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Many animal feed lots are being forced to deal with BOD removal, nutrient levels and TSS issues that previously were not required to be significantly addressed. We were asked to help speed up the start-up of a biological wastewater lagoon system for a pig farm. The site was composed of a series of ponds. The first actually was designed with returned sludge and high aeration, so that BOD and nitrification could occur. The second two ponds had less and less aeration so that the solids would settle out, and the carbonaceous bacteria would continue to degrade the BOD, yet consume some of the nitrates (generated by the nitrification process in the earlier stage) as an alternative oxygen source, thereby reducing total nutrient levels. The plant sent in a sample to us for microscopic analyses. There originally were very few, if any bacteria present in the system. There were some single celled bacteria, small floc structures, some filaments and some flagellates.
This was in December of 2004. We suggested a program of seeding the system with carbonaceous bacteria and micronutrients first. See how much degradation occurs. Then when the weather warms up in March, seed with the nitrifiers. Temperature is extremely critical with nitrifiers, and must be above 50° F if you realistically expect to achieve significant nitrification. The program and dosing went as directed. The plant is extremely pleased with the results and is now seeding additional plants with nitrifying bacteria and carbonaceous bacteria to increase biological activity at those plants also. It will be interesting to see how the plant progresses over time.
You can see by the graph below, that the influent BOD comes in around 1000-1200 ppm. Effluent BOD's were around 200ppm. We recommended increasing bioaugmentation with the carbonaceous bacteria a bit more to get the excess BOD completely removed, but the effluent went to an additional polishing pond, so typical final effluent permit levels are not totally critical or necessary at this point.
Influent TKN levels come in above 1800. You can see by the graph, the progressive decrease in total nitrogen levels. This would include ammonia and any amine compounds.
You can see that ammonia levels are significantly high and steady in the influent. Effluent levels are progressively decreasing in only a couple of months.
There were no nitrates present in the influent at the start of the trial, since there were no nitrifiers present to achieve nitrification, and there were no nitrates present in the influent. There were significant levels of nitrates achieved in only a short time of adding the nitrifiers.
By August, nitrate levels were up to 572 in the south pond after nitrification, but down again to .6 in the final effluent, showing that the carbonaceous bacteria were indeed consuming the nitrates as an alternative oxygen in the final pond in order to consume some of the remaining BOD. Significant nutrient removal is occurring at this plant, both by the carbonaceous bacteria and by the nitrifiers.
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Animal
Feedlot Case History
