LABORATORY STUDY OF SURFACE AERATION OF ANAEROBIC LAGOONS FOR ODOR CONTROL OF SWINE MANURE

Surface aeration of swine manure stored in anaerobic lagoons for odor control was experimentally studied in the laboratory. The effects of d ifferent aeration rates and depths on reduction in emission of odorous gases were determined for both continuous and intermittent aeration p rocesses. Surface aeration was found to be effective for controlling o dors of anaerobic lagoons. Continuous low rate aeration to maintain th e dissolved oxygen in the surface liquid layer at 0.5 to 2.5 mg/L was effective for odor control but resulted in high ammonia emission rates . Intermittent aeration was found to be a feasible approach to minimiz e the energy requirement for aeration while still effectively controll ing the odors of the manure.