One of the possibilities to abate the environmental problems caused by
pig manure surpluses is separation of the manure into clean water and
an organo-mineral fertilizer. An efficient way to realise such a sepa
ration is by central processing in large plants. The process in such a
plant comprises a large number of logically arranged basic treatment
steps. In the Netherlands, practical application of large-scale centra
l processing of pig manure has just been started. Two of these systems
are discussed, the Promest system and the Memon system. Based on seve
ral studies the investment of a central treatment plant, with a proces
sing capacity of 500,000 tonnes of raw pig manure annually, is estimat
ed at approximately Dfl. 100,000,000. Gross operating costs are estima
ted at about Dfl. 60 per tonne of raw pig manure. The value of the fer
tilizer produced per tonne of raw pig manure is estimated at an amount
between Dfl. 20 and Dfl. 35. Foreign markets have to be opened for ut
ilisation of this fertilizer in agriculture. To improve such central p
rocessing systems, current research focuses on the improvement of exis
ting systems, development of new systems, and production of more valua
ble products such as lysine.