| Direct filtration of diluted swine waste with an immersed hollow fibre membrane (ZeeweedRTM 500, Zenon Environmental Inc.) was tested for possible integration into a wastewater treatment system for direct non-potable or potable reuse in intensive livestock operations. A sustainable flux of 1.36 L h-1m-2kPa-1 at 20°C was determined in 20% swine waste supernatant (SWSN) which had a mean COD equivalent of 2.7 g O2/L. The compact membrane module had an effective membrane area of 0.047 m2 and 0.04 mum pore size. The membrane treatment was effective and a compete barrier to fecal coliforms and suspended solids. Turbidity was reduced to <0.5 NTU that would allow disinfectant or microbial reduction processes to work more effectively. Reduction of contaminants in percentage terms was TSS (100%), sulphide (79%), TP (49.5%), TOC (34%), COD (32%), BOD5 (29%), TDS (23%), TKN (21%), and NH3 (5.9%). A preliminary membrane size estimate of 225 m2 for a 1000 sow (6192 pig) grower finisher barn with 5:1 recycle was made. |
