Sand Separation

Solution Strengths, Weaknesses and Critical Indicators

Sand Separation:  

  • Used on Vacuumed/scraped manure and manure slurries with limited water addition
  • Economics can be attractive depending on post-treatment and sand price
  • Dairies that use sand for bedding believe that the sand improves the comfort and productivity of the milking herd
  • Removal of sand particles can save significant wear in down-stream equipment
  • Reusing sand form a separator for bedding can reduce farms total bedding costs
  • Can increase manure volume based on the amount and source of water used for dilution
  • Reused sand must be handled properly to ensure that pathogens and moisture are not reintroduced into the barn

Overall Summary

Primary Application

  • Dairy farms with sand bedding
  • Vacuumed/scraped manure and manure slurries with limited water addition

Economic/Return on Investment Considerations

  • Economics can be attractive depending on the post-treatment processes and the price paid for sand bedding
  • Most dairies that use sand for bedding believe that the sand improves the comfort and productivity of the milking herd

Industry Uptake

  • 250 dairy-based U.S. installations and more worldwide.

Technology Maturity

  • Refined, mature, proven technologies.

Primary Benefits

  • Removal of heavy and abrasive sand particles that can cause significant wear in down-stream equipment.

Secondary Benefits

  • Reusing sand form a separator for bedding can reduce farms total bedding costs

How it Works

  • Sand separation technology operates on the difference in mass between the grains of sand and the other solids present in the manure
  • The manure/sand mixture is transported to the separation site where water is added to reduce the viscosity of the fluid and allow the heavier sand grains to settle out of the total solutions.
  • Liquid manure can flow out of the system for downstream processing.
  • Sand is removed from the separator mechanically by auger, front-end loader or gravity in some cases.

Pre-treatment and/or Post-treatment Required

  • Pre-treatment not required
  • Post-treatment not required but may be employed based on overall goals of the manure treatment system.

Limitations

  • Does not reduce volume and can increase volume based on the amount and source of water used for dilution.

Other Considerations

  • Reused sand must be handled properly to ensure that pathogens and moisture are not reintroduced into the barn if the sand is recycled for bedding.

 

Solutions Providers in order of 9-Point Scoring System

Every dairy farmer using sand bedding is well acquainted with the challenges in handling slurry containing large quantities of sand. Stjernholm’s customized solutions help dairy farmers meet these challenges, offering simple, reliable and smart systems to handle manure-laden containing sand. Stjernholm’s process of handling manure with sand is unique and…
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Parkson’s True-Grit system was sold into the dairy industry to allow dairies to recycle sand bedding. The Tru-Grit Manure Sand Saver requires minimal operator attention. Its efficient washing operation can reclaim 80-90% of bedding sand mixed with manure. The washed sand is clean and ready for rebedding. Typically, less than…
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Hydrocyclones provide dairy and poultry producers with pre- or post-grit removal for their manure treatment or nutrient separation systems. They can also be used by Sand Separation System customers looking for higher sand recovery. McLanahan Agricultural Hydrocyclones are based on existing mining-duty technology and were first introduced to the agricultural…
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Sand-Manure Separators (SMS) produce a clean, recyclable product that can be used for bedding dairy cows, as well as producing a nearly sand-free manure effluent. An SMS is most often placed in a Sand Separation System for dairy producers who want to avoid the challenges traditionally associated with handling sand…
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DariTech provides the most complete line of sand separation and process equipment in the industry. We strive to provide economical equipment with high efficiency and low maintenance. Along with our choice of separators and augers, we offer our DT360 separators with our unique hybrid screen. The DT360 provides high quality…
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