KR20000069306A - Process and apparatus for utilizing animal excrement - Google Patents

Abstract

Described are animal waste use methods for producing products based on animal excrement useful as artificial soils, soil modifiers or peat substitutes, and animal waste use devices implementing the method and products based on animal waste produced according to the method. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing a solid feed comprising animal feces, (b) forming an aqueous mixture of the solid feed and water, and (c) subjecting the aqueous mixture to a period of time. Processing to alternating current at a frequency in the range of 5 Hz to 200 Hz; and separating the excess liquid from the alternating process of step (d) to recover the solid product. The solid product recovered after step (d) is odorless, microbiologically sterile, porous and able to absorb several times its own weight of water.

Description

Process and apparatus for utilizing animal excrement

The need for soil improvement in agriculture (especially small scale agriculture known as "market gardening") and horticulture, for example, softens mud soils and improves the uniformity of sandy soils, especially It is known to improve the moisture holding capacity of many types of soils.

Peat is formed by the partial decomposition of certain plants that grow in wetlands and swamps and is a carbonaceous material (preferably intermediate in the formation of lignite and coal) that is far from known fuels, which is an open porosity as a soil improver. It is widely used due to its tissue and high water absorption ability. Peat is also used as a dragonfly material for livestock, ie cattle and horses (including race horses).

However, due to ecological problems, many countries forbid peat mining, and in countries where peat is not mined locally, the cost of transportation from the country of origin makes the product very expensive. For this reason, there is a need in the market, especially in countries where peat is expensive, for a peat substitute having properties similar to natural peat.

In many countries animals are used for human needs, but only in modern times, depending on the greater population density and increased awareness of issues related to ecology, health and hygiene, animal excretion (especially but not limited to) Domestically grown and largely used herbivores of large herbivore animals) can cause environmental problems of biological contamination, such as air, land and water.

For this reason, animal droppings used directly as fertilizers are avoided. Thus, the removal and economical use of animal feces is highly desirable. Although this demand is partially met by artificial compost, this method requires large scale operation using expensive equipment for aerobic and aerobic operation for viability, and is suitable for relatively small scale operations. Not.

Artificial composting, on the other hand, requires large space, labor-intensive and environmental risks. Thus, economic use of animal waste remains. It is surprising that the inventors have invented by the present inventors that the need for such peat substitutes and the need for useful and economical disposal of confined animal waste are satisfied by both the method and the apparatus in the present invention.

Thus, (i) a method of producing animal excrement products usable as artificial soil, soil modifier or soil material, (ii) an apparatus for effectively carrying out the method, and (iii) artificial soil, soil modifier prepared according to the above method. Or it has been widely recognized that it is very advantageous and necessary to have products based on animal feces available as peat material.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for using animal excrement, and in particular, to a method for producing a product based on animal excretion that can be used as a substitute for artificial soil, soil improver or peat, and effectively A device for producing a product based on animal excrement that is implemented and is available as a substitute for artificial soil, soil improver or peat produced according to the method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the reactor of the present invention useful in the method of the present invention and being a feature of the apparatus of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the reactor of the present invention useful in the method of the present invention and being a feature of the apparatus of the present invention.

3A-3G illustrate embodiments of arrangements of electrodes useful in the present invention.

4 shows an embodiment of the device of the present invention.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method for producing a product based on animal excrement available as an artificial soil, soil improving agent or peat material, an apparatus for effectively carrying out the method, and an artificial soil, soil improving agent produced according to the method or There is provided a product based on animal feces available as peat material.

According to another feature of the preferred embodiment of the invention described below, the method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an almost solid feed comprising excrement from an animal; Forming an aqueous mixture with water, (c) allowing the aqueous mixture to be treated with alternating current at a frequency in the range of 5 Hz to 200 Hz for a period of time, and (d) from the alternating treatment of step (c) above. Separating the excess liquid to recover the solid product, wherein the recovered solid product is odorless, microbiologically sterile, porous, and can absorb water several times its own weight. .

According to another feature of the invention in the above-described embodiment, the step is (i) in (a), wherein the animal is a herbivorous animal; (Ii) in (b), wherein the ratio of said nearly solid feed to water is within a ratio of about 1: 1 to 1: 4 per volume; In (iii) (c), the alternating current has a potential in the range of about 10 to about 1,000 volts; (Iii) in step (c), the time period is in the range of about 5 seconds to about 10 minutes; (Iii) The recovered solid product is characterized by at least one variable capable of absorbing water at least six times its own weight.

