Typical Odor Mitigation Technologies for Swine Production Facilities - A Review

Abstract

Odorous air emissions from confined animal feeding operation are causing public nuisance. Accordingly, different odor mitigation technologies were designed, developed, and evaluated in the last decades to reduce odor emissions. The purpose of this paper is to review the previous research related to odor mitigation from swine rearing facilities and provide information on the effectiveness of currently available and emerging odor mitigation technologies. This review focused on odor mitigation approaches at different stages of swine production, manure storage and handling, and land application. Several odor mitigation technologies have been suggested and evaluated including diet manipulation, solid-liquid separation, additives, aeration, anaerobic digestion, lagoon covers, biofilters, acid scrubbing, shelterbelts, and manure injection. The effectiveness of these mitigation technologies varied widely; however, diet manipulation, biofilters, shelterbelts, and direct injection of manure have shown advantages over other odor mitigation methods. Diet manipulation is the first line of defense for odor mitigation. Biofilters and shelterbelts provide solutions for treating the odorous air before releasing to atmosphere, whereas additives, lagoon covers, aeration, and anaerobic digestion reduce or control odor emissions during manure storage and treatment. Direct injection of manure provides ultimate disposal solution and can reduce odor significantly compared to surface application.

Evaluation of Semi-Continuous Pit Manure Recharge System Performance on Mitigation of Ammonia and Hydrogen Sulfide Emissions from a Swine Finishing Barn

“…Researchers have discussed potential adverse effects of air quality in the context of animal production to health, especially respiratory issues in both workers and animals [5,6]. Gaseous emissions can elicit complaints from neighbors [7,8].…”

Research and demonstration to improve air quality for the U.S. animal feeding operations in the 21st century – A critical review

“…Although mitigation technologies have been available to reduce generation and emission of noxious gases and dust, the effectiveness of the mitigation technologies varied widely (Rahman and Borhan, 2012). Work is needed to evaluate their economic feasibilities and optimize their designs .…”

Modeling the H2S Concentrations Affected by Shelterbelts Downwind from a Swine Facility

“…The emission of these odors and gases has become a larger concern to the general public in recent years. With new and expanding livestock operations, odor complaints from neighboring communities can increase (Rahman and Borhan, 2012). Urban encroachment into areas of animal feeding operations has increased the number of nuisance complaints and regulatory issues related to livestock odor (Parker et al, 2012).…”

“…Odor management can be a limiting factor in expanding a livestock operation, or establishing a new facility. It is suggested that the future of the swine industry will depend on effective odor mitigation technologies (Rahman and Borhan, 2012).…”

“…Shelterbelts at swine facilities have shown promise for mitigating odors and particulate matter at swine facilities (Rahman and Borhan, 2012). While shelterbelts are well known to help dilute odors, a quantified odor dispersion capability of shelterbelts and ideal design for odor dispersion still need additional investigation (Lin et al, 2006) Several livestock facility siting tools, such as the South Dakota Odor Footprint Tool (SDOFT) (Nicolai et al, 2006), Odor from Feedlots Setback Estimation Tool (OFFSET) (Jacobson et al, 2012), and the Nebraska Odor Footprint Tool (Stowell and Powers, 2009), can be used by producers to estimate odor emissions and setbacks from livestock facilities.…”