Hydrogen Sulfide Emissions from Sow Farm Lagoons across Climates Zones

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (HS) emissions were measured periodically over the course of 2 yr at three sow waste lagoons representing humid mesothermal (North Carolina, NC), humid microthermal (Indiana, IN), and semiarid (Oklahoma, OK) climates. Emissions were determined using a backward Lagrangian stochastic model in conjunction with line-sampled HS concentrations and measured turbulence. The median annual sow-specific (area-specific) lagoon emissions at the OK farm were approximately 1.6 g head [hd] d (5880 µg m s), whereas those at the IN and NC sow farms were 0.035 g hd d (130 µg m s), and 0.041 g hd d (260 µg m s), respectively. Hydrogen sulfide emissions generally increased with wind speed. The daily HS emissions from the OK lagoon were greatest during the first half of the year and decreased as the year progressed. Emissions were episodic at the NC and IN lagoons. The generally low emissions at the NC and IN lagoons were probably a result of significant populations of purple sulfur bacteria maintained in the humid mesothermal and humid microthermal climates. Most of the large HS emission events at the NC and IN lagoons appeared to be a result of either precipitation events or liquid pump-out events. The high emissions at the OK lagoon in a semiarid climate were largely a result of high wind speeds enhancing both lagoon and air boundary layer mixing. The climate (air temperature, winds, and precipitation) appeared to influence the HS emissions from lagoons.

Manure Ammonia and Hydrogen Sulfide Emissions from a Western Dairy Storage Basin

“…Criteria for valid 0.5‐h NH 3 bLS emissions estimates were: absolute value of the Monin Obukov length (L) >2 m, u * >0.15 m s −1 , standard deviation of the wind direction <30°, and touchdown fraction >0.1 (Grant et al (2013a). Criteria for valid 0.5‐h H 2 S bLS emissions were absolute value of the Monin Obukov length (L) >2 m, u * >0.15 m s −1 , standard deviation of the wind direction <30°, touchdown fraction >0.05, and calculated background concentration less than the instrument method detection limit of 3.4 ppb (Grant et al (2013b). For H 2 S emissions, the mean wind direction also had to be <60° off the S‐OPS perpendicular for a valid H 2 S emissions calculation.…”

“…Instrument minimum detection limit (zero air 2σ response) was 2.5 μL L −1 . Additional details concerning the gas sampling and analyzer quality control and assurance are documented in Grant et al (2013b). Only upwind and downwind S‐OPSs were used in the emissions calculations.…”

Mass transfer inside a flux hood for the sampling of gaseous emissions from liquid surfaces – Experimental assessment and emission rate rescaling

“…However, surface currents are expected to be present in the field (and will vary with the wind speed), and the turbulence arising from the interaction of these currents with the edge of the flux hood will make the mass transfer conditions in the liquid differ from the conditions of the laboratory experiments where the reference for the flux hood is obtained. Moreover, some WWTP units may present bubbling, which can significantly affect the emission rates of more volatile compounds (Grant et al, 2013). For these reasons, we will refrain from extending the complete analysis to liquid phase-controlled compounds.…”

“…• Applying reverse dispersion modelling (indirect method) to back calculate the emission rate based on environmental concentrations measured around the source (see examples in Latos et al, 2011, Grant et al, 2013, and Schauberger et al, 2013.…”

Emissions of H2S from Hog Finisher Farm Anaerobic Manure Treatment Lagoons: Physical, Chemical and Biological Influence

“…This coloring is usually a result of the presence of large populations of purple sulfur bacteria (PSB) from the family Chromatiaceae in the phototrophic regions of the lagoon. These bacteria can photosynthesize anoxygenically and oxidize H 2 S rising from the lower reaches of the lagoon to SO 4 2− [5,6], consequently reducing emissions from the lagoon surface [7,8]. The optimal pH for PSB ranges from 7.5 to 8.2 [7].…”