Biogas plant on an industrial farm as an effective way of utilizing animal waste

Abstract

Industrial farms pose a serious threat to both people and the environment. The reason is that animal waste are produced in large quantities, which is a source of biogenic substances. Their irrational use, which is often common on industrial farms due to the limited area for fertilization, can lead to the eutrophication of water tanks and soils, and even to contamination with heavy metals and disease-causing microorganisms and pathogens. The economy of animal feces is accompanied by greenhouse emission and odors, the resulting emissions of volatile compounds also lead to the formation of acid rain. In view of the above, the possibilities of their management, which will be safe for ecosystems, are being sought for. While aeration, composting or fertilization of animal manure does not fully solve environmental protection or profitability issues, their anaerobic treatment allows not only for safe utilization, but also for energy production. Thus, the possibility of managing animal waste from a poultry, cattle and pig farms in biogas plants was presented. The presented calculations have slown that using them as a substrate in the fermentation process allows for effective utilization of animal manure being hazardous to the environment, in particular in the case of industrial farms.