Treating pig waste with algae
The
discovery is a world first and offers a potentially cost effective means of
remediating piggery effluent. Photo: animaltheory.blogspot.com
discovery is a world first and offers a potentially cost effective means of
remediating piggery effluent. Photo: animaltheory.blogspot.com
Murdoch
University researchers are investigating whether the effluent from piggeries
can be effectively treated with micro- and macroalgae so that species of the
organism can be safely fed back to pigs.
University researchers are investigating whether the effluent from piggeries
can be effectively treated with micro- and macroalgae so that species of the
organism can be safely fed back to pigs.
The
Cooperative Research Centre for High Integrity Australian Pork (Pork CRC) has
invested $300,000 with the Algae Research and Development Centre at Murdoch
University to investigate the proposals, which would cut costs, recover energy
from waste and reduce the potential for groundwater contamination at piggeries.
Cooperative Research Centre for High Integrity Australian Pork (Pork CRC) has
invested $300,000 with the Algae Research and Development Centre at Murdoch
University to investigate the proposals, which would cut costs, recover energy
from waste and reduce the potential for groundwater contamination at piggeries.
So far
Centre Director Dr. Navid Moheimani, and his team from the School of Veterinary
and Life Sciences, have discovered three different types of microalgae that can
grow on untreated piggery anaerobic digestate effluent, which typically
contains extremely high levels of ammonium.
Centre Director Dr. Navid Moheimani, and his team from the School of Veterinary
and Life Sciences, have discovered three different types of microalgae that can
grow on untreated piggery anaerobic digestate effluent, which typically
contains extremely high levels of ammonium.
Anaerobic
digestion in lagoons or ponds on farms is currently the most common method used
to process piggery waste. The discovery is a world first and offers a
potentially cost effective means of remediating piggery effluent. They have
found that microalgae remove ammonia, other nutrients and potentially reduce
the pathogen load in the effluent, meaning that the treated wastewater can be
reused.
digestion in lagoons or ponds on farms is currently the most common method used
to process piggery waste. The discovery is a world first and offers a
potentially cost effective means of remediating piggery effluent. They have
found that microalgae remove ammonia, other nutrients and potentially reduce
the pathogen load in the effluent, meaning that the treated wastewater can be
reused.
The algal
biomass produced is potentially a protein rich food source for pigs and other
animals, although Dr. Moheimani said extensive testing would be required. “We
have high hopes that this method of treating effluent will ensure the algal
biomass produced can be fed back to the pigs which will make Australian
piggeries much less wasteful and more cost competitive,” said Dr. Moheimani.
“Of course if this works for pigs, it could also work for different livestock.
Pig slurry could well be viewed by the industry as a resource rather than a
waste management issue.”
biomass produced is potentially a protein rich food source for pigs and other
animals, although Dr. Moheimani said extensive testing would be required. “We
have high hopes that this method of treating effluent will ensure the algal
biomass produced can be fed back to the pigs which will make Australian
piggeries much less wasteful and more cost competitive,” said Dr. Moheimani.
“Of course if this works for pigs, it could also work for different livestock.
Pig slurry could well be viewed by the industry as a resource rather than a
waste management issue.”
Dr. Rob
Wilson and Dr. Navid Moheimani, of the Algae R&D Centre at Murdoch
University, in Perth, Australia. Photo: Brendon Cant
Wilson and Dr. Navid Moheimani, of the Algae R&D Centre at Murdoch
University, in Perth, Australia. Photo: Brendon Cant
Dr.
Moheimani and his colleagues are now looking at methods to optimize the growth
of the microalgae on the effluent and are bioprospecting for suitable species
of macroalgae to grow. Macroalgae are larger and easier to harvest than
microalgae.
Moheimani and his colleagues are now looking at methods to optimize the growth
of the microalgae on the effluent and are bioprospecting for suitable species
of macroalgae to grow. Macroalgae are larger and easier to harvest than
microalgae.
The anaerobic
digestion process currently used in piggeries produces a low quality
fertilizer. A byproduct of this process is the creation of biogas, which is a
renewable energy source consisting mostly of methane and carbon dioxide. This
is often used to generate electricity on farms. If the researchers find the
micro- and macroalgae grown on effluent is unfit for consumption by pigs, Dr.
Moheimani said his team will investigate how algae can help to maximize biogas
production from piggery effluent.
digestion process currently used in piggeries produces a low quality
fertilizer. A byproduct of this process is the creation of biogas, which is a
renewable energy source consisting mostly of methane and carbon dioxide. This
is often used to generate electricity on farms. If the researchers find the
micro- and macroalgae grown on effluent is unfit for consumption by pigs, Dr.
Moheimani said his team will investigate how algae can help to maximize biogas
production from piggery effluent.
This is a
multidisciplinary project involving experts with different backgrounds. Dr.
Moheimani is the project principal investigator while his Murdoch University
colleagues, Professor John Pluske, Emeritus Professor Michael Borowitzka and
Dr. John Huisman, are contributing their expertise in nutrient studies, algal
cultivation and economics, and macroalgal bioprospecting respectively. Dr.
Sasha Jenkins from the University of Western Australia is helping to
investigate the anaerobic digestion process while Jeremy Ayre is conducting his
PhD mainly on microalgae cultivation aspects of the project. Mr. Ayre is in his
first year of study and his scholarship is co-funded by the Pork CRC and
Murdoch University.
multidisciplinary project involving experts with different backgrounds. Dr.
Moheimani is the project principal investigator while his Murdoch University
colleagues, Professor John Pluske, Emeritus Professor Michael Borowitzka and
Dr. John Huisman, are contributing their expertise in nutrient studies, algal
cultivation and economics, and macroalgal bioprospecting respectively. Dr.
Sasha Jenkins from the University of Western Australia is helping to
investigate the anaerobic digestion process while Jeremy Ayre is conducting his
PhD mainly on microalgae cultivation aspects of the project. Mr. Ayre is in his
first year of study and his scholarship is co-funded by the Pork CRC and
Murdoch University.
The project
is also supported by the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia
and the University of Melbourne (Dr. Peter Cakebread).
is also supported by the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia
and the University of Melbourne (Dr. Peter Cakebread).
According
to Pork CRC Program Four (“Carbon Conscious Nutrient Inputs and Outputs”)
Leader, Dr. Rob Wilson, this exciting area of research for the Pork CRC follows
a successful Honors project by Mr. Ayres. “Australian pork producers are a
resourceful group, as demonstrated by the successful uptake of energy
replacement by the capture and use of biogas on-farm and this work complements
the environmental credentials of pork producers while exploring the possibility
of producing a food source or a co-digestion product for bioenergy output,” Dr.
Wilson said.
to Pork CRC Program Four (“Carbon Conscious Nutrient Inputs and Outputs”)
Leader, Dr. Rob Wilson, this exciting area of research for the Pork CRC follows
a successful Honors project by Mr. Ayres. “Australian pork producers are a
resourceful group, as demonstrated by the successful uptake of energy
replacement by the capture and use of biogas on-farm and this work complements
the environmental credentials of pork producers while exploring the possibility
of producing a food source or a co-digestion product for bioenergy output,” Dr.
Wilson said.
