US4018899A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for recovering feed products from animal manure
Assignee: Ceres Ecology Corp
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Filing: 1975-01-22
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Granted: 1977-04-19
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Expires: 1995-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A process and apparatus for recovering feed products from animal manure are disclosed wherein the manure is fractionated into a silage component, a high-protein feed supplement, and a third component consisting essentially of insoluble minerals and indigestible cellulosic particles. A slurry of the incoming manure is formed and allowed to ferment to encourage the bacterial conversion of nitrogenous compounds into true protein and to lower the pH of the slurry. Special separators are used to separate the fermented slurry into solid and liquid fractions. The solid fraction which consists of undigested fibers and grains is washed to provide the silage type component. Insoluble minerals and indigestible cellulosic particles of the manure which appear in the liquid fraction as fine solids are removed from the liquid fraction (by centrifuging) to provide the third component. The viscous liquid fraction may be used as a high-protein feed supplement or the water in it can be evaporated to provide a dry product.
Inventors
- 👤 David W. Seckler
- 👤 Judson M. Harper
- 👤 William Wayne Gaynor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:20
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D37/00; A; A23; A23J; A23J1/00; A23J1/001; A23J1/003; A23K; A23K10/00; A23K10/20; A23K10/26; B01D29/00; B01D29/11; B01D29/117; B01D29/118; B01D29/62; B01D29/64; B01D29/6469; B01D29/6476; B01D29/76; B01D29/78; B01D29/88; B01D29/90; B01D29/908; B01D29/94; B01D35/00; B01D35/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S426/00; Y10S426/807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A process for extracting feed products from animal manure, comprising: forming a manure-water slurry in a first pit and permitting said slurry to ferment; separating said slurry into solid and liquid fractions, said solid fraction comprising a silage-like component of undigested fibers and grains, said liquid fraction comprising high protein nutrients and relatively dense indigestible minerals and fiber particles; separating said relatively dense indigestible minerals and fiber particles from said high protein nutrients in the liquid fraction; and processing said liquid fraction for use as a feed supplement which contains relatively low amounts of indigestible minerals and fiber particles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A process for extracting feed products from animal manure, comprising: forming a manure-water slurry in a first pit and permitting said slurry to ferment; separating said slurry into solid and liquid fractions, said solid fraction comprising a silage-like component of undigested fibers and grains, said liquid fraction comprising high protein nutrients and relatively dense indigestible minerals and fiber particles; separating said relatively dense indigestible minerals and fiber particles from said high protein nutrients in the liquid fraction; and processing said liquid fraction for use as a feed supplement which contains relatively low amounts of indigestible minerals and fiber particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process for extracting feed products from animal manure according to claim 1, where the moisture content of said slurry is maintained between 70% and 80%.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein a fermentable carbohydrate is added to said manure slurry.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein acid is added to said liquid fraction to cause the nitrogenous compounds in said liquid fraction to form less volatile salts, and further comprising the step of heating said liquid fraction after said indigestible minerals and fibers have been removed therefrom to cause evaporation of water and thereby concentrate the nutrients in said liquid fraction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process according to claim 4, wherein said acid is sulfuric acid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process according to claim 4, wherein said acid is phosphoric acid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 5, wherein said liquid fraction is at least partially neutralized with ammonium after evaporation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 6, wherein said liquid fraction is at least partially neutralized with calcium carbonate afer evaporation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 4, wherein the concentrated liquid fraction is dried after partial evaporation of the water in it.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
A process for extracting digestible material from animal manure, comprising forming a slurry of manure and water, separating said slurry into solid and liquid fractions, said solid fraction comprising a silage-like mixture of undigested fibers and grains, said liquid fraction comprising high protein nutrients and relatively dense indigestible minerals and fiber particles, washing said undigested fibers and grains, extracting a substantial amount of the insoluble minerals and indigestible cellulosic particles within said liquid fraction therefrom, and evaporating at least some of the water in the liquid fraction remaining after removal of said insoluble minerals and indigestible cellulosic particles to provide a concentrated liquid feed supplement including substantial amounts of soluble and insoluble nutrients containing relatively low amounts of indigestible minerals and fiber particles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
A process for extracting digestible material from animal manure, comprising forming a slurry of manure and water, separating said slurry into solid and liquid fractions, said solid fraction comprising a silage-like mixture of undigested fibers and grains, said liquid fraction comprising high protein nutrients and relatively dense indigestible minerals and fiber particles, washing said undigested fibers and grains, extracting a substantial amount of the insoluble minerals and indigestible cellulosic particles within said liquid fraction therefrom, and evaporating at least some of the water in the liquid fraction remaining after removal of said insoluble minerals and indigestible cellulosic particles to provide a concentrated liquid feed supplement including substantial amounts of soluble and insoluble nutrients containing relatively low amounts of indigestible minerals and fiber particles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 10, wherein acid is added to the liquid fraction prior to said evaporating step, said acid forming relatively non-volatile salts with nitrogenous compounds in said liquid fraction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 11, wherein said evaporating step includes depositing the liquid fraction on at least one rotating heated drum.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 10, wherein the evaporated water produced during evaporation is used to wash said undigested fibers and grains.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 10, wherein the solid fraction from the manure slurry is washed as it is being conveyed to a press.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process according to claim 10, wherein clean water is used to wash said solid fraction as it is being conveyed to said press, and the excess wash water collected and returned to the pit in which said slurry is formed to maintain said slurry at a preselected moisture content.