Project Number: 5368-12630-002-02
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Jan 01, 2008
End Date: Dec 31, 2009

Objective:
1) The objective is to measure the relative contributions of gaseous emissions (ammonia, methanol, methane, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and bioaerosol emissions over a one-year period at different areas within a large freestall dairy to identify areas for further research and air quality improvement. Additionally, bioaerosols will be monitored from a pivot irrigation system using dairy wastewater. 2) Determine the impact of several treatment technologies on the generation of odor compounds (VOCs), ammonia, and greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide) from dairy wastewater. Specific aims: 1) Determine the effectiveness of three treatments (aeration, nitrate addition [UNLO2K], zeolite) on the reduction of VOCs, ammonia, and greenhouse gasses emitted from dairy wastewater. 2) Determine the optimal rate of aeration or addition of UNLO2K or zeolite to maximize emission reductions cost effectively.

Approach:
1) We plan to perform air quality sampling from three to four locations on one large scale freestall dairy operation in Southern Idaho. Data will be collected for one week out of each month over the course of one year. The data collected will consist of the following: 1) Ammonia measured with passive samplers. 2) Ammonia, methanol, methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide will be measured with a photoacoustic monitor 3) Volatile organic chemicals which contribute to odor using gas samplers. 4) Bioaerosol and endotoxin sampling (some of the sampling may not be possible during the winter when temperatures are low) Monitor bioaerosols (E. coli, fecal streptococci, and coliphage) upwind and downwind from a pivot irrigation site, one week out of each month, over the irrigation season. Meteorological data will be measured at one location on the dairy and pivot irrigation site and will include: wind speed and direction, air temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiation. 2) The reduction of odor from dairy wastewater is a concern for producers as odor is the number one complaint related to dairy production. There are several potential treatments available which could reduce the generation of odor compounds from dairy wastewater: aeration, addition of oxidizing agents (i.e. nitrates), and the addition of odor capturing materials (zeolite). In addition to reducing odors, the impact of treatment on the production of ammonia and greenhouse gasses should be evaluated to determine if there are potential negative effects of these treatments on emissions from wastewaters. The proposed project will determine the effects of wastewater treatment on VOCs, ammonia, and greenhouse gasses in order to provide information related to the effectiveness of these as best management practices to reduce the overall emissions from dairy wastewaters. Specific aims: 1) Determine the effectiveness of three treatments (aeration, nitrate addition [UNLO2K], zeolite) on the reduction of VOCs, ammonia, and greenhouse gasses emitted from dairy wastewater. 2) Determine the optimal rate of aeration or addition of UNLO2K or zeolite to maximize emission reductions cost effectively.