Author(s)

L. Castrillon, J.M. Gonzalez, E. Maranon & H. Sastre

Abstract

The present work is a study of anaerobic treatment of cattle manure produced on farms in the autonomous community of Asturias, Spain. The experiment was carried out in the mesophilic range (31 ± 1°C) in a 8-litre UASB-type reactor made of transparent PVC, without recirculation of the effluent. Prior to the study' a physico-chemical characterisation of the manure produced on different farms was carried out, the main difference between said farms being the number of cows. The parameters determined were pH, chemical oxygen demand, total solids, phosphates, ammoniacal nitrogen and metals. The chemical oxygen demand presented high values, ranging mainly between 40,000 and 80,000 mg Cyi. The concentration of ammonium varied between values of 1,000 and 4,000 mg/1. The metals determined were Fe, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd and Pb, the principal ones being Fe, Zn a

Keywords