The emission of hazardous and odorous gases from outdoor hog manure basins is a regulatory and public nuisance concern for the pork production industry. Besides aerobic biological treatment, few (if any) technologies are effective in controlling the emission of the wide range of gases responsible for legitimate odor complaints. The direct application of the aeration approaches used in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment results in unacceptably high operating costs. However, the conversion of existing outdoor hog manure basins into facultative lagoons designed and operated especially for odor control (instead of wastewater treatment) offers attractive economics.
The proposed research project will evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of using a novel and low-cost aeration technology for the creation and maintenance of facultative lagoons to reduce the emission of hazardous and odorous gasses from outdoor hog manure basins.
Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications of Research:: The research project is expected to demonstrate that the evaluated aeration technology offers a low-cost means of controlling the emission of offensive gasses from hog manure basins. Implementation of the aeration technology will improve the sustainability of the pork production industry by lessening the environmental impact of hog manure disposal, allowing for the economic growth of the industry, and by improving the well-being of rural communities. The aeration technology would also have applications in the sugar refining, dairy, and food processing industries.
