Research points to new methods for poultry wastewater treatment

The U.S. ​Poultry & Egg ​Assn. and the ​USPOULTRY ​Foundation ​announced the ​completion of a ​funded research ​project at the ​University of ​Kansas in ​Lawrence, Kan., ​that found new ​methods for ​poultry ​wastewater ​treatment. ​

In a recently ​completed ​research ​project, Dr. ​Gibum Kwon at ​the University ​of Kansas ​Center for ​Research found ​that innovative ​new technologies ​could be ​applied to the ​treatment of ​poultry ​processing ​plant ​wastewater, ​USPOULTRY said. ​

Representative image by Pexels , labeled for reuse

Research summary:

Poultry ​processing ​facilities use ​a large volume ​of fresh water ​and produce a ​large volume of ​wastewater ​daily. Current ​poultry ​wastewater ​remediation ​technologies ​include a ​series of ​consecutive ​steps including ​sedimentation, ​biological ​oxidation of ​organic ​pollutes using ​microorganisms, ​and filtration. ​These processes ​may require ​using chemical ​agents and ​biological ​species that ​must be removed ​before ​discharge or ​may require a ​long treatment ​time resulting ​in the increase ​of operating ​cost. The ​primary goal of ​this project ​was to devise ​an economically ​viable, highly ​energy-​efficient ​continuous ​single unit ​operation for ​the remediation ​of poultry ​wastewater by ​uniquely ​combining smart ​membrane-based ​separation, ​liquid-liquid ​extraction and ​recovery of ​value-added ​products. ​

During the ​period of this ​project ​specific ​objectives were ​addressed and ​significant ​progress made ​toward the ​development of ​the new system. ​ Membranes ​were developed ​possessing ​selective ​wettability, ​both hydrophilic ​(water loving) ​and oleophobic (​oil hating), ​and photocatalytic ​ability by ​coating ​commercially ​available ​filters with ​photocatalytic ​titania (TiO2) ​nanoparticles. ​Parameters for ​successfully ​coating these ​membranes were ​studied and ​optimized. A ​novel ​continuous ​separation ​apparatus was ​engineered that ​consists of a ​mixer, an ​extractant, and ​two membranes ​operating in ​parallel. This ​allows ​continuous ​separation of ​oil-water ​mixtures by ​combining ​membrane-based ​and liquid-​liquid ​extraction. ​Experiments ​were successfully ​conducted to ​establish the ​proof-of-​concept that ​value-added ​products could ​be recovered ​after ​separation ​utilizing a ​commercial ​hydrophobic ​adsorbent. ​

The new ​apparatus has ​been tested ​using real ​wastewater from ​a poultry ​processing ​plant and ​performed well ​under ​laboratory ​conditions. ​Several aspects ​must be ​improved before ​it can be ​commercially ​successful, ​such as filter ​cleaning, ​filter ​durability and ​by-product ​recovery ​capacity. This ​research is ​very important ​to the future ​of the poultry ​industry ​because ​innovative new ​technologies ​are needed to ​improve the ​treatment of ​poultry ​wastewater. ​Such technologies ​can help the ​industry ​enhance its ​programs to ​reuse, conserve ​and recycle ​water. ​

Source: USPOULTRY