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Published on: June 6, 2016
Alternative amendment for soluble phosphorus removal from poultry litter
Konstantinos C Makris1, Dibyendu Sarkar, Jason Salazar
1International Institute for the Environment and Public Health in association with Harvard School of Public Health, Nicosia, 1105, Cyprus. kmakris@cyprusinstitute.org
Summary
Aluminum-based drinking-water treatment residuals (Al-WTRs) effectively remove phosphorus from poultry litter, offering a cost-effective alternative to alum. Further research is needed to confirm performance in real-world animal waste applications.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Agricultural Science
- Water Treatment Technology
Background:
- Alum (aluminum sulfate) is the standard for phosphorus (P) removal in poultry litter (PL).
- Aluminum-based drinking-water treatment residuals (Al-WTRs) effectively remove P from water but haven't been studied in PL.
- Al-WTRs offer a potentially cheaper alternative to alum for P management in PL.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of Al-WTRs in reducing water-extractable phosphorus (WEP) in PL.
- To determine the optimal amendment rates and the impact of incubation time, pH, and temperature on P removal.
- To compare Al-WTRs as a cost-effective P management strategy in PL.
Main Methods:
- Batch and incubation experiments were conducted to assess WTR amendment rates.
- WEP concentrations were measured under varying incubation times, pH (3-8), and temperatures (23°C and 35°C).
- Statistical analysis (p < 0.001) was used to determine the significance of WTR effects.
Main Results:
- Al-WTRs demonstrated biphasic P removal: 60% in 10 minutes, 90% within 12 days.
- P removal was not significantly affected by pH changes between 3 and 8.
- At 23°C, WTR amendment (2.5-15 wt.%) reduced WEP to approximately 40% of unamended PL.
Conclusions:
- Increased temperature (35°C) enhanced P removal by overcoming diffusion limitations.
- Al-WTRs show promise as a cost-effective method for reducing P availability in PL.
- Field studies are essential to validate the laboratory findings for animal waste applications.
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