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 10, wherein said manure slurry is separated into its solid and liquid fractions by forcing the slurry under pressure through a screen.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 16, wherein said screen is continuously cleaned by a moving knife edge.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process for extracting feed products from animal manure according to claim 11, wherein the slurry is allowed to ferment prior to separation so as to convert non-protein nitrogen in the manure into true protein.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 18, wherein a fermentable carbohydrate is added to said manure slurry.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 10, wherein the concentrated liquid fraction after evaporation is blended with fodder to provide an animal feed product.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 10, wherein the concentrated liquid fraction after evaporation is fermented and then mixed with fodder to provide an animal feed product.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
151 words
A process for extracting feed products from animal manure, comprising: forming a manure-water slurry of between 70% and 80% moisture content in a first pit and permitting said slurry to ferment to convert non-protein nitrogen to true protein; forcing said slurry under pressure against a screen to thereby separate said slurry into solid and liquid fractions; washing said solid fraction as it is conveyed to a press to provide a silage-like component of undigested fibers and grains; separating relatively dense indigestible minerals and fiber particles from high protein nutrients in the liquid fraction, adding an acid to the remaining liquid fraction to cause nitrogenous compounds to form salts which are less volatile than said compounds, and thereafter heating said liquid fraction to evaporate a substantial amount of the water in said liquid fraction and thereby yield a high protein feed supplement containing relatively low amounts of indigestible minerals and fiber particles.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
151 words
A process for extracting feed products from animal manure, comprising: forming a manure-water slurry of between 70% and 80% moisture content in a first pit and permitting said slurry to ferment to convert non-protein nitrogen to true protein; forcing said slurry under pressure against a screen to thereby separate said slurry into solid and liquid fractions; washing said solid fraction as it is conveyed to a press to provide a silage-like component of undigested fibers and grains; separating relatively dense indigestible minerals and fiber particles from high protein nutrients in the liquid fraction, adding an acid to the remaining liquid fraction to cause nitrogenous compounds to form salts which are less volatile than said compounds, and thereafter heating said liquid fraction to evaporate a substantial amount of the water in said liquid fraction and thereby yield a high protein feed supplement containing relatively low amounts of indigestible minerals and fiber particles.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 22, wherein the liquid fraction remaining after evaporation is blended with plant fodder to provide an animal feed product.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 22, wherein the liquid fraction remaining after evaporation is fermented and then blended with plant fodder to provide an animal feed product.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process according to claim 22, wherein water in said liquid fraction is first evaporated in a vacuum evaporator and the concentrated liquid fraction then dried by depositing it on at least one rotating heated drum.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 25, wherein the water evaporated in the evaporator is used to wash said solid fraction.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
46 words
A process according to claim 22, wherein the excess water used to wash said solid fraction as it is being conveyed to said press is collected and returned to the pit in which said slurry is formed to maintain a preselected moisture content in said pit.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 22, wherein a readily fermentable carbohydrate is added to said manure slurry.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
178 words
A process for recovering feed products from animal manure, comprising forming a manure-water slurry in a first pit and agitating said slurry while allowing debris to settle to the bottom of said pit for periodic removal of the debris; transferring said slurry to a second pit and permitting said slurry to ferment in said second pit until its pH is about 5 or less; pressing said fermented slurry against a screen to separate said slurry into liquid and solid fractions; washing said solid fraction with fresh water and recycling the excess wash water to said first pit to maintain a preselected moisture content in said slurry; separating insoluble minerals and indigestible fiber particles from high protein nutrients in said liquid fraction; adding acid to the remaining portion of said liquid fraction containing said high protein nutrients to cause nitrogenous compounds in said liquid fraction to form salts which are less volatile than said nitrogenous compounds; and evaporating water in said liquid fraction to yield a high protein feed supplement containing relatively low amounts of indigestible minerals and fibers.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
178 words
A process for recovering feed products from animal manure, comprising forming a manure-water slurry in a first pit and agitating said slurry while allowing debris to settle to the bottom of said pit for periodic removal of the debris; transferring said slurry to a second pit and permitting said slurry to ferment in said second pit until its pH is about 5 or less; pressing said fermented slurry against a screen to separate said slurry into liquid and solid fractions; washing said solid fraction with fresh water and recycling the excess wash water to said first pit to maintain a preselected moisture content in said slurry; separating insoluble minerals and indigestible fiber particles from high protein nutrients in said liquid fraction; adding acid to the remaining portion of said liquid fraction containing said high protein nutrients to cause nitrogenous compounds in said liquid fraction to form salts which are less volatile than said nitrogenous compounds; and evaporating water in said liquid fraction to yield a high protein feed supplement containing relatively low amounts of indigestible minerals and fibers.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 29, wherein the concentrated liquid fraction after said evaporating step is dried by depositing it on at least one rotating heated drum.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 29, wherein said insoluble minerals and indigestible fiber particles are extracted by centrifuging said liquid fraction.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said animal manure is a mixture of livestock manures.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-04-18 | 1980-10-18 | 1981-04-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-18 | 1984-10-18 | 1985-04-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-18 | 1988-10-18 | 1989-04-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |