A Low-Cost Digester to Control Odors at a 120,000 Head Hog Farm

A single cell heated covered lagoon was designed to treat manure for odor control from 120,000 pigs in South America. The system cost $1,500,000. The system started up readily and is producing an average of 530,000 ft3 of biogas/day. The system benefits and methane reductions are described. A summary table is presented to allow comparisons of costs. Biogas recovery and use in boilers or engine-generators is discussed for the farm. Start up and operational lessons learned are presented.