Determination of the reduction in weight and volume of cow manure during its processing

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of processing by-product of animal husbandry (cattle breeding) – manure obtained from cattle – by biocomposting. Processing of manure in biocomposters "ECO" manufactured by VKO "AlmazAntey", operating from a 380 V electric network, is a modern, environmentally friendly and cost-effective technology. Organic waste of the agro-industrial complex (crop growing, animal husbandry, fish farming) pose a biological threat, contributing to the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms and the spread of zoonotic infections. Bacteria such as Salmonella spp., E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes can pollute soil, water and agricultural crops. Biowaste also attracts synanthropic animals – carriers of infections. An effective solution is aerobic biocomposting with the participation of thermophilic microorganisms at a temperature of 50 -85 °C. The technology provides multi-stage degradation of the organic substrate, resulting in the formation of a bio-mixture suitable for use as a fertilizer or feed additive, with a volume of 10% of the original. In parallel, the material is disinfected with the deactivation of pathogenic microflora, including antibiotic-resistant strains. In this article, we will tell you how much the mass and volume of manure are reduced due to moisture evaporation, and calculate the energy efficiency of using biocomposter equipment with this technology. The results of field tests have established that when processing a by-product of animal husbandry - cow manure - in the biothermal composter "ECO", its volume and mass are reduced by 75 - 85% of the original. Energy costs for processing 1 kg of a by-product of animal husbandry (cow manure) are about 0.78 kW / h or 3.75 rubles per 1 kg. (The tariff is indicated for institutions in St. Petersburg, in other regions of the Russian Federation tariffs may differ).