According to another feature in the preferred embodiment described, the treatment is affected by the flow of the aqueous mixture through the reactor, the reactor comprising a mechanism for providing an alternating current.

According to another feature in the preferred embodiment described the actual solid feed comprises raw animal feces.

According to another feature in the preferred embodiment described the actual solid feed comprises a mixture of animal waste with flour mill sludge.

According to another feature of the described preferred embodiments the ratio of animal excrement to the mill sludge falls within the range of about 1:10 to about 10: 1 by volume.

According to another feature of the described preferred embodiments it is provided as a porous product which is odorless, microbiologically sterile and capable of absorbing several times its own weight, is useful as artificial soil and is a soil improver or peat substitute. It can be obtained by the method.

According to another feature of the preferred embodiment described, it is provided as a useful product, soil modifier or peat substitute for artificial soil, which comprises an electrically treated animal fecal odorless, porous, microbiologically sterile and self It can absorb several times the weight of water.

According to another feature in the preferred embodiment described the device comprises (a) a first mechanism for providing an actual solid feed comprising excrement from an animal inside the device; (B) a second mechanism for forming an aqueous mixture of water and the actual solid feed; (C) a reactor mechanism for exposing the aqueous mixture for treatment with alternating current at a frequency in the range of 5 Hz to 200 kHz, and (d) excess liquid in the product to recover the solid product and from the reactor mechanism. And a line that in turn includes a third mechanism for separating the.

According to another feature of the described preferred embodiments the reactor mechanism is a tubular reactor defining a reactor space which is usually bounded by an insulating wall mechanism, an inlet and outlet mechanism for flowing an aqueous mixture through the reactor space, and Phase and zero electrodes are disposed within the reactor space and are connected to the supply of alternating current having a frequency in the range of 5 Hz-200 kHz, thereby allowing the aqueous mixture to flow as the mixture flows through the reactor space. To provide a mechanism for supplying the current.

According to another feature of the described preferred embodiments the reactor mechanism for use in the device comprises a reactor defining a reactor space bounded by an insulating wall mechanism, the reactor for flowing an aqueous mixture through the reactor space. A phase and zero electrodes disposed within the reactor space and connected to the supply of alternating current having a frequency in the range of 5 Hz-200 kHz, thereby providing the inlet and outlet mechanisms. A mechanism is provided for supplying the current for the aqueous mixture as the mixture flows.

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a product useful as an artificial soil, a soil improver or a peat substitute, as well as an apparatus for its manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for the use of economic, useful, hygienic and environmentally friendly animal excretion.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the use of mill sludge.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a product which is potentially useful as a hygienic stratified material for leather.

Other objects of the present invention appear in the following detailed description.

The invention is described by way of example with reference to the following figures.

The present invention is a method and apparatus for using animal excretion used in the manufacture of products based on animal excrement useful as artificial soils, soil improvers or peat substitutes. In particular, the present invention is used to provide a microbiologically sterile porous product and is achieved by the method of the present invention, which is free of odors capable of absorbing water of several times its own weight useful as artificial soil, soil improver or peat substitute.

The principle and operation of the method and apparatus according to the invention will be clearly understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying detailed description.

A starting material for the method of the present invention, "substantially solid feed", includes solid excretion of animals in the period of raw material. The feed also includes a mixture of animal feces with flour mill sludge, in which the final product has a coarse structure than when only animal feces are used, which is more suitable for certain applications.

As used herein in the specification and claims, the term "animal" refers to an entire animal, having a definite shape, controlled growth, voluntary movement and active acquisition of food, and which the food is digested internally. And multicellular organisms, and have a sensory and nervous system that can respond quickly to external stimuli. In particular, the term animal refers to, but is not limited to, breeding of mammals or birds, especially animals for commercial purposes such as cattle, goats, pigs, chickens.

As used herein, the term "herbivore" includes, for example, cattle, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys, camels, elephants, and birds that are kept in constant breeding, but this is not an exhaustive list and many other animals fall within that category. You have to be stingy.

In step (b) of the process, the initial feed is mixed with water and this is carried out in any convenient manner, for example using a grinder or mixer and agitator or combinations thereof. In general, the ratio of initial solid feed to water is suitably in the range of 1: 1 to 1: 4 by volume.

