MXPA99005135A - Process and apparatus for utilizing animal excrement - Google Patents

Abstract

A process for the manufacture of an animal excrement based product useful as an artificial soil, soil conditioner or peat substitute, an apparatus for effecting the process and an animal excrement based product manufactured according to the process. The process including the sequential steps of:(a) providing a substantially solid feed including excrement from animals;(b) forming an aqueous mixture of said substantially solid feed with water;(c) subjecting said aqueous mixture to treatment with an alternating electric current at a frequency within a range of 5 Hz - 200 kHz, for a period of time, such that following said treatment and after subsequent process step (d), a recovered solid product is odorless, microbiologically sterile, porous and is capable if absorbing several times its own weight of water;and (d) separating excess liquid from the alternating electric current treatment in step (c) and recovering said solid product.

Description

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR USING ANIMAL EXCREMENT FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for using animal excrement and, more particularly, to a process for the manufacture of a product based on animal excrement useful as a artificial soil, soil conditioner or peat substitute, an apparatus for carrying out the process and a product based on animal excrement useful as an artificial soil, soil conditioner or peat substitute manufactured according to the process.

The need to condition soils in agriculture (especially in small-scale agriculture known as "commercial gardening") and in horticulture is well known, for example, to clarify clay soils, to improve the consistency of sandy soils and particularly to improve the moisture retention capacity of many soil types.

Peat is a carbonaceous substance - probably an intermediate in the formation of lignite and coal - formed by the partial decomposition of certain plants that grow in swamps and swamps, and, in addition to its well-known use as a fuel, is particularly used, due to its open porous texture and its high capacity to absorb water, as a soil conditioner. Additionally, peat is used as a feed material for cattle, for example, cattle and horses (including racehorses).

However, due to ecological problems, a number of countries have banned peat mining; moreover, in countries where peat is not mined locally, the cost of transport from the countries of origin can make this product prohibitively expensive. For these reasons, there is a need in the market, particularly in countries where peat is expensive, for a peat substitute that has properties similar to natural peat.

While animals have been used for human needs for many centuries, it is only in the modern era, with a much higher density of human population and increasing awareness of problems related to ecology, health and hygiene, that it has been found that animal excrement (including, but not limited to, that of herbivorous animals that are raised in custom on farms and used in other ways on a large scale), may present environmental problems such as pollution biological, for example, of air, land and water.

For this reason, the use of raw natural excrement directly as a fertilizer should be avoided. The disposal and economic use of animal excrement are therefore highly desirable. While this need has been met in part by artificial fertilization, such a process requires, for feasibility, a large-scale operation that uses expensive equipment for aerobic and anaerobic operation, and is inappropriate for relatively small-scale operations.

Natural fertilization, on the other hand, requires a large space, requires intense work and does not avoid environmental hazards. Thus, the need for the economic use of animal excrement still remains. It has been surprisingly found by the present inventors that both the need for a peat substitute and the need for a useful and economical disposal of the excrement of captive animals can be satisfied by the process and apparatus of the present invention.

There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, (i) a process for the manufacture of a product based on animal excrement useful as an artificial soil, soil conditioner or peat substitute, (ii) an apparatus for effecting the process and (iii) a product based on animal excrement useful as an artificial soil, soil conditioner or peat substitute manufactured according to the process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a process for the manufacture of a product based on animal excrement useful as an artificial soil, soil conditioner or peat substitute, an apparatus for carrying out the process and a product based on animal excrement. useful as artificial soil, soil conditioner or peat substitute manufactured according to the process.

According to other features in preferred specimens of the invention described below, the process forms the sequential steps of (a) providing a substantially solid raw material that includes animal droppings; (b) forming an aqueous mixture of said substantially solid raw material and water; (c) subjecting said aqueous mixture to treatment with an alternating electric current at a frequency within a range of 5 Hz to 200 kHz, for a period of time, so that after said treatment and after the subsequent step (d), a recovered solid product is odorless, microbiologically sterile, porous and capable of absorbing several times its own weight of water; and (d) separating the excess liquid from the treatment with alternating electric current from step (c) and recovering said solid product.

