Application of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles was evaluated as a possible measure to mitigate the levels of hydrogen sulphide (H2S), ammonia (NH3) and odour in swine facilities. Two deployment techniques were investigated: direct mixing of zinc oxide nanoparticles into the slurry, and filtration with nanoparticles as filtering media for the manure gases. The overall goal of this work was to determine the impact of the treatments on hydrogen sulphide, ammonia and odour emissions, pig performance and manure characteristics as well as to assess the feasibility of the application of this technology in a typical swine barn. Semi-pilot scale tests were conducted to evaluate operational factors in open system conditions, the results of which showed that the mixing method required a particle-to-slurry ratio of 3 grams of zinc oxide per litre of slurry to control hydrogen sulphide and ammonia levels. Using the air filtration technique, a fluidized bed filter design with a 0.28 g/cm2 loading rate and rated at 0.5 m/s face velocity was found to be the most effective combination for controlling gas levels. Room-scale experiments were conducted in specially designed chambers to assess the effectiveness of the treatments under conditions that represent commercial swine production. The addition of zinc oxide nanoparticles into the manure achieved more than 95% reduction in hydrogen sulphide levels while no significant effects on ammonia concentrations were observed. Zinc oxide nanoparticles were persistent in maintaining low hydrogen sulphide levels up to 15 days after treatment application. On the other hand, the ventilation air recirculation system with a zinc oxide filter achieved significant reduction in both hydrogen sulphide and ammonia concentrations at the animal- and human-occupied zones. Neither treatment had any significant impact on pig performance and manure nutrient characteristics. Estimates of the cost of application of the treatments in a 100-head grow-finish room showed that employing the air filtration method amounted to around 3.8% of the average total cost of production, which was economically more feasible than the mixing method; however, various options can be pursued to further reduce the cost of application of both treatments.

Application of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles was evaluated as a possible measure to mitigate the levels of hydrogen sulphide (H2S), ammonia (NH3) and odour in swine facilities. Two deployment techniques were investigated: direct mixing of zinc oxide nanoparticles into the slurry, and filtration with nanoparticles as filtering media for the manure gases. The overall goal of this work was to determine the impact of the treatments on hydrogen sulphide, ammonia and odour emissions, pig performance and manure characteristics as well as to assess the feasibility of the application of this technology in a typical swine barn. Semi-pilot scale tests were conducted to evaluate operational factors in open system conditions, the results of which showed that the mixing method required a particle-to-slurry ratio of 3 grams of zinc oxide per litre of slurry to control hydrogen sulphide and ammonia levels. Using the air filtration technique, a fluidized bed filter design with a 0.28 g/cm2 loading rate and rated at 0.5 m/s face velocity was found to be the most effective combination for controlling gas levels. Room-scale experiments were conducted in specially designed chambers to assess the effectiveness of the treatments under conditions that represent commercial swine production. The addition of zinc oxide nanoparticles into the manure achieved more than 95% reduction in hydrogen sulphide levels while no significant effects on ammonia concentrations were observed. Zinc oxide nanoparticles were persistent in maintaining low hydrogen sulphide levels up to 15 days after treatment application. On the other hand, the ventilation air recirculation system with a zinc oxide filter achieved significant reduction in both hydrogen sulphide and ammonia concentrations at the animal- and human-occupied zones. Neither treatment had any significant impact on pig performance and manure nutrient characteristics. Estimates of the cost of application of the treatments in a 100-head grow-finish room showed that employing the air filtration method amounted to around 3.8% of the average total cost of production, which was economically more feasible than the mixing method; however, various options can be pursued to further reduce the cost of application of both treatments.

