Evaluation of an integrated constructed wetland to manage pig manure under Mediterranean climate

Abstract

Pig manure is a complex mixture with excessive nutrients such as ammonium, microbial pathogens and may contain contaminants such as antibiotics. Conventional pig manure management practices caused water contamination. Sludge treatment wetland has been evaluated to determine its potential use under Mediterranean climate aiming at a parsimonious use of water and preventing water contamination, two major steps to preserve water resources in the Mediterranean Basin. Preliminary NH4-N degradation was tested using aeration process and/or addition of commercial bacterial products. Aeration alone appeared to be sufficient to ensure nitrogen transformation of the pig manure at lab small-scale (10 L) and medium-scale (300 L). Selected plant species e.g., Carex hispida for use in the integrated constructed wetland tolerated the nitrogen content after aeration enabling their use in a treatment vertical bed.

New outlook in BOD measurement and bioprocess management: the Enverdi® kit

“…Nevertheless, consistent results were obtained when measuring BOD5-aquivalent of industrial wastewaters in fluorimetric respirometry, particularly with paper mill effluents, agrifood effluents and landfill leachates. The Enverdi® BOD kit was used with success for the BOD5 measurement of pig slurry samples also [37].…”