Assessment of a biological treatment process to reduce gaseous emissions from swine manure

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

A recent survey conducted by PSCI showed that 83% of barn workers may be exposed to potentially hazardous levels of gases, especially hydrogen sulphide (H2S), generated during in-barn manure handling tasks. A biological treatment approach developed for the containment of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) in oil reservoirs has been shown to reduce the emission of H2S from swine manure. The combined application of metabolic inhibitors such as nitrite and molybdate tended to reduce the odour concentration from gas samples in semi-pilot scale tests, but the impact on ammonia levels was not evident during the length of the treatment test considered. Preliminary work on isolation and enrichment of sulphide-oxidizing bacteria from manure showed promising results, but further study is needed to verify the possibility of enriching a sulphide-oxidizing culture from swine manure and to assess the activity of the enriched culture in reducing the emission of sulphides from manure slurries. An on-going study is currently underway to examine various factors affecting the microbial culture aspects of this treatment approach and to implement the treatment in controlled room-scale tests in the barn. It is anticipated that further development and successful application of this treatment process in swine barns will reduce worker exposure to potential gaseous hazards (especially hydrogen sulphide) and improve the overall work environment in swine barns, thereby leading to better health and productivity of workers and animals.

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