The issue of odour, greenhouse gas emissions and indoor air quality in swine buildings have become a great concern for the neighbouring communities as well as governments. Air dispersion models have been adopted widely as an approach to address these problems which determine science-based distance between livestock production site and neighbours. However, no existing model considers the diurnal and seasonal variations of odour, gas (ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, greenhouse gas), and dust concentrations and emissions, which may cause great uncertainty. The primary objective of this project is to monitor and model the diurnal and seasonal variations of odour, gases, and dust concentrations and emissions from nursery, farrowing, and gestation rooms. Additionally, this study tried to quantify the greenhouse gas contribution from swine buildings and evaluate the indoor air quality of swine barns. <p>Strip-block experimental design was used to measure the diurnal variation of odour and gas concentrations and emissions in PSC Elstow Research Farm. It was found that: 1) odour and gas concentrations in winter were significantly higher than those in mild and warm weather conditions for all three rooms (P<0.05); 2) the nursery room had higher level of odour and gas concentration and emission than the other two types of rooms, no significant difference existed between the farrowing and gestation rooms (P>0.05); 3) significant diurnal variations occurred in August and April (P<0.05) for odour and some gas concentrations and emissions, while no significant diurnally variations were found in February (P>0.05); 4) apparent diurnal variation patterns were observed in August and April for NH3, H2S and CO2 concentrations, being high in the early morning and low in the late afternoon; 5) positive correlation was found between odour concentrations and NH3, H2S, and CO2 concentrations, respectively. <p>A whole year ( August 2006 to July 2007) monitoring of odour, gas and dust concentrations and emissions revealed that: 1) significant seasonal effect on odour and gas concentrations and emissions, total dust concentrations and dust depositions were observed (P<0.05), but no specific variation pattern was discovered for odour and gas emissions; 2) the total greenhouse gas emission from all the rooms in the gestation, nursery and farrowing area was 2956 CO2 equivalent tons per year, where gestation area, nursery area, and farrowing area accounted for 39.3 %, 37.2% and 23.5%, respectively; the CO2 emission contributed 53.4% to the total greenhouse emission, and CH4 contributed to 43.9%, 2.7% for N2O; N2O could be considered negligible; 3) indoor air quality of the swine barn met the requirements set by the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (1996) of Saskatchewan for NH3, H2S, and CO2. <p>Statistical models were developed for each type of room to predict the odour and gas concentrations and emissions based on four variables: ventilation rate, room temperature, ambient temperature, and animal unit. The predicted results showed agreeable with measured values for most models (R2 = 0.56-0.96). Generally, gas prediction models performed better (R2=0.61-0.96) than odour prediction models (R2=0.56-0.85).<p>This study was conducted in the province of Saskatchewan throughout one year and the results could be used as representative data for Canada Prairies. Due to the large diurnal and seasonal variabilities of odour emissions, it was recommended to take multiple measurements of odour emission rate under different weather conditions in order to improve the accuracy of air dispersion modeling.

The issue of odour, greenhouse gas emissions and indoor air quality in swine buildings have become a great concern for the neighbouring communities as well as governments. Air dispersion models have been adopted widely as an approach to address these problems which determine science-based distance between livestock production site and neighbours. However, no existing model considers the diurnal and seasonal variations of odour, gas (ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, greenhouse gas), and dust concentrations and emissions, which may cause great uncertainty. The primary objective of this project is to monitor and model the diurnal and seasonal variations of odour, gases, and dust concentrations and emissions from nursery, farrowing, and gestation rooms. Additionally, this study tried to quantify the greenhouse gas contribution from swine buildings and evaluate the indoor air quality of swine barns. <p>Strip-block experimental design was used to measure the diurnal variation of odour and gas concentrations and emissions in PSC Elstow Research Farm. It was found that: 1) odour and gas concentrations in winter were significantly higher than those in mild and warm weather conditions for all three rooms (P<0.05); 2) the nursery room had higher level of odour and gas concentration and emission than the other two types of rooms, no significant difference existed between the farrowing and gestation rooms (P>0.05); 3) significant diurnal variations occurred in August and April (P<0.05) for odour and some gas concentrations and emissions, while no significant diurnally variations were found in February (P>0.05); 4) apparent diurnal variation patterns were observed in August and April for NH3, H2S and CO2 concentrations, being high in the early morning and low in the late afternoon; 5) positive correlation was found between odour concentrations and NH3, H2S, and CO2 concentrations, respectively. <p>A whole year ( August 2006 to July 2007) monitoring of odour, gas and dust concentrations and emissions revealed that: 1) significant seasonal effect on odour and gas concentrations and emissions, total dust concentrations and dust depositions were observed (P<0.05), but no specific variation pattern was discovered for odour and gas emissions; 2) the total greenhouse gas emission from all the rooms in the gestation, nursery and farrowing area was 2956 CO2 equivalent tons per year, where gestation area, nursery area, and farrowing area accounted for 39.3 %, 37.2% and 23.5%, respectively; the CO2 emission contributed 53.4% to the total greenhouse emission, and CH4 contributed to 43.9%, 2.7% for N2O; N2O could be considered negligible; 3) indoor air quality of the swine barn met the requirements set by the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (1996) of Saskatchewan for NH3, H2S, and CO2. <p>Statistical models were developed for each type of room to predict the odour and gas concentrations and emissions based on four variables: ventilation rate, room temperature, ambient temperature, and animal unit. The predicted results showed agreeable with measured values for most models (R2 = 0.56-0.96). Generally, gas prediction models performed better (R2=0.61-0.96) than odour prediction models (R2=0.56-0.85).<p>This study was conducted in the province of Saskatchewan throughout one year and the results could be used as representative data for Canada Prairies. Due to the large diurnal and seasonal variabilities of odour emissions, it was recommended to take multiple measurements of odour emission rate under different weather conditions in order to improve the accuracy of air dispersion modeling.