On-Site Modular Animal Waste Processing With Microalgae Nutrient Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal waste management systems face challenges in efficiently processing and transforming slurry on-site, leading to high transportation costs, environmental pollution, and inefficient nutrient recovery, with a need for scalable and sustainable solutions to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and optimize nutrient utilization.
Innovation Solution
An on-site modular system comprising solid/liquid separation, high-pressure homogenization, sonication, microalgae culture, and separation units to produce high-value by-products, such as nitrogen-rich and phosphorus-rich microalgae fractions, reducing the need for off-site transportation and emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If slurry is transported off-site for processing, then treatment capacity is improved, but transportation costs and greenhouse gas emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables farms to process their own slurry on-site using modular units that convert waste into valuable products (biogas, fertilizers, animal feed), eliminating the need for off-site transportation while maintaining effective treatment capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The processing system is divided into modular, self-contained units (anaerobic digesters, separation units, drying units) that can be deployed at the farm level, allowing decentralized processing without requiring centralized facilities
2Productivity
If slurry is stored in large volumes, then continuous production is maintained, but storage space requirements and environmental risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system processes slurry continuously through modular units that convert waste to products in real-time, eliminating the need for large storage volumes by maintaining constant processing rather than batch accumulation
Solution Approach 2:
The modular processing units act as intermediaries between slurry generation and final product utilization, enabling continuous transformation of waste materials without requiring intermediate storage
3Productivity
If intensive farming is used, then productivity is improved, but nutrient concentration in waste increases causing environmental pollution
Solution Approach 1:
The system transforms the chemical and physical parameters of slurry through biological digestion and mechanical separation, converting high-nutrient waste into stabilized fertilizers and biogas, thereby reducing pollutant concentration while maintaining farming productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers valuable nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) from intensive farming waste through separation and processing, converting what would be pollutants into useful fertilizers and energy sources
4Quantity of substance
If complex treatment processes are applied, then nutrient recovery is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment process is divided into separate modular units (anaerobic digestion, solid-liquid separation, drying) that can be independently operated and maintained, reducing overall system complexity while achieving comprehensive nutrient recovery
Solution Approach 2:
The modular units are designed to perform multiple functions (treatment, separation, product generation) within each component, reducing the total number of specialized devices needed while maintaining high nutrient recovery efficiency
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 system effectively transforms animal waste into valuable feed ingredients and phytoremediators, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% and optimizing nutrient recovery, while minimizing transportation and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
a treatment unit for treating animal waste comprising a solid/liquid separation unit in order to obtain a slurry-derived liquid animal waste fraction
Implementation Method 2
a unit for separating solid/liquid homogenized nutrient-rich microalgae-derived colloid suspension produced in unit (d) comprising a solid/liquid separation unit and/or a microfiltration unit
Implementation Method 3
a treatment unit for homogenizing liquid animal waste fraction of unit (a) comprising a high-pressure homogenization and/or sonication unit in order to obtain a homogenized nutrient-rich liquid fraction
Implementation Method 4
a treatment unit for homogenizing liquid animal waste fraction of unit (a) comprising a high-pressure homogenization and/or sonication unit
Implementation Method 5
a culture unit for culturing microalgae by using the homogenized nutrient-rich liquid fraction obtained in the unit (b) as a culture medium
Implementation Method 6
a unit for separating solid/liquid homogenized nutrient-rich microalgae-derived colloid suspension produced in unit (d) comprising a solid/liquid separation unit and/or a microfiltration unit in order to obtain two byproducts
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to an on-site modular system for processing and transforming animal waste. The present invention also relates to a process for transforming animal waste in situ using said on-site modular system. The present invention further relates to the uses and derived advantages in terms of farm greenhouse gas emissions management and agricultural or natural soil amendments of a processed rich-nutrients biologically absorbable nitrogen-rich phosphorus-rich potassium-rich liquid microalgae culture fraction obtained with the process of the invention. Besides, the invention further relates to the uses as recycler of toxic or contaminants in animal waste farm and/or for animal feed of a processed rich-carbon solid inactivated microalgae culture fraction obtained with the process of the invention.