Treatment of ammonia from animal barns by using biofilter

Abstract

As a result of intensive animal production, decomposition of manure due to various microorganism activities, and metabolic activities of the animal, many gases, especially ammonia, are released. These gases are thrown into the atmosphere cause many environmentalproblems. This study, it was aimed to treat ammonia originating from animal barns by biofilter. In the study, tree bark, compost, and sawdust were used as biofilter materials. These biological materials were mixed in specific proportions, brought to 80% moisture content, and placed into the biofilter. Ammonia was introduced into the biofilter filled with biological material. Ammonia concentrations in the air leaving the biofilter were measured at nine points by placing multiple gas meters on the front of the biofilter. Moisture content, dry matter content, pH, salinity, and temperature values were determined by taking samples from the biofiltermaterial before and after treatment. According to the study results, the highest treatment efficiency was 98.4% at the first measurement point and the lowest treatment efficiency with 89.4% at the sixth point. An average of 94% treatment efficiency wasachieved at all measurement points. As a result of the analyzes, it was observed that the pH and temperature values of the biofiltermaterial did not change significantly before and after the treatment. However, the salinity values changed significantly. In the lightof ammonia treatment rates, it can be said that the biofilter developed in this study is useful for animal barns. But biofilter is open to improvement using new biofilter materials.