Effects of acidifying manure effluent on its microbiological characteristics

Modern industrial animal husbandry is a significant source of chemical and biological pollution of the environment. Animal manure and slurry present a particular environmental danger during their accumulation and storage until their disposal or application into the soil. The process of microbiological destruction of these wastes results in a wide range of pollutants being formed, including greenhouse gases, ammonia, toxic sulfur compounds, and others. One of the easiest ways to reduce microbiological activity is the acidification of manure effluent. As a result of experimental studies, it has been found that the treatment of pig slurry with a solution of waste sulfuric acid with a pH of 6.4 to 5.3 leads to a decrease in the number of microorganisms in the treated wastes by 2.2 times on the 7th day and by 7.8 times on the 14th day of the experiment as compared to the control (non-acidified) samples. Acidification results in the elimination of Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus sp., as well as a sharp decrease in the number of Peptostreptococcus sp. and Peptoniphilus sp. in test samples. Implementing techniques for manure acidification on industrial pig farms will improve the sanitary, epidemiological and environmental situation in their locations.