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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Commodity Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #416728
Research Project: Improved Conversion of Sugar Crops into Food, Biofuels, Biochemicals, and Bioproducts

Location: Commodity Utilization Research

Title: Recycling Waste Cottonseed Hulls to Biomaterials for Ammonia Adsorption

Author
item Klasson, Kjell
item PANCLO, BRETLYN - Orise Fellow
item Torbert Iii, Henry

Submitted to: Recycling
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/31/2025
Publication Date: 8/6/2025
Citation: Klasson, K.T., Panclo, B.T., Torbert Iii, H.A. 2025. Recycling Waste Cottonseed Hulls to Biomaterials for Ammonia Adsorption. Recycling. 10(4):158. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling10040158.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling10040158

Interpretive Summary: Ammonia emissions in poultry houses are common and pose health concerns for animals and workers. However, effective control of these emissions with sustainable products is lacking. Therefore, we investigated if agricultural byproducts, such as cottonseed hulls, could be used in a pyrolyzed form to remove ammonia from air. In this study, the efficacy of ammonia removal was observed using cottonseed hull biochar pyrolyzed at 7 different temperatures; 250 °C, 300 °C, 350 °C, 400 °C, 500 °C, 600 °C, and 700 °C. Ammonia was passed through a column filled with biochar, and ammonia in the filtered air was monitored. The results showed that the materials produced at the intermediate temperatures of 350 and 400 °C were the most efficient at ammonia removal.

Technical Abstract: Ammonia emissions in poultry houses are common and pose health concerns for animals and workers. However, effective control of these emissions with sustainable products is lacking. Therefore, we investigated if agricultural byproducts, such as cottonseed hulls, could be used in a pyrolyzed form to remove ammonia from air. In this study, the efficacy of ammonia removal was observed using cottonseed hull biochar pyrolyzed at 7 different temperatures; 250 °C, 300 °C, 350 °C, 400 °C, 500 °C, 600 °C, and 700 °C. Ammonia was passed through a column filled with biochar, and ammonia in the filtered air was monitored. The results showed that the materials produced at the intermediate temperatures of 350 and 400 °C were the most efficient at ammonia removal.