In step (c) of the process, the water mixture is a period of time (e.g., about 5 seconds) such that the solid product recovered after the subsequent method step (d) is odorless, microbiologically sterilized porous and can absorb many times its own weight of water. To 10 minutes) at a frequency in the range of 5 Hz to 200 kHz. The alternating current has a potential within about 10 to about 1,000 volts.

Although the present invention is not to be considered as being limited by any theory, it has been found that the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD) are reduced in the product, compared to similar products where the initial mixture is not subject to alternating current. There is a possibility that it oxidizes better than this starting material and that atmospheric oxygen plays an important role in the process of the present invention.

It was also found by microscopic experiments that the product contains plant cells and the membrane ruptures by the method. The solid product recovered after step (d), i.e. after separation of the excess aqueous solution using a press screw separator or centrifuge, typically contains at least 3 times water, preferably at least three times the weight of the water itself (e.g. X 5-10) for example.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, the initial material comprises a mixture of animal excrement with flour mill sludge that falls within the range of about 1:10 to about 10: 1.

The device of the present invention for the production of a solid product according to the defined method herein comprises four mechanisms in an operational combination.

The first mechanism of the device acts to provide a solid feed having excreta from the animal. For example, the first mechanism may be one or more hoppers known.

The second mechanism of the device acts with the water to form a water mixture of the solid feed. As mentioned above, the second mechanism will be, for example, a grinder or mixer and a stirrer or a combination thereof.

The third mechanism of the device according to the invention serves to separate excess liquid from the product due to the reactor mechanism described in detail below and to recover the desired solid product. For example, the third mechanism may be a press screw separator or a centrifuge.

The reactor mechanism itself, which forms essentially part of the present invention, is illustrated in the reactor space delimited by the insulating wall 6, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (not shown in actual size). A generally elongated tubular reactor 2 defining 4) and an inlet and outlet 10 for flowing the aqueous mixture through the reactor space 4 in the direction of the arrow, respectively, and within the reactor space 4 Aqueous phase and zero electrodes 16, 18 connected to a source of alternating current (eg, via source 14 shown in FIG. 1) having a frequency ranging from 5 Hz to 200 KHz. As the mixture flows through the reactor space 4 it provides a mechanism for applying an alternating current to the aqueous mixture.

The peripheral region 12 of the reactor 2 remains sealed from the reactor space 4 and is used for electrical supports, electrical cables, electronic feedback and the like. Without being limited by the figures shown, the reactor space may be 2 m in diameter, made of PVC and the electrode made of stainless steel.

3A-3G of the accompanying drawings show various embodiments of face electrode 16 and zero electrode 18 in the reactor space. The face and zero electrodes are arranged parallel to each other and generally cross the flow of treated material flowing through the reactor. In general, the distance between the face electrodes is longer than the distance between the face and zero electrodes, and these distances are generally proportional to the applied voltage.

The electrical parameters can be kept constant by electrical feedback and can be controlled in a known manner, and the conductivity of the flowing treated material can vary with concentration, treated material, and temperature. However, the reactant stream is generally suitable for cooling the heat generated in the electrode and no other additional cooling means is required.

Unless biased in the universality of the parameters according to the invention, the device shown in FIG. 4 may be a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is capable of carrying out the method of the invention in a continuous manner. For example, an initial feed consisting of its mixture with cow manure or mill sludge is supplied to the mixing vessel 24 via the hoppers 20, 22, where each feed is a mixture of the above components. . Water is simultaneously supplied to the vessel 24 by the conduit 26 mechanism. The ratio of manure to water (or its mixture with paper mill sludge) is approximately 1: 2 by volume. The aqueous element is thoroughly mixed in the stirrer 28 which is rotated by the motor 34 in the direction indicated by arrow 30 about the axis 32. In order to mix the elements handled more effectively, a portion of the pump 38 and conduit 40 mechanism must be circulated back to the vessel 24 in the direction of arrow 42. At the same time, a portion of the component is pumped upwards through valve 44 via tubular reactor 46, its electrical supply and feedback mechanism is indicated at 48, for example 380 via cable 50. Electricity is supplied at volts AC and 100 Hz. The residence time of the mixture in reactor 46 varies as described above, but will typically be approximately 15 seconds, 30 seconds or 1 minute. The treated mixture is guided through conduit 58 to an intermediate vessel 54 equipped with a baffle 56, which exits conduit 60 and drives a screw separator 64 operated by a motor 66. Water can be added at 52 to reliably and effectively flow the reaction product in the direction of the long arrow to feed. The desired reaction product after exiting separator 64 is shown at 68 and is finally moved by gravity to place 70 where the product can be collected and moved by a mechanism not shown.

