Contribution of livestock H2S to total sulfur emissions in a region with intensive animal production

Anders Feilberg,Dezhao Liu,Michael Jørgen Hansen,Tavs Nyord

doi:10.1038/s41467-017-01016-2

Anders Feilberg, Dezhao Liu + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-01016-2

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Journal: Nature Communications	Publication Date: Oct 20, 2017
Citations: 35	License type: open-access

Affiliation: Aarhus University, Zhejiang University

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from agricultural sources is generally not included in sulfur emission estimates even though H2S is the major sulfur compound emitted from livestock production. Here we show that in a country with intensive livestock production (Denmark), agriculture constitute the most important sulfur source category (~49% of all sources of sulfur dioxide), exceeding both the production industry and energy categories. The analysis is based on measurements of H2S using proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry. National emissions are obtained using ammonia as a reference pollutant with the validity of this approach documented by the high correlation of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emissions. Finisher pig production is the most comprehensively characterized agricultural source of sulfur and is estimated to be the largest source of atmospheric sulfur in Denmark. The implication for other locations is discussed and the results imply that the understanding and modeling of atmospheric sulfate sources should include agricultural H2S.

Highlights

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from agricultural sources is generally not included in sulfur emission estimates even though H2S is the major sulfur compound emitted from livestock production
The contribution of H2S has been considered to be of minor importance compared with sulfur dioxide (SO2) from industry and fossil fuel combustion and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) from the marine biosphere[2, 5, 6]
The values of ratios of sulfur to nitrogen (RS/N) are generally comparable with the limited literature data of simultaneous H2S and NH3 data both for pig and for cattle (Table 3)

Summary

Introduction

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from agricultural sources is generally not included in sulfur emission estimates even though H2S is the major sulfur compound emitted from livestock production. Emissions of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) contribute to the atmospheric burden of sulfur compounds, which have a major role in the formation of secondary aerosols through oxidation and conversion to aerosol sulfate[1, 2]. The contribution of H2S has been considered to be of minor importance compared with sulfur dioxide (SO2) from industry and fossil fuel combustion and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) from the marine biosphere[2, 5, 6]. The ultimate end-product of gas phase H2S oxidation in the atmosphere is considered to be SO21, which in turn is oxidized and ends up as aerosol sulfate. Concurrent emission of H2S and ammonia/amines from livestock production facilities gives rise to a plume with a strong potential for aerosol formation

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