Recent advances on anaerobic digestion of swine wastewater

Anaerobic digestion is a valuable technology for the elimination of biodegradable pollutants and stabilization of agro-industrial wastes. This review focuses on the AD of wastewaters derived from swine production within the scope of wastewater treatment and bioenergy production. Fundamental principles of AD as a biochemical and microbiological process are described. The effect of essential parameters is also examined in the context of swine wastewater, especially the relation between chemical and operational factors, process stability and performance. The review continues with a discussion of current trends and future achievements in AD research of swine wastes, namely co-digestion with carbon-rich substrates, integration with pretreatment methods, process enhancement via the use of additives, and digestate management. Finally, a brief outlook on the economy of biogas utilization is provided to better understanding the future of AD as biotechnology for on-farm treatment of swine wastewater.