Volatile Organic Carbons in Suspended Particulate Matter from Broiler House: Examination of Filtration Conditions and Materials.

Abstract

Concentrated production of poultry and other livestock had led to concentrated emissions of odorous pollutants and fugitive dust from these production facilities and had created few concerns regarding health and welfare of animals as well as humans in or near these facilities. For poultry operations, the negative impacts of air contaminants on poultry health and performance have been well documented. The main concern at the local level, however, is the ammonia emission and the persistent odorous smell from poultry operations. The persistent and long life expectancy of odors and toxic pollutants from poultry houses may be due to the ability of suspended particulate matters (SPM) to serve as carriers for odorous compounds such as volatile organic carbons (VOC). Data involving odorous compounds such as VOC and SPM are scarce and incomplete. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine and characterize impinger filtration conditions and materials in determining the profile of various VOC (mostly volatile fatty acids) in the SPM from a broiler house. The results showed that volumetric flowrates and filtration materials had some effect on the SPM and VOC concentrations. The results also showed that proprionic acid and iso-butyric acid are the major VOC found in the SPM collected from the broiler house. Their mass fractions ranged up to 34 % for propanoic and 70% for butanoic acid.