Animal Manure Fertilizer Process via Acid Stabilization and Aerobic Bioreaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional organic fertilizer products have lower nutrient levels, require extended breakdown times, and are limited by labor, equipment costs, and regulatory restrictions, making them inefficient for providing desirable plant nutrients without health and environmental concerns associated with pathogens in animal manure.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the stabilization of animal waste through acid treatment, aeration, and separation into liquid and solid components, followed by autothermal thermophilic aerobic bioreaction to produce pathogen-free organic fertilizer products with balanced nutrient release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional organic fertilizer products are used, then they improve biodiversity and long term productivity of soils, but they contain lower quantities of nutrients and require extended periods of time to breakdown into useful soil materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling pH levels (adding acid to adjust pH), temperature (maintaining thermophilic conditions above 45°C), and aeration (maintaining aerobic conditions) during the decomposition process. These parameter optimizations accelerate the breakdown rate while maintaining nutrient quality, resolving the contradiction between reliable soil improvement and slow nutrient release.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-treating the animal manure through acidification and aerobic decomposition before use as fertilizer. This pre-processing stabilizes the organic matter and releases nutrients in advance, so that when applied to soil, the fertilizer provides readily available nutrients without requiring extended breakdown time in the field.
2Reliability
If conventional organic fertilizer products are used, then they provide organic matter and micronutrients to increase soil organisms, but they are typically solid materials which limits their use due to labor and equipment costs and regulatory restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter from solid to liquid by conducting the decomposition process in liquid slurry form with controlled moisture content (60-80%). The resulting liquid organic fertilizer can be easily pumped, transported, and applied using standard liquid fertilizer equipment, eliminating the labor and equipment constraints associated with solid organic fertilizers while maintaining all beneficial organic matter and micronutrients.
3Quantity of substance
If animal manure is used directly as fertilizer, then it provides essential nutrients to plants, but it contains pathogens that create health and environmental concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses accelerated oxidation through maintained aerobic decomposition conditions with continuous aeration and oxygen supply. This oxidative environment effectively destroys pathogens in the animal manure while preserving and even concentrating essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, thus eliminating health concerns without sacrificing nutrient content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by maintaining thermophilic temperatures (above 45°C, preferably 50-60°C) and acidic pH conditions (adding acid to lower pH) during decomposition. These parameter changes create an environment that kills pathogens while stabilizing nutrients. The combination of heat, acidification, and aerobic conditions ensures pathogen elimination while retaining full nutrient value.
4Quantity of substance
If unprocessed animal waste is applied to soil, then it provides immediate nutrients, but it requires extended periods of time to breakdown into useful soil materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary decomposition action in a controlled industrial setting before the fertilizer reaches the field. By completing the bulk of the breakdown process beforehand under optimized conditions (aerobic, thermophilic, acidified), the fertilizer arrives at the application site already transformed into useful soil materials, eliminating the need for extended field breakdown time while maintaining nutrient availability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The process results in organic fertilizer products that are free from pathogens, provide balanced nutrient release, and are environmentally friendly, addressing the limitations of conventional fertilizers by maintaining aerobic conditions to prevent anaerobic decomposition and retaining nitrogen nutrients effectively.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the animal waste composition with an acid to produce a stabilized animal waste composition
Implementation Method 2
aerating the animal waste composition
Implementation Method 3
separating a solid component and a liquid component of the stabilized animal waste composition
Implementation Method 4
subjecting the separated liquid component to an autothermal thermophilic aerobic bioreaction
Implementation Method 5
autothermal thermophilic aerobic bioreaction comprises maintaining aerobic condition and a temperature suitable for the promotion of thermophilic bacteria
Implementation Method 6
aerobic conditions are maintained throughout the process
Data Source
AI summary
Processes for manufacturing organic fertilizer products, such as liquid and solid organic fertilizer, from animal manure are disclosed, together with the fertilizer products produced therefrom.