Effects Of Semi-Permeable Membrane Covering Coupled With Intermittent Aeration On Gas Emissions During Aerobic Composting From The Solid Fraction Of Dairy Manure At Industrial Scale

In this study, the effects of covering the compost pile with a semi-permeable membrane in combination with intermittent aeration on the gas emissions during aerobic composting from the solid fraction of dairy manure at industrial scale were investigated. A large-scale composting experiment was carried out to compare a membrane-covered (CT) group with a control (CK) group. The results indicated that the CT group could maintain a suitable aerobic and positive micro-pressure environment. The carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ammonia emissions outside the membrane during the aeration interval were reduced by 64.23%, 70.07%, 54.87%, and 11.32%, respectively, compared with that inside the membrane. It was also determined that the methane and nitrous oxide emissions from the CT group were reduced by 99.89% and 60.48% relative to the CK group, confirming that the combined process represented a novel strategy for reducing gas emissions during dairy manure composting. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.