According to still other characteristics in the preferred specimens the steps are further characterized by at least one of the following parameters (i) in step (a) the animals are herbivorous animals; (ii) in step (b), a proportion of said substantially solid raw material with water falls within a range of from about 1: 1 to about 1: 4 by volume; (iii) in step (c), said alternating electric current has a potential within a range of about 10 to about 1,000 volts; (iv) in step (c), said period of time falls within a range of about 5 seconds to about 10 minutes; (v) said recovered solid product is capable of absorbing at least six times its own weight of water.

According to still other characteristics in the described preferred specimens, said treatment is carried out when said aqueous mixture flows through a reactor, said reactor includes a mechanism to supply said alternating electric current.

According to still other characteristics in the described preferred specimens said substantially solid raw material includes raw animal excrement.

According to yet other features in the described preferred specimens said substantially solid raw material includes a mixture of animal excrement with waste from a paper mill.

According to still other characteristics in the preferred specimens described, a proportion of animal excrement with paper mill waste falls within a range of about 1:10 to about 10: 1 by volume.

According to still other characteristics in the described preferred specimens, an odorless, microbiologically sterile and porous product is provided, capable of absorbing several times its own weight of water, useful as artificial soil, soil conditioner or peat substitute, and which can be obtained by the previous process.

According to yet other features in the described preferred specimens a useful product is provided such as an artificial soil, a soil conditioner or peat substitute, comprising an animal excrement treated electrically, the product is odorless, porous, microbiologically sterile and capable of absorb several times its own weight of water.

According to yet other features in the described preferred specimens the apparatus comprises a line that sequentially includes (a) a first mechanism for providing a substantially solid raw material that includes animal excrement within the apparatus; (b) a second mechanism for forming an aqueous mixture of said substantially solid raw material with water; (c) a reactor mechanism for subjecting said aqueous mixture to treatment with an alternating electric current at a frequency within a range of 5 Hz to 200 kHz; and (d) a third mechanism for separating the excess liquids from a product resulting from said reactor mechanism and for recovering the solid product.

According to still other characteristics in the described preferred specimens said reactor mechanism includes a generally elongated and tubular reactor that defines a reactor space joined by means of an isolated wall mechanism., inlet and outlet mechanism for flowing the aqueous mixture through said reactor space and phase and zero electrodes cooperatively disposed within said reactor space and connected to an alternating electric current supply having a frequency within the range of Hz up to 200 kHz, to provide a mechanism for applying said current to said aqueous mixture when said mixture flows through said reactor space.

According to yet other features in the described preferred specimens, a reactor mechanism for use in the above apparatus is provided, which comprises a reactor that defines a reactor space joined by insulating wall metering, said reactor includes inlet and outlet mechanisms for flow the aqueous mixture through said reactor space, and phase and zero electrodes which are cooperatively arranged within said reactor space and which are connected to an alternating electric current source having a frequency within a range of 5 Hz to 200 kHz, in order to provide a mechanism for applying said current to said aqueous mixture when said mixture flows through said reactor space.

Thus, it is a main objective of the present invention to provide a useful product such as an artificial soil, a soil conditioner or peat substitute, as well as a process and apparatus directed to the manufacture thereof.

Another objective of the invention is to provide economical, useful, hygienic and ecological use of animal excrement.

Another object of the invention is to provide the use of paper mill waste.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a product that is potentially useful as a material for providing livestock with a hygienic bed.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention described herein, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary reactor of the invention, useful in the process of the invention and which can be part of the apparatus of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates another example of a reactor of the invention, useful in the process of the invention and that can be part of the apparatus of the invention; Figures 3a-g show illustrative exemplary arrays of electrodes useful in the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates a copy of the apparatus of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREDILECT EXEMPLARY The present invention is a process and apparatus for using animal excrement that can be used for the manufacture of a product based on animal excrement useful as artificial soil, soil conditioner or peat substitute. Specifically, the present invention can be used to provide an odorless, microbiologically sterile and porous product capable of absorbing several times its own weight of water, useful as an artificial soil, soil conditioner or peat substitute, and which can be obtained by the process of the invention.

