Assessing Ammonia (NH₃) Emissions, Precursor Gas (SO<sub>2</sub>, NO<sub>x</sub>) Concentrations, and Source Contributions to Atmospheric PM<sub>2.5</sub> from a Commercial Manure Composting Facility
Increased ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>) emissions from intensive agriculture negatively affect environmental and ecosystem health, contributing to formation of particulate matter (PM) and the potent greenhouse gas, N<sub>2</sub>O. Better understanding NH<sub>3</sub> em...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/23/11467 |
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| Summary: | Increased ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>) emissions from intensive agriculture negatively affect environmental and ecosystem health, contributing to formation of particulate matter (PM) and the potent greenhouse gas, N<sub>2</sub>O. Better understanding NH<sub>3</sub> emissions from the manure composting process and their behavior as a constituent of the atmospheric aerosol load is a crucial element in creating better farm management systems, improving public health outcomes, and mitigating the broader environmental and climatic impacts of agriculture. Retarded generation of PM with a major constituent source of NH<sub>3</sub> is a primary mechanism for evaluating the effects of agricultural contribution to PM. This study aimed to quantify NH<sub>3</sub> emissions, examine the influence of environmental factors, and investigate the relationship between precursor gases (SO<sub>2</sub>, NO<sub>x</sub>, NH<sub>3</sub>) and PM<sub>2.5</sub> at a modern manure composting facility in Paju, South Korea. Over 35 days, average internal concentrations of NH<sub>3</sub>, SO<sub>2</sub>, and NO<sub>x</sub> were significantly higher than external levels. NH<sub>3</sub> concentrations reached 3.64 ± 0.06 mg m<sup>−3</sup> at 3 m height and 2.43 ± 0.16 mg m<sup>−3</sup> at ground level, while the total NH<sub>3</sub> flux from the facility was 24.47 ± 1.39 NH<sub>3</sub>-N kg d<sup>−1</sup>. Internal PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations (36.9 ± 2.6 µg m<sup>−3</sup>) were about 50% higher than external levels (23.7 ± 2 µg m<sup>−3</sup>), with a moderate correlation (r = 0.341) suggesting some contribution of external PM<sub>2.5</sub> to internal levels. Despite large quantities of internal emissions, the facility’s sealed design with a negative pressure ventilation system effectively minimized external emissions. These results suggest that while manure composting facilities are significant sources of NH<sub>3</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub>, advanced systems like high-volume ventilation and scrubbing technologies can effectively reduce their impact on regional air pollution, contributing to better environmental management in agriculture. |
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| ISSN: | 2076-3417 |