Resource-recovery processes from animal waste as best available technology

Abstract

Along with the world population increase, meat requirement has been also increasing; thus, massive livestock manure has been released leading to problems due to surplus nutrients. To overcome this situation, we should consider availing some nutrient removal or reuse technology. The commonest way to recover resources from livestock manure is by producing liquid fertilizer and compost. However, some technologies are required to make it easier and safer for transportation and handling of manure fertilizer due to various problems such as poor fertilization quality with low maturity, emission of odor, nutrient loss, and disharmony due to fluctuating seasonal and regional supplies and demands. In this study, available technologies for resource recovery from animal wastes were introduced with economic benefits, and an integrated system was proposed including energy flow. The system consisted of anaerobic digestion or microbial fuel cell, struvite precipitation for P recovery, nitrogen enrichment by mechanical vapor compression distillation, and incineration processes (optional). Consequently, the energy output from the system could be sufficient for operating the entire system without the need for extra energy input.