The principles and operation of the process and apparatus according to the present invention can be better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings and descriptions.

The "substantially solid raw material" which is the starting material for the process of the invention is intended to include substantially solid excrement of captive animals that may be in the raw state. Moreover, it has been found that the raw material can comprise a mixture of animal excrement with waste papermaking; In this example of the invention, the final product has a coarser texture than when the animal excrement is used alone, which may be more appropriate for certain applications.

The term "animals" as used herein in the description section and the claims below refers to any member of the Animal Kingdom, which includes multicellular organisms that have a well-defined, controlled growth, can be moved at will , actively acquire food and digest it internally, and have sensitive and nervous systems that allow them to respond quickly to external stimuli. The term refers specifically to animals raised in captivity, whether mammals or birds, especially animals raised for commercial purposes such as, but not limited to, cows, goats, swine, poultry, etc.The term "herbivorous animals" as used herein is intended to include cows, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys, camels, elephants, birds bred in captivity, for example, but it will be appreciated that this is not an exhaustive list and that many others animals fall into this category.

In step (b) of the process, the initial raw material is mixed with water, and the foregoing can be carried out in any convenient manner, for example, by the use of a macerator or mixer and / or an agitator, or a combination of the same. In general, it is preferred that the ratio of the initial raw material to water falls within the range of about 1: 1 to about 1: 4 by volume.

In step (c) of the process, the aqueous mixture is subjected to treatment with an alternating electric current (AC) at a frequency within the range of 5 Hz to 200 kHz, for a period of time (as an example only this could fall within the range of about 5 seconds to about 10 minutes) so that after the treatment and after the subsequent step (d), the recovered solid product is odorless, microbiologically sterile, porous and able to absorb several times its own water weight. The AC preferably has a potential in the range of about 10 to about 1,000 volts.

While the present invention should not be considered as limited by any theory, it has been noted that since both, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and the biological oxygen demand (BOD) have been found to be reduced in the product, in comparison With a similar product in which the initial texture is not subjected to an alternating electric current (ide infrd), there is a possibility that considering the fact that the product is more oxidized than the initial material, atmospheric oxygen plays a role in the process of the invention.

Moreover, it has been found by microscopic examination that the product contains plant cells, the membranes of which have been broken in the process. The recovered solid product, after step (d), ie, after removing the excess aqueous liquid, for example, by using a lathe or centrifuge press separator, usually contains 50% water, and is capable of absorb at least three times, preferably at least six times (eg, x 5-10) its own weight of water.

In a particular example of the invention, the initial material comprises a mixture of animal excrement with papermaking waste, falls within the range of about 1:10 to about 10: 1 by volume.

The apparatus of the invention for the manufacture of a solid product in accordance with the process defined herein, includes a mechanism of four operational combinations.

A first mechanism of the apparatus serves to provide a substantially solid raw material that includes animal excrement. The first mechanism may, for example, be one or more hoppers as is known in the art.

A second mechanism of the apparatus serves to form an aqueous mixture of the substantially solid raw material with water. As said before, the second mechanism may, for example, be a macerator or mixer and / or an agitator, or a combination thereof.

A third mechanism of the apparatus according to the present invention serves to separate the excess liquid from the product resulting from the reactor mechanism described below in greater detail and to recover the desired solid product. The third mechanism may, for example, be a lathe or centrifugal press separator.

A reactor mechanism, which per se also forms part of the present invention, may include, by way of illustration, with respect to Figures 1 and 2 (which are not drawn to scale) of the accompanying drawings, a reactor usually elongated and tubular 2 defining a reactor space 4 joined by an insulating wall 6, inlet 8 and outlet 10 for the flow of the aqueous mixture through the space of the reactor 4 in the direction of the arrow, and phase and zero electrodes, 16 and 18, respectively, cooperatively arranged within the reactor space 4 and connected to an alternating electric current source (e.g., via source 14 in Figure 1) having a frequency within the range of 5 Hz to 200 kHz, which thus provides the mechanism for applying alternating electrical current to the aqueous mixture when the latter flows through reactor space 4.

