S-1000 Regional Project
Animal Manure and Waste Utilization, Treatment and Nuisance Avoidance for a Sustainable Agriculture
2003 Station Reports


Reporting Scientist:
    Robert D. von Bernuth, Michigan State University       

Progress to date by objective and task. 
    The following objectives and tasks have been addressed.  In addition, some work on diet modification for reduction of odor and ammonia emissions will be reported. 

Objective 2:  Develop, evaluate, and refine physical, chemical and biological treatment processes in engineered and natural systems for management of manures and other wastes. Task 3.  Develop and evaluate physical and chemical treatments for recovering or stabilizing manure solids or manure treatment by-products for improved utilization alternatives

Objective 3:  Develop methodology, technology, and management practices to reduce odors, gases, airborne microflora, particulate matter, and other airborne emissions from animal production systems. Task 3:  Emission control technology development and selection for site-specific cases.
   
This report includes work on several multi-disciplinary projects, but is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all such projects at Michigan State University.  The projects all cross over between the above tasks. 

Work reported herein can be listed in the following categories.  1) Use of ozone for reduction of odor and pathogenic activity.  2) Characterization of gases emitted and quantification of those gases.  3) Evaluation of the liquid/solid isolation system for swine manure employed at the swine research facililty at Michigan State University.

Ozone

    Two methods of ozone application/injection have been used in swine facilities.  The efficacy of ozone for odor reduction when injected into the ventilation air stream of an environmentally controlled swine production facility was evaluated.  Pig performance was measured.  In a separate study, the efficacy of injecting ozone into the liquid fraction of swine manure is being evaluated. 
Ozone Injection into Ventilation Air
     There were some differences in air quality as characterized by differences in concentrations of gases as shown in Tables 1 and 2.  Ammonia decreased linearly with ozone concentration and a linear model accounts for 94% of the variation within the range of concentrations observed.  Respirable dust through twelve weeks of the trial was also influenced by ozone with a second order increase in respirable dust with ozone concentration.  A quadratic model accounts for 99% of the variation in dust with a maximum at 0.05 ppm ozone.  Average dilution to threshold (DT) for odor decreased with ozone concentration, and a linear model explains 85% of the variation in DT.  Two (indole and skatole) of the five VOCs chosen for in-depth analysis were linearly reduced by ozone, and p-cresol was quadratically reduced by ozonation with a minimum at 0.05 ppm.  The quadratic model for p-cresol accounts for 96% of the variation.
    The performance of the pigs was mixed.  Average daily feed intake for the first two periods was affected by ozone with the higher ozone levels leading to lower feed intake. This led to decreased average daily gain.  In later periods there appeared to be compensatory gain, and by the end of the trial there was no difference.  
    An objective was to determine key gas levels and bioaerosol contaminants in an environmentally controlled environment.  In this experiment the space per pig was 8 ft2, and the ventilation was 25 cfm per pig.  Hydrogen sulfide was less than 0.2 ppm, ammonia was about 3 ppm, and carbon dioxide was about 900 ppm.  Concentrations of the five VOCs ranged from 0.04   g/L (p-Ethylphenol) to 13  g/L (Phenol).  With the ventilation rate at 600 cfm, the emission rates for the gases varied from less than 0.04 g/h (p-Ethylphenol) to more than 1000 g/h  (carbon dioxide).  This relates to nearly 42 g/h per pig of carbon dioxide emission. 
    A profile of gaseous and bioaerosol contamination levels were determined and lead to determination of air emissions from the facility.  The calculated emissions rates for the conditions as described are shown in Table 3.  A complete listing of the compounds and their respective concentrations as identified by mass spectroscopy are listed in Kim-Yang (2002).  

