IMPROVEMENT OF THERMOPHILIC OXIC PROCESS BY SHORTENING A TREATMENT CYCLE

Abstract

To improve treatment efficiency of thermophilic oxic process (TOP) treating swine waste, the effect of shortening the waste-input cycle was examined. By shortening the waste-input cycle from 24 h to 8 h, the maximum loading rate of swine waste per day could be improved 2.3 times and necessary amount of auxiliary heat source was reduced. A high temperature in the reactor maintained by shortening the waste-input cycle was found to contribute to stimulate the activity of thermophilic bacteria, resulting in improvement of treatment efficiency and reduction of necessary auxiliary heat source. A long term TOP operated by 8 h cycle for waste-input with an optimal auxiliary heat source addition confirmed the treatment feasibility of TOP during 120 cycle (for 40 days) concerning treatment efficiency and maintenance of moisture content in the reactor. This study demonstrated several merits of shortening the waste-input cycle of TOP.