Scientists unveil device to reduce livestock emissions

The scientists from North Carolina State University and West Virginia University have incorporated a biofilter and a heat exchanger into a single unit to reduce ammonia emissions from livestock barns, while also tempering — or heating up — the fresh air that is pumped into the barns.

The researchers showed that their design is effective under real-world conditions, operating their prototype in a 5,000-bird chicken house. The prototype removed up to 79 per cent of ammonia and reduced the energy needed to maintain the necessary temperature in the facility — recovering as much as 8.3KW of heat.

The warm polluted air from the livestock facility is cleansed by passing it through a bacteria-doped organic substance, such as compost or wood chips. The bacteria used in the biofilter interact with the pollutants and break them down into less harmful constituents.

In addition, some of the extracted warm air is transferred to the heat exchanger, where it is used to warm up cold fresh air entering from the outside.