The operation of a dairy farm will be beneficial for the product of fresh milk for local

supply and hence reduce dependence on importation. However, it will lead to the production

of solid and liquid wastes that requires proper treatment and disposal. Traditional

practices mainly relied on the agronomic use of dairy wastes which include storage and

spreading in the fields and use of the liquid effluent for irrigation for crop production.

Although these methods are highly effective in nutrients recycling, it has been reported as

being objectionable in terms of odour and to cause N pollution of underground water and

water bodies.

A4 This project has as objective to design the complete solid and liquid wastes management U

facility. It comprises of two phases. The initial phase involves the design and operation of

a t/\<'./SOlid waste composting plant, after separation of liquid and solid fractions. As

the number is / increased from 50 to 400 cows, the amount ofwaste~enerated will become more

significant and will justify construction of an anaerobic digestion. Hence, in the second

part, the design of an anaerobic digester, the composting plant for stabilising the digested

cake and the recovery, purification and conversion of the biogas to electricity will be

considered. 0/

Activities

The following activities are being planned l.Literature review ofthe treatment/disposal

techniques of dairy manure wastes 2.Characterisation of the solid and liquid wastes 3.Design

and operation of a composting plant for solid fraction 4.Determination of the Biogas

potential 5.Preliminary Design of anaerobic digester 6.Biogas treatment 7.Assessing power

generation from biogas ~ 8.Discuss with farmer community on the elements of proposed project

Plannin Grant

The planning grant will be used to work out a prefeasibility of the proposed technologies

based on the characteristics of the dairy wastes and discuss with the cooperatives the

implications and the risks of the project. Being a first large scale project on dairy

wastes, the technical barriers have to be clearly defined with respect to the technologies

to be adopted.
Other stakeholders will have to be consulted, especially on the biogas energy conversion

process. The project can then be prepared in a very comprehensive manner.
It is very important to define the technical social and economic parameters in this project

as it embraces the rationale of the Maurice lie durable project by treating wastes in a

sustainable way and producing bio energy.

Period November to January 2009

Consultants Prof Romeela Mohee, Faculty of Engineering, University of Mauritius Ms Rema

Rughoonundun, Faculty of Engineering, University of Mauritius .
Mr Dinesh Surroop, Faculty of Engineering, University of Mauritius

Deliverables ,Consolidated Report including -Literature review on dairy manure waste

treMment & disposal techniques I ~ -Results of characteristics of solid and liquid wastes

-Biogas and electricity potential -Preliminary sizing of anaerobic digester and biogas to

electricity conversion units -Recommended compost mix for stabilising digested cake -Design

of compost plant

Projected Expenses:

Rs

-Purchase of documents Rs.3000
-Preparation of report (3 persons) Rs.27000
-Printing and others Rs.3000
-Logistic Rs.200
-Total Rs.35000

Prepared by: Miss H. Rughoonundun/Dr R.Mohee
Signature:
Date: 30 October 2008