Characterizing and Mitigating Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds From Animal Feeding Operations.

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted from animal feeding operations negatively impact local and potentially regional air quality though the release of both odorous and ozone precursor molecules.  Characterizing emissions of VOCs from AFOs is strongly influenced by both the method and location of samplers.  Main soucres of VOCs include manure management systems, dust,  feed storage, and animal housing.  Most abuantant VOCs are polar and include alcohols, carbonyls, ketones, voaltile fatty acids (VFA), and their by by-products.  Key odorous VOC from AFOs are often at low concentrations and include VFAs, amines, phenols, indoles, and reduced sulfur compounds.  Mitigation stratigies for VOC emissions from AFOs mainly focus on odor control technologies.  Tools used to control VOC emissions include diet formulation, ventilated biofilter/scrubbers, vegaitive buffers, permeable covers, biological treatment, and land application.  In this talk sources of VOC emissions from poultry, swine and cattle operations along with various VOC control stratigies will be discussed.