Use of reverse osmosis concentrate for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from pig slurry

Abstract

Due to the high global warming potential (GWP) in a short time scale (GWP100 = 28 vs. GWP20 = 86), mitigating CH4 emissions could have an early impact on reducing current global warming effects. The manure storage tank emits a significant amount of CH4, which can diminish the environmental benefit resulting from the anaerobic digestion of manure that can generate renewable energy. In the present study, we added the reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) rich in salt to the pig slurry (PS) storage tank to reduce CH4 emissions. Simultaneously, pure NaCl was tested at the same concentration to compare and verify the performance of ROC addition. During 40 days of storage, 1.83 kg CH4/ton PS was emitted, which was reduced by 7–75% by the addition of ROC at 1–9 g Na+/L. This decrease was found to be more intensive than that found upon adding pure sodium, which was caused by the presence of sulfate rich in ROC, resulting in synergistic inhibition. The results of the microbial community and activity test showed that sodium directly inhibited methanogenic activity rather than acidogenic activity. In the subsequent biogas production from the stored PS, more CH4 was obtained by ROC addition due to the preservation of organic matter during storage. Overall, 51.2 kg CO2 eq./ton PS was emitted during the storage, while 8 kg CO2 eq./ton PS was reduced by biogas production in the case of control, resulting in a total of 43.2 kg CO2 eq./ton PS. This amount of greenhouse gas emissions was reduced by ROC addition at 5 g Na+/L by 22 and 65 kg CO2 eq./ton PS, considering GWP100 and GWP20 of CH4, respectively, where most of the reduction was achieved during the storage process. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first report using salty waste to reduce GHG emissions in a proper place, e.g., a manure storage tank.

Environmental Assessment of Pig Manure Treatment Systems through Life Cycle Assessment: A Mini-Review

“…Studies 1, 5, 6, and 10 identified manure storage as one of the main processes that negatively impacted the environment in their research. According to Im et al [24], significant amounts of methane are emitted by manure storage tanks, which are important for maintaining the greenhouse effect.…”