Application of a Biological Treatment Approach to Control Gaseous Emissions from Swine Operations

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on January 1, 2007

Swine barn workers may be exposed to potentially hazardous levels of gases, especially hydrogen sulphide (H2S), generated during in-barn manure handling tasks. This study demonstrated that adaptation of measures developed in another industry with similar environmental concerns (i.e., oil industry) could lead to successful control of gas emissions generated from swine operations. First, the activity of microbial species which are responsible for the generation of undesirable gases and odour precursor compounds in the manure are diminished using a balanced mixture of specific inhibitors, namely nitrite (NO2) and molybdate (Mo). The second mechanism involved stimulation of the catalytic activity of sulphide-oxidizing bacteria that are either indigenous in the raw swine manure or those which are isolated and enriched from the manure in the laboratory and subsequently added to raw swine manure during treatment. These preliminary results indicate the potential for isolation and enrichment of indigenous sulphide-oxidizing bacteria present in the manure. A more detailed study is being conducted to verify the possibility of enriching a sulphide-oxidizing culture from the manure and to assess the activity of the enriched culture in reducing the emission of sulphide from manure slurries. The effect of this treatment on manure nutrient properties will also be examined to determine the possible environmental impact of subsequent land application of the treated manure. This is necessary information to formulate guidelines for pork producers on the proper application of the treatment in actual swine barns.

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