volatile Organic ◽

Reduce Emissions

Environmental impact associated with odor and gaseous emissions from animal manure is one of the challenges for communities, farmers, and regulatory agencies. Microbe-based manure additives treatments are marketed and used by farmers for mitigation of emissions. However, their performance is difficult to assess objectively. Thus, a comprehensive, practical, and low-cost treatments are still in demand. We have been advancing such treatments based on physicochemical principles. The objective of this research was to test the effect of the surficial application of a thin layer (¼"; 6.3 mm) of biochar on the mitigation of gaseous emissions from swine manure. Two types of biochar were tested: highly alkaline and porous (HAP) biochar made from corn stover and red oak (RO), both with different pH and morphology. Three 30-day trials were conducted with a layer of HAP and RO (2.0 &amp; 1.65 kg∙m-2, respectively) applied on manure surface, and emissions of ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), greenhouse gases (GHG), and odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured. A significant reduction of NH3 and phenol emissions was observed. In the case of H2S, CH4, CO2, N2O, and other odorous VOCs, the biochar treatment reduced the emissions during the first 1~2 weeks, followed by either no effect or even (in some cases) increase of emissions. Based on this initial lab-scale testing, biochar is promising to be an effective, practical, and economical treatment to reduce emissions from stored swine manure. However, larger-scale experiments are needed to understand how biochar properties and the dose and frequency of application can be optimized to mitigate odor and gaseous emissions from swine manure. The lessons learned can also be applicable to consider using biochar for surficial applications to mitigate gaseous emissions from other types of waste and area sources.

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Reduction of gaseous emissions from swine manure: effect of biochar dose and reapplication

10.13031/aim.202100086 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Baitong Chen ◽

Jacek A Koziel ◽

Chumki Banik ◽

Hantian Ma ◽

Myeongseong Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Swine Manure ◽

Gaseous Emissions

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Increased applied voltage in the presence of GAC enhances microbial activity and methane production during anaerobic digestion of food waste

Environmental Science Water Research & Technology ◽

10.1039/c9ew01000a ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 737-746

Author(s):

Moustapha Harb ◽

Noel Ermer ◽

Christelle BouNehme Sawaya ◽

Adam L. Smith

Keyword(s):

Anaerobic Digestion ◽

Microbial Activity ◽

Food Waste ◽

Applied Voltage ◽

Methane Production ◽

Microbial Activities ◽

Conductive Material

Assessment of key microbial activities during the combined bioelectrochemical and conductive material-based enhancement of anaerobic digestion.

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The Impact of Surficial Biochar Treatment on Acute H2S Emissions during Swine Manure Agitation before Pump-Out: Proof-of-the-Concept

Catalysts ◽

10.3390/catal10080940 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 940 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Baitong Chen ◽

Jacek A. Koziel ◽

Andrzej Białowiec ◽

Myeongseong Lee ◽

Hantian Ma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Inhalation Exposure ◽

Swine Manure ◽

Carbonaceous Material ◽

Land Application ◽

Gaseous Emissions ◽

Total Emission ◽

Initial State ◽

H2s Emission ◽

The Impact

Acute releases of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are of serious concern in agriculture, especially when farmers agitate manure to empty storage pits before land application. Agitation can cause the release of dangerously high H2S concentrations, resulting in human and animal fatalities. To date, there is no proven technology to mitigate these short-term releases of toxic gas from manure. In our previous research, we have shown that biochar, a highly porous carbonaceous material, can float on manure and mitigate gaseous emissions over extended periods (days–weeks). In this research, we aim to test the hypothesis that biochar can mitigate H2S emissions over short periods (minutes–hours) during and shortly after manure agitation. The objective was to conduct proof-of-the-concept experiments simulating the treatment of agitated manure. Two biochars, highly alkaline and porous (HAP, pH 9.2) made from corn stover and red oak (RO, pH 7.5), were tested. Three scenarios (setups): Control (no biochar), 6 mm, and 12 mm thick layers of biochar were surficially-applied to the manure. Each setup experienced 3 min of manure agitation. Real-time concentrations of H2S were measured immediately before, during, and after agitation until the concentration returned to the initial state. The results were compared with those of the Control using the following three metrics: (1) the maximum (peak) flux, (2) total emission from the start of agitation until the concentration stabilized, and (3) the total emission during the 3 min of agitation. The Gompertz’s model for determination of the cumulative H2S emission kinetics was developed. Here, 12 mm HAP biochar treatment reduced the peak (1) by 42.5% (p = 0.125), reduced overall total emission (2) by 17.9% (p = 0.290), and significantly reduced the total emission during 3 min agitation (3) by 70.4%. Further, 6 mm HAP treatment reduced the peak (1) by 60.6%, and significantly reduced overall (2) and 3 min agitation’s (3) total emission by 64.4% and 66.6%, respectively. Moreover, 12 mm RO biochar treatment reduced the peak (1) by 23.6%, and significantly reduced overall (2) and 3 min total (3) emission by 39.3% and 62.4%, respectively. Finally, 6 mm RO treatment significantly reduced the peak (1) by 63%, overall total emission (2) by 84.7%, and total emission during 3 min agitation (3) by 67.4%. Biochar treatments have the potential to reduce the risk of inhalation exposure to H2S. Both 6 and 12 mm biochar treatments reduced the peak H2S concentrations below the General Industrial Peak Limit (OSHA PEL, 50 ppm). The 6 mm biochar treatments reduced the H2S concentrations below the General Industry Ceiling Limit (OSHA PEL, 20 ppm). Research scaling up to larger manure volumes and longer agitation is warranted.

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