Removal of odour and ammnia in ventilation air from growing-finishing pig units using vertical biofilters

Abstract

[Abstract] The aim of this study was to investigate the removal of odour and ammonia from outlet air using vertical biofilters in two units with growing-finishing pigs in the winter. Woodchips were used as media in the wall of the biofilters. The air from the pig units was humidified by a high-pressure water system before it reached the biofilters. A total of 56 odour and ammonia measurements were taken at an average outdoor temperature of 5.4 C. The biofilters significantly reduced the odour concentration (OUE/m3) in the outlet air (P<0.001). The measured odour removal efficiency averaged 60 %. In contrast, the biofilters did not reduce the ammonia concentration (ppm) significantly in the outlet air. The hedonic tone of the odour of the air was determined before and after the biofilter. The untreated air was recorded as more unpleasant than the air that had passed through the biofilters. In conclusion, the biofilters were capable of reducing the odour concentration in the outlet air from units with growing-finishing pigs in the winter. The biofilters’ treatment of the air made the odour less unpleasant. However, the biofilters were not capable of reducing the ammonia concentration in the outlet air in the winter