Treatment of anaerobically digested pig manure by applying membrane processes for nutrient recovery and antibiotics removal

• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33313-x
• Publication Date: 2024-04-13T10:01:46Z
• Authors: Vera Proskynitopo...; Anastasios Vourros; Ioannis Garagounis; Panagiotis Dimopo...; Souzana Lorentzou; Panagiotis Kougias; Anastasios Zouboulis; Kyriakos D. Panop...
• Keywords: Digestate; Ultrafiltration (renal); Biogas; Membrane Fouling; Filtration (mathematics); Membrane Technology; Total dissolved solids

Abstract A combination of membrane processes was applied to treat the digestate produced after anaerobic treatment pig manure in a biogas plant, aiming towards recovery nutrients and effective water for potential reuse. Initially, coarse filtration (sieving microfiltration) used remove particles larger than 1 µm, followed by ultrafiltration, reduce suspended solids concentrations below g/L. Subsequently, selective electrodialysis is employed recover main nutrient ions, primarily ammonium potassium. The ion-depleted then fed reverse osmosis unit, where clean recovered, yielding by-product (concentrate) stream enriched phosphates organics content. presence antibiotics heavy metals were monitored during all stages assess their behavior/removal various processes. results indicate that almost 51% could be recovered as free from ions antibiotics, suitable reuse plant process needs irrigation purposes. can initial NH 4 + content (corresponding 96% feed), while remainder largely ended up ultrafiltration concentrate. similar behavior observed case K , approximately 68% retained process, with another 24% remaining concentrate 8% Most steps, smaller amounts detected