Ammonium and inorganic species in fractionated suspended particulate matters from broiler house with rice hull beddings

Authors: Lovanh, Nanh; Loughrin, John; Silva, Philip - Phil

Submitted to: Air and Waste Management Annual Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/10/2015
Publication Date: 6/22/2015
Citation: Lovanh, N.C., Loughrin, J.H., Silva, P.J. 2015. Ammonium and inorganic species in fractionated suspended particulate matters from broiler house with rice hull beddings. Air and Waste Management Annual Conference Proceedings. Manuscript # 305.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Ammonia emission and subsequent deposition can be a major source of pollution, causing nitrogen enrichment, acidification of soils and surface waters, and aerosol formation. In the poultry house, ammonia emissions can also adversely affect the health, performance, and welfare of both animals and human operators. The persistent and long life expectancy of ammonia, odors and toxic pollutants from poultry houses may be due to the ability of suspended particulate matters (SPM) to serve as carriers for odorous compounds such as ammonium ions and other inorganic compounds (e.g., phosphate, sulfate, nitrate, and etc.). SPM is generated from the feed, animal manure, and the birds themselves. A large portion of odor associated with exhaust air from poultry houses is SPM that have absorbed odors from within the houses. Understanding the fate and transport processes of ammonia and other inorganics emissions in poultry houses is a necessary first step in utilizing the appropriate abatement strategies. In this study, the examination and characterization of ammonium ions, major components of odors and toxic gases from poultry operations, and other ions in suspended particulate matter from broiler houses were carried out using particle trap impactors. The SPMs from the particle trap impactors were extracted and analyzed for its ionic species using ion chromatography (IC). The results showed that fractions of ammonium ions in SPM reached maximum during the middle of flock cycle and increased in magnitude over several successive flocks during a four-flock total cleanout cycle. The fractions of ammonium in particulate matter increased over 15 folds from the first flock to the last flock in a one cycle of total cleanout of the bedding materials. Similar trends were observed for other ionic species such as nitrate, phosphate, and sulfate.