Photo credit: FREEPIK
Emissions of NH3 from livestock housing and slurry storage represent a large part of the total NH3 emissions from agricultural activities. Therefore chemical air scrubbing is used to reduce the ammonia and odor components in stable air. Water with added sulfuric acid is used to stream along the filter package. The acid washwater reacts with the ammonia in the stable air, producing ammonium sulphate which remains in the washwater. To optimally work the washwater needs to be removed regularly. This washwater can be used as a recuperated fertilizer and is recognized as a substitute for synthetic fertilizer. The resulting fertiliser is liquid and can be applied as any other liquid fertilizer through injection or through spraying followed by immediate ploughing. Applications where the fertiliser is brought as close as possible to the roots is ideal. This fertiliser is best applied start of the growing season because the N in the product is present as ammonium and it still needs to be converted to nitrate before the plant can absorb it. This type of fertiliser is useful for any kind of crop, but in case a S containing counter acid is used in the production step the resulting fertiliser can be of particular interest for crops that also have a sulfur need such as cabbage crops, onions, celery, grains, sugar beets etc.