Control of ammonia emissions

Control of ammonia emissions



Feb 2007 - Improving 
control of ammonia emissions from large poultry and hog farms 
is more economical and efficient than trying to control the 
effects of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide pollution from 
some industrial plants, according to a researcher at Carnegie 
Mellon University. 
"In most farms, handling of animal manure is a major source of 
ammonia being released both to air and water," said Peter 
Adams, an associate professor of civil and environmental 
engineering at Carnegie Mellon. "Our research shows that 
increased control of livestock feed, efficient use of nitrogen 
on farms, low-emission fertilizers and other improvements to 
manure handling on farms are cost-effective ways to reduce 
ammonia emissions and airborne particles." 
The research, featured in the 2007 winter edition of 
"Environmental Science & Technology", shows that ammonia is a 
significant contributor to dangerous airborne particle 
concentrations along the eastern United States - 
concentrations that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
deems hazardous to human health. 
Essentially, people can smell ammonia in concentrations over 
five parts per million (ppm). And it starts to burn the eyes 
at 20 ppm. 
"While you can only smell the high ammonia concentrations on 
or near a farm, the more serious health threat occurs further 
away as a complex set of chemical reactions occur in the 
atmosphere that convert ammonia into microscopic, airborne 
particles of ammonium nitrate. Better farming practices could 
decrease ammonia emissions from farms and potentially save 
farmers money," Adams said. 
The potential savings from controlling ammonia manure 
emissions from farms is $8,000 per ton in the winter, Adams 
said, whereas targeting emissions from large power plants can 
cost millions.

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