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<OL> <LI> Develop and evaluate algal systems for the treatment of dairy and swine manure
effluents with respect to: a) capturing N and P from raw and anaerobically digested
dairy manure effluents; b) utilization of the algal biomass as an organic fertilizer;
and c) overall system nutrient uptake efficiency, operational costs, and potential
returns of integrated farm-scale systems. <LI>Determine levels and biological effects of
oxytetracycline and chlorotetracycline in manure from treated animals on biological
treatment processes. <LI>Determine levels of antibiotic resistant bacteria in treated
manures from animals treated with oxytetracycline and chlorotetracycline. <LI>Develop
technology and management practices that improve anaerobic digestion of dairy and
other animal manure by: a) increasing yield of methane gas; b) increasing energy
efficiency of the conversion system; and c) reducing cost. <LI>Develop technology to
increase the efficiency with which the methane is used to economically meet the
energy needs of the farm.
Approach: Laboratory and pilot-scale field studies will be used to evaluate treatment
efficiency and cost of microalgal-based treatment technologies at different loading
rates of raw and anaerobically digested manure effluents. Dried algal biomass from
manure treatment will be tested in growth chamber studies to evaluate the value of
the biomass as an organic fertilizer capable of meeting plant nutrient requirements.
Laboratory-scale composting, soil incubation, and anaerobic digestion studies will be
used to determine the fates of the antibiotics oxytetracycline, chlorotetracycline,
and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in manures from therapeutically treated beef
calves. Laboratory and pilot-scale field studies will be used to quantitate effects
on methane yield of co-digesting dairy manure with agricultural and industrial byproducts.
Additional studies will focus on use of cold tolerant microbial consortia
to improve the rate and yield of methane production during anaerobic digestion of
dairy manure at 10-25 C.