A peripheral zone 12 of the reactor 2 is kept sealed from the reactor space 4 and is used for electrical supports, electrical cables, electronic feedback and so on.

By way of exemplary illustration only, the reactor space may be 2 m in diameter and may be made of PVC, and the electrodes may be stainless steel.

Figures 3a-g of the accompanying drawings show a number of illustrative and largely self-explanatory arrangements of phase 16 electrodes and zero electrodes 18 (not necessarily drawn to scale), within the reactor space. It will be appreciated that the phase and zero electrodes are arranged parallel to each other and generally transversely to the flow of the treated material flowing through the reactor. In general, the distance between the phase electrodes is greater than between the phase and zero electrodes, and these distances will generally be proportional to the voltages applied.

The electrical parameters can be maintained constant by feedback and electrical control in known ways, while the conductivity of the material treated in flow can be varied according to the concentration and the type of material treated and the temperature. However, the reactive flow is generally adequate to cool the generator heat at the electrodes and no additional cooling is required.

Without prejudice to the generality of the parameters of the present invention, the apparatus illustrated in Figure 4 represents a presently preferred example of the apparatus of the invention, which allows the process of the present invention to be practiced in a continuous manner. The initial raw material consists of, for example, raw cow dung, or a mixture thereof with paper mill waste, fed to the mixing vessel 24 via the hoppers 20 and 22 (respectively, where the raw material is the component mixture cited). The water is fed to the container 24 via conduit mechanism 26. The proportion of excrement (or its mixture with paper waste) with water is, for example, about 1: 2 by volume. The aqueous composition is completely mixed with the agitator 28 which rotates in the direction illustrated by means of the arrow 30 about the axis 32, by motor 34. To ensure a more efficient mixing of the composition to be treated, a portion is recirculated to the container 24 by pump mechanism 38 and conduit 40, in the direction of arrow 42. Simultaneously, a portion of the composition is pumped up via a valve 44 through tubular reactor 46, the electrical supply and feedback mechanism indicated schematically at 48, with electricity supplied to, for example, 380 volts AC and 100 Hz, via cables 50. The residence time of the mixture in reactor 46 can be varied as stated above, but is typically around 15 seconds , around 30 seconds or about a minute. The treated mixture is carried via conduit 58 to intermediate vessel 54 with baffle 56, to which water is added at 52 to ensure sufficient flow of the reaction product in the direction of the long arrow to exit into outlet conduit 60 and thus the hopper 52 that supplies the separator with lathe 64, operator by the motor 66. The product of the desired reaction is illustrated at 68 after leaving the separator 64, and finally passes by gravity to 70 where it is collected and can be collected. remove by a mechanism not illustrated.

The effluent liquid separated and collected in the container 72 and removed by the valve 74. If desired, it can be partially recirculated to the container 24 by a mechanism not illustrated, provided that at least some fresh water is used. The effluent, which is rich in plant nutrients, can be used for irrigation or for the preparation of fertilizers. The typical data for the product (determined by the Israelite Ministry of Agriculture and also by a private laboratory) are the following, where raw excrement was processed in the manner described: * total suspended solids, mg / 1 The data in the Table above show that the process of the invention is ecological and that it is possibly an oxidative process.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of copies, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention can be made.

Claims (11)

