Optimizing Source-Control Systems for Ammonia Mitigation in Swine Manure Pits: Performance Assessment and Modeling

Byung-kyu Ahn, Tae-Hoon Kim, Jung-Sup Lee, Chang-Kyu Lee and Yeo-Myeong Yun ()
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Byung-kyu Ahn: Department of Environmental Engineering, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
Tae-Hoon Kim: Department of Environmental Engineering, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
Jung-Sup Lee: Department of Environmental Engineering, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
Chang-Kyu Lee: RED Inc., 11-19, Bideukbawi-gil, Jori-eup, Paju-si 10949, Republic of Korea
Yeo-Myeong Yun: Department of Environmental Engineering, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 17, 1-19

Abstract: Ammonia (NH 3 ) emissions from swine manure pits contribute significantly to odor nuisance, health risks, and secondary PM 2.5 formation. This study assessed the pilot-scale performance of three source-control technologies: surface sealing with surfactant-based foam system (FOAM SYSTEM), swine manure wiping and removing system (WIPING SYSTEM), and belt-conveyor-based solid–liquid separator system (BELT SYSTEM). Each technology targets a different pathway in the ammonia generation process. The FOAM SYSTEM suppresses volatilization by forming a foam barrier at the air–liquid interface. The WIPING SYSTEM reduces precursor contact time by periodically removing feces. The BELT SYSTEM separates feces and urine upon excretion, inhibiting enzymatic ammonia formation. Among the individual systems, the BELT SYSTEM achieved the highest ammonia reduction efficiency of 91.7%, followed by the FOAM SYSTEM (73.6%) and WIPING SYSTEM (64.4%). The combined FOAM SYSTEM + BELT SYSTEM yielded the best performance with an ammonia reduction efficiency of 94.4%, showing modest synergy without operational interference. In contrast, the FOAM SYSTEM + WIPING SYSTEM configuration achieved 71.1%, slightly lower than the FOAM SYSTEM alone, likely due to foam disruption. Environmental sensitivity tests revealed that higher temperatures and alkaline pH elevated NH 3 emissions, whereas systems that maintained near-neutral pH, like the FOAM SYSTEM, demonstrated greater stability. These findings highlight the importance of integrating physical and source-control mechanisms while considering environmental variability for effective on-farm ammonia mitigation.

Keywords: ammonia mitigation; odor control; swine manure; surface sealing with surfactant-based foam system; swine manure wiping and removing system; belt-conveyor-based solid–liquid separator system (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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