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Phosphorus Removal of Dairy Wastewater via Lime Precipitation

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  International Symposium on Air Quality and Manure Management for Agriculture Conference Proceedings, 13-16 September 2010, Dallas, Texas  711P0510cd.(doi:10.13031/2013.32670)
Authors:   Ronald E Sheffield, Troy F Davis, Vinicius R Moreira, Brian D LeBlanc
Keywords:   Phosphorus, dairy, wastewater, manure, pathogens, water quality

Phosphorus (P) recovery from dairy manure has the potential to improve water quality and nutrient cycling, extend P reserves and generate additional revenue for livestock producers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a lime precipitation system without biological pre-treatment to remove phosphorus from dairy wastewater. Three dairy manure and wastewater management systems were investigated in South-central Idaho and Southeastern Louisiana, namely: separated parlor wastewater, separated flushed manure, and an anaerobic lagoon system receiving raw parlor water. Lime precipitation was found to remove 83 % of total phosphorus (TP) and 99.7 % of the dissolved P, with the addition of 4.17 %, by volume, of a 1:9 hydrated lime (Ca(OH)2)to water solution. Using the same lime solution, a 66 % reduction in dissolved and TP was observed with a 10 %, by volume, addition to separated flushed dairy manure with approximately 45 % total solids. Additions of 5 % of Ca(OH)2 solution, by volume, resulted in 63 % and 78 % reductions in dissolved and TP when tested on non-separated parlor wastewater. A 5 % lime slurry addition was found to have a 6-log reduction of fecal coliforms, from raw dairy parlor wastewater, and a 5.5-log reduction when added to the lagoon effluent. If the proposed lime precipitation system was implemented to treat lagoon effluent, it is anticipated that an 8-log reduction in fecal coliforms would be observed, greatly reducing the potential risk from pathogenic organisms during the application of treated manure.

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