title: Recovery of ammonia from poultry litter using flat gas permeable membranes.
abstract: The use of flat gas-permeable membranes was investigated as components of a new process to capture and recover ammonia (NH3) in poultry houses. This process includes the passage of gaseous NH3 through a microporous hydrophobic membrane, capture with a circulating dilute acid on the other side of the membrane, and production of a concentrated ammonium (NH4) salt. Bench- and pilot-scale prototype systems using flat expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes and a sulfuric acid solution consistently reduced headspace NH3 concentrations from 70% to 97% and recovered 88% to 100% of the NH3 volatilized from poultry litter. The potential benefits of this technology include cleaner air inside poultry houses, reduced ventilation costs, and a concentrated liquid ammonium salt that can be used as a plant nutrient solution.
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS Coastal Plains Soil, Water, and Plant Research Center, 2611 W. Lucas St., Florence, SC 29501, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rothrock
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Szögi
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Vanotti
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D000641:Ammonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D005740:Gases; D008372:Manure; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011200:Poultry; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D008372:Manure; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D000641:Ammonia; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D009584:Nitrogen