ARS | Publication request: Process model for ammonia volatilization from anaerobic swine lagoons incorporating varying wind speeds and biogas bubbling

Submitted to: ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: June 1, 2008
Publication Date: June 29, 2008
Repository URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10113/19585
Citation: Ro, K.S., Szogi, A.A., Vanotti, M.B., Stone, K.C. 2008. Process model for ammonia volatilization from anaerobic swine lagoons incorporating varying wind speeds and biogas bubbling. Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting, June 29-July 2, 2008, Providence, Rhode Island, Paper No. 084245. 16 pp.

Technical Abstract: Ammonia volatilization from treatment lagoons varies widely with the total ammonia concentration, pH, temperature, suspended solids, atmospheric ammonia concentration above the water surface, and wind speed. Ammonia emissions were estimated with a process-based mechanistic model integrating ammonia chemistry of the lagoon and interfacial transport characteristics between air and water. The improved model incorporated the effect of internal bubble production and continuously variable wind speed on ammonia volatilization measured at 10 m above liquid surface (U10). Model simulations were compared to measured ammonia emission rates from swine treatment lagoons. Ammonia emissions would be significantly under-predicted if bubbling-enhanced mass transport was not taken into account during warm seasons, as demonstrated by the improved process model and evidenced by the observed fluxes.