Microbial manure treatment system

Abstract

In another form of the invention, there is provided a system for treating a manure slurry, comprising: a manure lagoon comprising: a lower anaerobic stratum comprising anaerobic microbes; an upper aerobic stratum comprising aerobic microbes; and an intermediate facultative stratum comprising facultative microbes. In another form of the invention, there is provided a system for treating a manure slurry, comprising: a manure lagoon comprising: a lower anaerobic stratum comprising anaerobic microbes; and an upper aerobic stratum comprising aerobic microbes. In another form of the invention, there is provided a system for treating a manure slurry, comprising: a manure lagoon comprising: an aerator for creating an aerobic stratum within only a portion of the manure slurry. In another form of the invention, there is provided a method for treating a manure slurry, comprising: creating a manure lagoon comprising: a lower anaerobic stratum comprising anaerobic microbes; an upper aerobic stratum comprising aerobic microbes; and an intermediate facultative stratum comprising facultative microbes. In another form of the invention, there is provided a method for treating a manure slurry, comprising: creating a manure lagoon comprising: a lower anaerobic stratum comprising anaerobic microbes; and an upper aerobic stratum comprising aerobic microbes. In another form of the invention, there is provided a method for treating a manure slurry, comprising: creating a manure lagoon comprising: an aerator for creating an aerobic stratum within only a portion of the manure slurry. In another form of the invention, there is provided a method for fertilizing crops, comprising: creating a manure lagoon comprising: a lower anaerobic stratum comprising anaerobic microbes; and an upper aerobic stratum comprising aerobic microbes; withdrawing from the manure lagoon at least a portion of the upper aerobic stratum; and distributing the withdrawn portion of the upper aerobic stratum on the area containing the crops. In another form of the invention, there is provided a depth-adjustable, fine bubble, surface layer aeration unit for aerating a selected portion of a fluid body, comprising: a body comprising at least one hollow internal structure; an air inlet communicating with the at least one hollow internal structure, whereby air from an external air source may be introduced into the at least one hollow internal structure; at least one fine bubble aerator communicating with the at least one hollow internal structure, whereby air from the at least one hollow internal structure may be released through the at least one fine bubble aerator into an adjacent fluid; and at least one weight pod attached to the body, wherein the at least one weight pod comprises structure for adjusting the weight of the at least one weight pod, whereby the buoyancy of the aeration unit may be adjusted so as to permit the at least one fine bubble aerator to be positioned at a desired depth in a fluid body. In another form of the invention, there is provided a method for aerating a surface layer in a stratified liquid body, comprising: providing a depth-adjustable, fine bubble, surface layer aeration unit comprising: body comprising at least one hollow internal structure; an air inlet communicating with the at least one hollow internal structure, whereby air from an external air source may be introduced into the at least one hollow internal structure; at least one fine bubble aerator communicating with the at least one hollow internal structure, whereby air from the at least one hollow internal structure may be released through the at least one fine bubble aerator into an adjacent fluid; and at least one weight pod attached to the body, wherein the at least one weight pod comprises structure for adjusting the weight of the at least one weight pod, whereby the buoyancy of the aeration unit may be adjusted so as to permit the at least one fine bubble aerator to be positioned at a desired depth in a fluid body; connecting an air source to the air inlet, and positioning the unit in a fluid body; and adjusting the weight of the at least one weight pod, so as to position the at least one fine bubble aerator within the surface layer of the stratified liquid body.

