A bench-scale study on swine manure stabilization for odour control was conducted using
batch aeration reactors. In trial 1, two aeration lengths, i.e., 0.5 and 4.0 day, were used
under uncontrolled ambient temperature that increased gradually over the experimental
period. While in trial 2, a 16.0-day aeration scheme was employed under constant 17 1C. An
airflow rate of 1.2 L/s/m3 was used for both trials to aerate batch reactors containing
finishing pig manure with initial total solids (TS) levels ranging from 0.5 to 4.0%. Manure
stabilization during the 90-day post-treatment storage was evaluated by the changes in
organic materials, nitrogen and volatile fatty acids (VFA). The odour generation potential in
the treated manure was determined by the changes in VFA. Up to 827mL of liquid was lost
due to aeration related foaming. The reductions in total volatile solids (TVS), 5-day
biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and VFA during storage
were improved when aeration length increased. Low solids levels offered a more
advantageous circumstance for manure stabilization and odour control. Biodegradation
of organic matter, removal of nitrogen, and breakdown of VFA would increase with
increasing ambient temperature. VFA removals in manure under 16.0-day aeration were
higher than those under 0.5- and 4.0-day aeration; however, VFA regeneration started to
exceed its consumption on day 20 (4 days after the aeration treatment). BOD5 was the best
estimate of VFA concentration in the aerated manure during storage. The 4.0-day aeration
scheme was sufficient to stabilize manure to effectively assuage odour generation potential
during the 90-day storage under increasing ambient temperature conditions.