Table 1.  Ammonia, Carbon Dioxide, and Hydrogen Sulfide Concentrations (ppm)

Ammonia    7/02/01    7/17/01        7/31/01    8/13/01      8/27/01
   Control        2.2            3.0            2.8            3.0            3.0
0.01 ppm        1.8            2.5            2.3            3.8            4.0
0.05 ppm        1.8            2.5            2.3            2.1            2.4
0.10 ppm        1.5            1.9            1.9            1.9            2.4
Carbon Dioxide                   
Control            945        1050            750          725            905
0.01 ppm         950        1200            800          863          1038
0.05 ppm         880          888            888          725            750
0.10 ppm        1045         963            600           713           815
Hydrogen Sulfide                   
Control           0.123        0.195        0.273        0.195        0.253
0.01 ppm        0.230        0.104        0.150        0.238        0.270
0.05 ppm        0.122        0.200        0.318        0.268        0.553
0.10 ppm        0.201        0.123        0.223        0.418        0.308


Table 2.  Dilution thresholds (DT) and Volatile Organic Compounds inside building
                                              Compounds
                                              sorbed on
                                              SPME fiber                                                         
               Ozone                        
( g)
Date    Concentration    DT    Phenol    p-Cresol    p-Ethylphenol    Indole    Skatole
                           
7/6/01    Control         1086     107            117            2.07                0               0
                0.01            621      105            115            2.15            0.59               0
                0.05            386    9905           96.8            1.94                0                0
                0.10            327    9306           98.4            1.98                0                0
8/3/01    Control         808      144            353            2.93            7.26         19.85
                0.01            683     122             296            2.99            3.36           5.92
                0.05            683     118             297            2.76            1.34           1.40
                0.10            382     102            164             2.08                 0                0
8/31/01    Control       1113    128            308             2.28            6.10         13.33
                0.01            799     147            430             2.69            3.04           9.22
                0.05            866     100            224             1.92                 0            5.9
                0.10            676     110            366             2.33                 0                0
9/28/01    Control        944     138            408            2.28             4.33        14.69
                0.01            734       89            229            1.17                  0           1.71
                0.05            622     111            260            1.90              0.82          0.95
                0.10            317       89            192            1.71                   0               0


Table 3.  Typical Gas Concentrations (ppm or  g/L) and Emission Rates (g/h) for ventilation at 600 cfm.


Gas                    Hydrogen Sulfide  Ammonia   Carbon Dioxide  Phenol  p-Cresol    p-Ethyl-phenol  Indole   Skatole
               
                (ppm)               (ppm)            (ppm)           ( g/L)        ( g/L)            ( g/L)          ( g/L)    ( g/L)
Concentration             0.19                 3.0                 900             13             11                0.04           0.11     0.50
Emission Rate             0.29                 2.46             1001             13.3          11.2             0.04           0.11     0.51
(g/h)                                                                                                                                                                      
1Carbon dioxide entering concentration was approximately 400 ppm.

Ozone Injection into Liquid Fraction of Manure
    The research/demonstration project for injecting ozone into the liquid stream of manure from the facility has been completed.  Odor reduction results are being analyzed, but a qualitative statement is that the odor is substantially reduced.  Gerrish, et. al., 2003, summarizes the project.

Reducing Dietary Crude Protein

    The objective of this study was to investigate whether reducing dietary CP concentration decreases fecal VFA, manure ammonia (NH3) emission and odor, and urinary phenolic metabolites.  Six treatments consisted of four corn-soybean meal based diets containing 15, 12, 9, and 6% CP, a casein-based diet containing 15% CP, and a protein-free diet.  Crystalline AA were included in the 12, 9, and 6% CP diets.  The results indicate that reduction in dietary CP concentrations decreased manure NH3 emission, but it does not diminish manure odor offensiveness and fecal VFA concentrations.  (See Otto, et.al., 2003).
Evaluation of Liquid/Solid Isolation System

    The Swine Teaching and Research Facility at Michigan State University is a 250 sow farrow-to-finish facility.  The manure handling system for the finishing rooms consists of a V-shaped floor beneath concrete slats with a slotted PVC pipe at the vertex of the V.  Liquid runs into the pipe and is directed to the liquid holding tank.  Solids (feces) stick to the slope of the V and are removed by a cable drawn scraper.  Research conducted earlier at MSU had shown that 90+% of the phosphorus was isolated in the solid portion, but the efficacy of the isolation had never been proven on a production size facility.  A project was begun in July, 2003 to evaluate the efficacy of phosphorus isolation and simultaneously record hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, NOx and COx gas concentration levels.  Through seven weeks of the trial, the efficacy of isolation has ranged from 88 to 92% of phosphorus contained in the solids.  Water and feed consumption are closely monitored, and a phosphorus balance will be performed.  Preliminary results for the first six weeks are shown in Figure 1.
 
