Hog Urine Treatment by Membrane Distillation

The objective of this project is to test the feasibility of the membranes for membrane distillation (MD), developed recently by University of Ottawa researchers, to treat hog urine for the production of clean water in lab scale as well as with a demo unit. The MD process is eventually integrated as a part of the ATD waste management system to produce clean water, which is recycled to the barn or used for irrigation.

Approximately 84,000 tonnes/day of hog urine are produced by the hogs in Canada. Currently, it is discarded without treatment causing severe pollution problems, while there is scarcity in water to be supplied to pigs and also required for irrigation of the farm. Therefore, the successful outcome of the project will have an enormous impact on the pork production industry of Canada. There is also potential of export of technology to China.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dr. Takeshi Matsuura

Student:

Chaoyan Feng

Partner:

Bi Pure Water (Canada) Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering - chemical / biological

Sector:

Life sciences

University:

University of Ottawa