System and method to treat livestock waste

A method for treating feedlot waste, comprising the steps of:

• screening coarse solids from animal wastewater;
• removing inorganic undissolved solids from the screened wastewater;
• creating bubble-particle aggregates by directing the wastewater into an inlet of a hydrocyclone, and channeling the wastewater from an outlet of the hydrocyclone to a tank;
• and
• separating the bubble-particle aggregates from the wastewater by allowing the bubble-particle aggregates to rise and accumulate on a free liquid surface of the tank and treated wastewater to settle below the bubble-particle aggregates for discharge from said tank;
• wherein the creating and separating steps are accomplished using a system comprising:
• a first chamber defined by the hydrocyclone, the hydrocyclone being configured to pass the wastewater therethrough in a generally helical manner to create the bubble-particle aggregates;
• a second chamber peripherally surrounding the outlet of the hydrocyclone and in fluid communication with the outlet of the hydrocyclone, the second chamber having a generally upwardly directed outlet;
• a third chamber peripherally surrounding the outlet of the second chamber and in fluid communication with the outlet of the second chamber, the third chamber having a generally downwardly directed outlet;
• and
• a fourth chamber defined by the tank peripherally surrounding the outlet of the third chamber and in fluid communication with the outlet of the third chamber.