1 . A system for treating a manure slurry, comprising: 
 a manure lagoon comprising: 
 a lower anaerobic stratum comprising anaerobic microbes;  
 an upper aerobic stratum comprising aerobic microbes; and  
 an intermediate facultative stratum comprising facultative microbes.  
   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein at least some of the anaerobic microbes in the anaerobic stratum are indigenous to the manure.  
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the anaerobic microbes in the anaerobic stratum support fermentation and methanogenesis.  
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the anaerobic microbes in the anaerobic stratum comprise fermentative bacteria.  
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 4  wherein the fermentative bacteria break down soluble and insoluble organic materials and converts them to volatile fatty acids, alcohols and other products.  
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the anaerobic microbes in the anaerobic stratum comprise methanogenic bacteria.  
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 6  wherein the methanogenic bacteria use acetic acid, alcohol and other compounds to create methane and carbon dioxide.  
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein at least some of the aerobic microbes in the aerobic stratum are artificially introduced into the aerobic stratum.  
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the aerobic microbes in the aerobic stratum oxidize organic carbons and volatile fatty acids.  
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the aerobic stratum comprises oxygen, wherein at least some of the oxygen is artificially introduced into the aerobic stratum.  
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 10  wherein the oxygen is artificially introduced into the aerobic stratum without being substantially introduced to the anaerobic stratum.  
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 10  wherein the oxygen is artificially introduced into the aerobic stratum using a aerator.  
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 12  wherein the aerator comprises a fine bubble aerator.  
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 13  wherein the fine bubble aerator provides intra-layer mixing of the aerobic stratum while avoiding inter-layer mixing of the aerobic stratum with the anaerobic stratum.  
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 12  wherein the aerator introduces oxygen to the aerobic stratum by introducing air into the aerobic stratum.  
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 12  wherein the aerator comprises a buoyant aerator.  
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the facultative microbes are able to function with and without oxygen.  
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the facultative microbes convert carbon, nitrogen and other containments to proteins, amino acids and other byproducts.  
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein amendments are added to at least one stratum of the lagoon.  
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 19  wherein the amendments comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of: growth stimulators, vitamins and minerals.  
     
     
         21 . A system according to  claim 19  wherein the vitamins comprise B vitamins.  
     
     
         22 . A system for treating a manure slurry, comprising: 
 a manure lagoon comprising: 
 a lower anaerobic stratum comprising anaerobic microbes; and  
 an upper aerobic stratum comprising aerobic microbes.  
   
     
     
         23 . A system for treating a manure slurry, comprising: 
 a manure lagoon comprising: 
 an aerator for creating an aerobic stratum within only a portion of the manure slurry.  
   
     
     
         24 . A method for treating a manure slurry, comprising: 
 creating a manure lagoon comprising: 
 a lower anaerobic stratum comprising anaerobic microbes;  
 an upper aerobic stratum comprising aerobic microbes; and  
 an intermediate facultative stratum comprising facultative microbes.  
   
     
     
         25 . A method for treating a manure slurry, comprising: 
 creating a manure lagoon comprising: 
 a lower anaerobic stratum comprising anaerobic microbes; and  
 an upper aerobic stratum comprising aerobic microbes.  
   
     
     
         26 . A method for treating a manure slurry, comprising: 
 creating a manure lagoon comprising: 
 an aerator for creating an aerobic stratum within only a portion of the manure slurry.  
   
     
     
         27 . A method for fertilizing crops, comprising: 
 creating a manure lagoon comprising: 
 a lower anaerobic stratum comprising anaerobic microbes; and  
 an upper aerobic stratum comprising aerobic microbes;  
   withdrawing from the manure lagoon at least a portion of the upper aerobic stratum; and    distributing the withdrawn portion of the upper aerobic stratum on the area containing the crops.    
     
     
         28 . A depth-adjustable, fine bubble, surface layer aeration unit for aerating a selected portion of a fluid body, comprising: 
 a body comprising at least one hollow internal structure;    an air inlet communicating with the at least one hollow internal structure, whereby air from an external air source may be introduced into the at least one hollow internal structure;    at least one fine bubble aerator communicating with the at least one hollow internal structure, whereby air from the at least one hollow internal structure may be released through the at least one fine bubble aerator into an adjacent fluid; and    at least one weight pod attached to the body, wherein the at least one weight pod comprises structure for adjusting the weight of the at least one weight pod, whereby the buoyancy of the aeration unit may be adjusted so as to permit the at least one fine bubble aerator to be positioned at a desired depth in a fluid body.    
     
     
         29 . A method for aerating a surface layer in a stratified liquid body, comprising: 
 providing a depth-adjustable, fine bubble, surface layer aeration unit comprising: 
 a body comprising at least one hollow internal structure;  
 an air inlet communicating with the at least one hollow internal structure, whereby air from an external air source may be introduced into the at least one hollow internal structure;  
 at least one fine bubble aerator communicating with the at least one hollow internal structure, whereby air from the at least one hollow internal structure may be released through the at least one fine bubble aerator into an adjacent fluid; and  
 at least one weight pod attached to the body, wherein the at least one weight pod comprises structure for adjusting the weight of the at least one weight pod, whereby the buoyancy of the aeration unit may be adjusted so as to permit the at least one fine bubble aerator to be positioned at a desired depth in a fluid body;  
   connecting an air source to the air inlet, and positioning the unit in a fluid body; and    adjusting the weight of the at least one weight pod, so as to position the at least one fine bubble aerator within the surface layer of the stratified liquid body.