Figure 1 not available. Contact
Robert D. von Bernuth directly if you would like to see Figure 1.

     Concentrations of ammonia have been less than 3 ppm, and hydrogen sulfide levels have been below detection threshhold through the first six weeks. 

Usefulness of Findings and Impacts
    Noted separately above by bolded type.

Planned Work for Next Year

    The liquid isolation system study will be completed, and the results incorporated into a collaborative study among researchers from North Carolina State, Ohio State, Iowa State and Michigan State Universities.
    Funding has been secured for a comparative analysis of odor evaluation and aerosol monitoring techniques in conjunction with the Institut de Recherche et de Developpement en Agroenviornment (IRDA) in Quebec.  The research will be conducted in six environmental chambers designed to replicate commercial swine productin facilities.  GC/MS analysis will be used to profile volatile fatty acids, and the MSU Continuous Monitoring System (CEM) will be used for multi-gas analysis.  IRDA will employ GC using flame ionization and electron capture detection, and dual wavelength nephelometer technology will be used for dust analysis.  All results will also be subjected to analysis by a trained olfactometry panel at IRDA. 
 
Publications:
Peer Reviewed Articles:
Otto, E. R., M. Yokoyama, S. Hengemuehle, R. D. von Bernuth, T. van Kempen, and N. L. Trottier. 2003. Ammonia, volatile fatty acids, phenolics and odor offensiveness in manure from growing pigs fed diets reduced in protein concentration. J. Anim. Sci. 2003. 81:1754-1763.
N. Islam and R. D. von Bernuth. 2003. Arsenic Transportation in the Groundwater of Bangladesh and the Policy of Irrigation Development. J. Phys. IV France. 2003. 107 :661-665.
Proceedings:
Humenik, F. J. , R. D. von Bernuth, T.L. Richard and F. Michael Jr., Livestock Housing Design to Enhance Management of Liquid Stream and In-House Gases. Proceedings of the Fourth International Livestock Waste Management Symposium and Technology Expo, Global Perspective in Livestock Waste Mgmt., Penang, Malaysia, pp. 113-118, 2002.
Conference Papers:
J. B. Gerrish, S. H. Davies, S. J. Masten, R. L. Ledebuhr, and R. D. von Bernuth. 2003. "Ozonation of Swine-waste Liquids at Full- scale. Presented at the ASAE Annual International Meeting, Las Vegas, NV. Paper #034056.
M. Nazrul Islam, R. D. von Bernuth, S. Davies, and H. R. Chowdhury. 2003. "Low Cost Arsenic Removal Techniques Using Existing Resources". Presented at 3rd World Water Forum, Session IWRM-37, Shiga, Japan. March, 2003.
Jeff Hill, R. D. von Bernuth, and E. C. Cline. 2002. "Monitoring and Regulation of Ozonation Systems in Livestock Production Facilities". Presented at the ASAE Annual International Meeting, Chicago, IL. Paper #024055.
H. S. Kim-Yang, R. D. von Bernuth, and S. Davies. 2002. "Ozonation Effect on Odorous Compounds in Livestock Building Air." Presented at the ASAE Annual International Meeting, Chicago, IL. Paper #024056.
MD. N. Islam and R. D. von Bernuth. 2002. Lowering of Water Table and Groundwater Arsenic Contamination Problem in Bangladesh. Presented at the ASAE Annual International Meeting, Chicago, IL. Paper #022214.
Other:
Model Certification Program for Confined Feeding Operations. See http://pasture.ecn.purdue.edu/~jonesd/cert/web_intro.htm  (Contributing author)
Manure Application Risk Index with Jerry Grigar, NRCS   See http://www.egr.msu.edu/age/.
Dissertation:
Kim-Yang, Hyesoon.  2002.  Characterization of odorous and hazardous gaseous compounds in livestock building air.  Ph.D. Dissertation.  Michigan State University.

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