The separated and discharged liquid collects in the vessel 72 and is removed by the valve 74. If necessary, a certain amount of fresh water can be used to circulate a portion back into the vessel 24 by a mechanism not shown. Draining liquids rich in plant nutrients can also be used for fertilizer production or irrigation water. Typical data for the product (Israel Ministry of Agriculture and Private Laboratories data) are as follows, where the fertilizer raw materials are prepared by the process described above.

Before treatment After treatment TSS 3640 3420 COD 12560 9770 BOD 10800 8780

The unit of total suspended solids is mg / l.

The data in Table 1 indicates that the process according to the invention is ecologically friendly and may be an oxidation process.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is apparent that many modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (11)

In the method of using animal waste to produce a product useful as artificial soil, soil improver or peat substitutes, (A) providing a solid feed comprising animal feces, (b) forming an aqueous mixture of the solid feed and water, and (c) subjecting the aqueous mixture to a frequency between 5 Hz and 200 kHz for a period of time. And recovering the solid product by separating excess liquid from the alternating current processing in step (d) of (d). The solid product recovered after the subsequent process step (d) following said treatment is odorless, microbiologically sterile, porous and capable of absorbing several times its own weight of water. The method of claim 1, wherein in step (a) the animal is a herbivore and in step (b) the ratio of solid feed to water is in the range of 1: 1 to 1: 4 per volume, and in step (c) The alternating current has a potential in the range of 10 to 1000 volts, the time period in step (c) is in the range of 5 seconds to 10 minutes, and the recovered solid product can absorb water at least six times its own weight. How to use animal waste. The method of claim 1 wherein the treatment is performed by flowing an aqueous mixture through a reactor, the reactor comprising a mechanism to provide the alternating current. The method of claim 1 wherein the solid feed comprises raw animal waste. The method of claim 1 wherein the solid feed comprises a mixture of mill sludge and animal waste. 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the ratio of animal excrement to flour sludge is in the range of 1:10 to 10: 1 by volume. An odorless, microbiologically heterogeneous porous product that can absorb water several times its own weight, is useful as an artificial soil, soil improver, or peat substitute, and can be obtained by the use of animal excretion as defined in claim 1. A product that is useful as an artificial soil, soil improver, or peat substitute, which is odorless, microbiologically homogeneous, capable of absorbing water several times its own weight, and with the excretion of electrotreated animals. Apparatus for using animal waste to produce a odorless, microbiologically heterogeneous porous solid product that can absorb water several times its own weight and is useful as an artificial soil, soil improver or peat substitute, (A) a first mechanism for providing a solid feed into a device comprising animal feces; (B) a second mechanism for forming an aqueous mixture of water and said solid feed, (C) a reactor mechanism for treating said aqueous mixture with alternating current at a frequency in the range of 5 Hz to 200 kHz, (D) an apparatus for using animal waste, comprising a third mechanism for separating excess liquid from the product resulting from the reactor mechanism and restoring the solid product. 10. The reactor of claim 9, wherein the reactor mechanism comprises an elongated tubular reactor defining a reactor space bounded by an insulating wall mechanism, an inlet and outlet for flowing an aqueous mixture through the reactor space, and cooperatively disposed within the reactor space. And a face and zero electrode connected to a source of current having a frequency in the range of 5 Hz to 200 kHz, thereby utilizing animal excrement that provides a mechanism for supplying the current to the aqueous mixture as it flows through the reactor space. Device. In a reactor mechanism for use in animal waste applications that can absorb odorless water and produce a odorless, microbiologically heterogeneous porous solid product useful as an artificial soil, soil improver or peat substitute, An elongated tubular reactor defining a reactor space bounded by an insulating wall mechanism, an inlet and outlet for flowing an aqueous mixture through the reactor space, and a current disposed cooperatively within the reactor space and having a frequency in the range of 5 Hz to 200 kHz A reactor mechanism for supplying the current to the aqueous mixture as it flows through the reactor space by including a face and a zero electrode connected to a source of.