Animal waste made into plastic
A process developed at the University of Waikato will allow animal waste to be turned into useful and biodegradable plastic.
The new process, developed over two years by University of Waikato chemical engineer Dr Johan Verbeek and Masters student Lisa van den Berg, can turn animal protein waste like blood meal and feathers into a biodegradable plastic using industry-standard plastic extrusion and injection moulding machinery.
For Dr Verbeek, it is highly gratifying to use low-value sustainable waste to create a high-value product that breaks down without polluting the environment. "The material we can produce has the strength of polyethylene - the plastic used in milk bottles and plastic supermarket bags - but it's fully biodegradable." Read More
Science continues to find new ways to utilize this commodity. Being able to turn manure into a bio-degradable plastic will be just one more thing on the long list of products that we have due to animal agriculture.
Showing posts with label animal waste. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animal waste. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
New Way to Utilize Phosphorous from Manure
ARS finding ways to mine manure for phosphorus
Friday, April 11, 2008 12:48 PM CDT
Underground phosphorus deposits around the world are mined for use as a much-valued fertilizer. Now Agricultural Research Service (ARS) soil scientists Ariel Szogi, Matias Vanotti and Patrick Hunt have found a way to “mine” the phosphorus in poultry manure.
In 2006, the United States produced 8.9 billion broilers - and piles and piles of residual litter rich in phosphorus and nitrogen. Although poultry litter is typically used by farmers to fertilize their field crops with these two nutrients, it usually contains more phosphorus than the crops need. The excess phosphorus has the potential to wash away and pollute nearby rivers and lakes.
Szogi, Vanotti and Hunt have developed a method to obtain the phosphorus in poultry litter - consisting of a rapid removal and recovery of phosphorus in solid form - which they've dubbed “Quick Wash.” ARS has applied for a patent on this process. Read More
This article shows exactly why manure should not be regarded as waste, but a valuable nutrient resource. It is a valuable commodity that is in demand by crop producers. For anyone who has implemented a nutrient management plan, phosphorous can be one of the more challenging nutrients to manage. If this process gets up and running, it could be beneficial for livestock and crop producers alike.
Friday, April 11, 2008 12:48 PM CDT
Underground phosphorus deposits around the world are mined for use as a much-valued fertilizer. Now Agricultural Research Service (ARS) soil scientists Ariel Szogi, Matias Vanotti and Patrick Hunt have found a way to “mine” the phosphorus in poultry manure.
In 2006, the United States produced 8.9 billion broilers - and piles and piles of residual litter rich in phosphorus and nitrogen. Although poultry litter is typically used by farmers to fertilize their field crops with these two nutrients, it usually contains more phosphorus than the crops need. The excess phosphorus has the potential to wash away and pollute nearby rivers and lakes.
Szogi, Vanotti and Hunt have developed a method to obtain the phosphorus in poultry litter - consisting of a rapid removal and recovery of phosphorus in solid form - which they've dubbed “Quick Wash.” ARS has applied for a patent on this process. Read More
This article shows exactly why manure should not be regarded as waste, but a valuable nutrient resource. It is a valuable commodity that is in demand by crop producers. For anyone who has implemented a nutrient management plan, phosphorous can be one of the more challenging nutrients to manage. If this process gets up and running, it could be beneficial for livestock and crop producers alike.
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