Comparison of a static gravity screen-roll press combination separator to a PAM-assisted gravity belt thickener system for swine waste slurry solids separation

Liquid effluent resulting from solids separation from raw swine slurry (RS) using a static gravity screen-roll press separator (SE) and a polyacrylamide (PAM) flocculant-assisted gravity belt thickener system (BE1 and 2, with BE2 designating an added belt thickening of SE) were compared. Effluent pH was 7.6–7.7. Dissolved oxygen was less than 0.01 mg/l in RS and SE and 0.50 mg/l in BE1 and 2. Solids dry weight and total phosphorus concentrations were reduced significantly (p 0.05) in SE (17–27%) and in BE1 and 2 (92–96%), relative to RS. Phosphorus concentration reductions were higher than those previously found. Settleable and suspended solids, total nitrogen and chemical oxygen demand were significantly reduced in BE1 and 2 (63–99%). No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found between BE1 and 2. Results indicated that the gravity belt thickener system was more efficient at solids separation than the screen-roll press system.