1. CLAIMS: 1. A process for the manufacture of a useful product such as an artificial soil, soil conditioner or peat substitute, comprising the sequential steps of: (a) providing a substantially solid raw material that includes animal excrement; (b) forming an aqueous mixture of said substantially solid raw material and water; (c) subjecting said aqueous mixture to treatment with an alternating electric current at a frequency within a range of 5 Hz to 200 kHz, for a period of time, so that after said treatment and after the subsequent step (d), a recovered solid product is odorless, microbiologically sterile, porous and capable of absorbing several times its own weight of water; and (d) separating the excess liquid from the treatment with alternating electric current from step (c) and recovering said solid product.
2. 2. The process of Claim 1, wherein the steps are further characterized by at least one of the following parameters: (i) in step (a) the animals are herbivorous animals; (ii) in step (b), a proportion of said substantially solid raw material with water falls within a range of from about 1: 1 to about 1: 4 by volume; (iii) in step (c), said alternating electric current has a potential within a range of about 10 to about 1,000 volts; (iv) in step (c), said period of time falls within a range of about 5 seconds to about 10 minutes; (v) said recovered solid product is capable of absorbing at least six times its own weight of water.
3. 3. The process of Claim 1, wherein said treatment is effected by flowing said aqueous mixture through a reactor, said reactor includes a mechanism for providing said alternating electric current.
4. 4. The process of Claim 1, wherein said substantially solid raw material includes raw animal excrement.
5. 5. The process of Claim 1, wherein said substantially solid raw material includes a mixture of animal excrement with paper mill waste.
6. 6. The process of Claim 5, wherein the proportion of animal excrement with paper mill waste falls within a range of about 1:10 to 10: 1 by volume.
7. 7. An odorless, microbiologically sterile and porous product capable of absorbing several times its own weight of water, useful as an artificial soil, a soil conditioner or peat substitute, and which can be obtained by the process defined in Claim 1.
8. 8. A product useful as an artificial soil, a soil conditioner or peat substitute comprising an animal excrement treated electrically, the product is odorless, microbiologically sterile and porous, capable of absorbing several times its own weight of water.
9. 9. An apparatus for the manufacture of an odorless product, microbiologically sterile and porous able to absorb several times its own weight of water, useful as an artificial soil, a soil conditioner or peat substitute, the apparatus comprises a line that includes in sequence: (a) a first mechanism for providing a substantially solid raw material that includes animal excrement within the apparatus; (b) a second mechanism for forming an aqueous mixture of said substantially solid raw material with water; (c) a reactor mechanism for subjecting said aqueous mixture to treatment with an alternating electric current at a frequency within a range of 5 Hz to 200 kHz; Y (d) a third mechanism for separating the excess liquids from a product resulting from said reactor mechanism and for recovering the solid product.
10. 10. The apparatus of Claim 9, wherein said reactor mechanism includes a generally elongated and tubular reactor defining a reactor space attached by an insulated wall mechanism, an inlet and outlet mechanism for flowing the aqueous mixture through said reactor. Reactor space and phase and zero electrodes cooperatively disposed within said reactor space and connected to an alternating electric power supply having a frequency within the range of 5 Hz to 200 kHz, to provide mechanism for applying said current to said mixture aqueous when said mixture flows through said reactor space.
11. 11. A reactor mechanism for use in an apparatus for the manufacture of an odorless, microbiologically sterile and porous product capable of absorbing several times its own weight in water, useful as an artificial soil, soil conditioner or peat substitutes, the reactor mechanism comprising a reactor defining a reactor space joined by an insulating wall mechanism, said reactor includes inlet and outlet mechanisms for flowing the aqueous mixture through said reactor space and phase and zero electrodes that are cooperatively arranged within said space of reactor and that are connected to an alternating current source having a frequency within a range of 5 Hz to 200 kHz, to provide the mechanism for applying said current to said aqueous mixture when said mixture flows through said space of reactor. EXTRACT OF THE INVENTION A process for the manufacture of a product based on animal excrement useful as artificial soil, soil conditioner or peat substitute, an apparatus for carrying out the process and a product based on animal excrement manufactured according to the process. The process includes the sequential steps of: (a) providing a substantially solid feed that includes animal droppings; (b) forming an aqueous mixture of said substantially solid feed with water; (c) subjecting said aqueous mixture to treatment with an alternating electric current at a frequency within a range of 5 Hz - 200 kHz, for a period of time, so that after said treatment and after the subsequent process step (d) ), a recovered solid product is odorless, microbiologically sterile, porous and capable of absorbing several times its own water; and (d) separating the excess liquid from the alternating electric current treatment in step (c) and recovering said solid product.