Treatment of Lagoon Dairy Manure Wastewater via Iron Electrocoagulation, Microfiltration, and Adsorption

Dutta, Swapnamoy [ORNL]; Jang, Gyoung Gug [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000343058723); Keum, Jong [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000255291373); Bailey, Bianca [Agriwater Corp, Knoxville, TN]; Joyner, Dominique [ORNL]; Tsouris, Costas [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000205221027)

doi:10.1021/acsestwater.6c00414

DOE OSTI · 3740757

Treatment of Lagoon Dairy Manure Wastewater via Iron Electrocoagulation, Microfiltration, and Adsorption

Dutta, Swapnamoy [ORNL]·Jang, Gyoung Gug [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000343058723)·Keum, Jong [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000255291373)·Bailey, Bianca [Agriwater Corp, Knoxville, TN]·Joyner, Dominique [ORNL]·Tsouris, Costas [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000205221027)

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Abstract

Dairy manure wastewater generated by flushing barn cow waste contains nutrients, pathogens, and organic and inorganic contaminants. This study utilized a process consisting of iron electrocoagulation (Fe-EC), microfiltration (MF), and activated carbon (AC) adsorption to treat farm wastewater and explore the reclamation of clean water for irrigation and livestock consumption. Significant removal (>99.9%) of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), phosphorus (P), turbidity, and microorganisms, as well as ions including magnesium, calcium, sulfur, and silica was achieved by the combined EC-MF-AC process. Specifically, a charge loading of ∼37,500 C/L in a continuous-flow EC configuration, followed by MF, achieved more than 95% removal of TOC and COD. Characterization of produced flocs and foam via scanning-electron microscopy with energy-dispersal spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the removal of ions, including calcium, sulfur, and silica. A key finding was the electrocatalytic conversion of nitrogen species to ammonia gas through the intermediate reduction of nitrate/nitrite, which led to ∼60% total nitrogen (TN) removal. AC treatment further improved TN removal to ∼70%. The Fe-EC process also eradicated >99.9% of bacteria. Preliminary process cost assessment, based on recycled materials for EC electrodes, showed significant cost savings (∼2 times) compared to commercial electrodes.

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Dutta, Swapnamoy [ORNL], Jang, Gyoung Gug [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000343058723), Keum, Jong [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000255291373), Bailey, Bianca [Agriwater Corp, Knoxville, TN], Joyner, Dominique [ORNL], Tsouris, Costas [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000205221027). 2026-08-01. Treatment of Lagoon Dairy Manure Wastewater via Iron Electrocoagulation, Microfiltration, and Adsorption. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.6c00414

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