The results obtained during the first year of execution of a joint Russian-
Dutch project "The development of integrated anaerobic-aerobic treatment of
liquid manure streams with maximisation of production of valuable by-produ
cts (fertilisers, biogas) and re-utilisation of water" (1999-2001) are disc
ussed. The application of a straw filter was an effective means to separate
the solid and liquid fractions of diluted pig manure wastewater and result
ed in the removal of a significant part of the dry matter, total nitrogen a
nd phosphorus (65, 27 and 32%, respectively). From the filtrate generated,
60-80 % of the COD was removed in a UASB reactor operating at 20-30 degrees
C. Up to 66% of phosphate was precipitated after air stripping of the CO2
from the anaerobic effluents. Ammonia was efficiently removed (>99%) from t
he anaerobic effluents using zeolite (Ural laumantite) as an ion exchanger
However, the N-content of the resulting zeolite was too low to be used as a
fertiliser. A feasible alternative for nitrogen elimination involved nitri
fication of the anaerobic affluent followed by denitrification in a UASB re
actor using the COD of the filtrated manure wastewater as carbon source.