Experiments were done in order to verify the feasibility and performances of a continuous aeration and sedimentation process for swine manure. The tests were realized on a pilot scale setting with two reactors of 1 cubic meter where aeration was done. Three different aeration and retention time treatments were tested: 1 1/2 day with high aeration rate, 1 1/2 day with low aeration and 4 days with low aeration. During the experiment, the temperature in the reactors is maintained between 25 to 35 C. As it is a continuous process, every hour, some treated manure is put in the sedimentation bin for 48 hours if the retention time in the reactor is 4 days and 18 hours for the retention time of 1 1/2 days. The aeration treatments showed that the volatile fatty acids were importantly lower (reduction of 99,5%), the chemical oxygen demand was also reduced by more than 40% and the nitrogen was removed by 15 to 47% (the operation conditions of the reactor have to be well controlled in order to limit the losses by NH3 and N2O). At the end of the sedimentation stage, the sludge obtained represents 37% of the initial volume and contains the main part of the insoluble elements. The treatment deodorize the manure and the liquid part could be used for crop irrigation as it is still charged with nutrients.

No information is given on the level of deodorization. No information is given on the economics of such systems. Two products have to be disposed and evaluated for their nutrient content and two different types of equipment may be needed to handle the liquid part and to handle the sludge.