DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF AN INEXPENSIVE CHAMBER FOR ANALYSIS OF VOLATILE ORGANIC CARBON B.L. Woodbury, D.N. Miller, R.A. Eigenberg and J.A. Nienaber USDA ARS US Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska USA B.L. Woodbury, D.N. Miller, R.A. Eigenberg and J.A. Nienaber USDA ARS US Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska USA

The Problem The Feedlot Environment Spatial & temporal variation: Moisture Temperature Soil characteristics Manure deposition Spatial & temporal variation: Moisture Temperature Soil characteristics Manure deposition

The Problem Potential Gaseous Emissions from Feedlot Surface Amides Ammonia Methylamines Diamines Aromatics Benzoates Indoles Phenols Sulfides Hydrogen sulfide Methyl sulfides Alcohols (Straight & Branch Chain) Ethanol, Propanol, Butanol, etc. VFAs (Straight & Branch Chain) Acetate  Octanoate Isobutyrate, Isovalerate

Objectives Feedlot Surface Emissions Design a cost-effective headspace chamber suitable for laboratory and field studies Evaluate its flow characteristics Design a cost-effective headspace chamber suitable for laboratory and field studies Evaluate its flow characteristics

Design Criteria Portable for use either in lab or field Internal distribution system to ensure completely mixed conditions Septa port for gas sampling (i.e., SPME) Acid trap to collect ammonia Calculate relative emission rates Battery operated Portable for use either in lab or field Internal distribution system to ensure completely mixed conditions Septa port for gas sampling (i.e., SPME) Acid trap to collect ammonia Calculate relative emission rates Battery operated

The Design “The Real Salad Bowl Study” Hemispherical headspace chamber Measure VOC w/SPME Ammonia trap Hemispherical headspace chamber Measure VOC w/SPME Ammonia trap ItemCost Chamber$5.00 Air Pump$ Bubbler$50.00 Battery$25.00 Connectors/Fan$ Total$400.00

Sampling Port With Septa Seal

Inside View With Internal Mixing Fan

Tracer Study Total headspace volume (V) 7.6 L Flow rate (Q) 1.18 L min -1 RT = V/Q 50 ml CH 4 injection pulse Analyzed using a GC/MS with HID detector Total headspace volume (V) 7.6 L Flow rate (Q) 1.18 L min -1 RT = V/Q 50 ml CH 4 injection pulse Analyzed using a GC/MS with HID detector

Mass Balance

CH 4 Break-Through-Curve At 1 dilution 32% At 3 dilutions 5% Ideal reactor 37 & 5%, respectively At 1 dilution 32% At 3 dilutions 5% Ideal reactor 37 & 5%, respectively 32% 5%

Theoretical And Experimental Headspace Chamber Properties HRTV Q ( min)(L)(L min -1) Calculated Experimental HRTV Q ( min)(L)(L min -1) Calculated Experimental

Gaseous Output Microbiologist: One return port would be enough Engineers: Four would be better

Gaseous Output Linear with manure surface area

Conclusions Chamber design performed similar to an ideal continuous flow stirred reactor Concentrations measured at sampling port are indicative of concentrations anywhere in headspace Chamber was found to be reasonably stable over wide range of flow rates Linear with respect to surface area of manure Cost per unit approx. $ Chamber design performed similar to an ideal continuous flow stirred reactor Concentrations measured at sampling port are indicative of concentrations anywhere in headspace Chamber was found to be reasonably stable over wide range of flow rates Linear with respect to surface area of manure Cost per unit approx. $400.00

Laboratory Studies Field Studies Laboratory Studies Field Studies

Laboratory Studies Fresh Manures: Cattle vs. Swine Cattle—Ground corn/corn silage Swine—Grower diet Abundance, peak area x Run time, minutes

Laboratory Studies Volatiles Composition & Cattle Diets Ground corn/corn silage diet Abundance, peak area x Run time, minutes Alfalfa maintenance diet

Cattle—Ground corn/corn silage diet Laboratory Studies Manure Incubation Abundance, peak area x Run time, minutes Fresh Cattle—Alfalfa maintenance diet Swine—Grower diet Incubated Run time, minutes

Manure can be from 10 to 100 times more conductive than typical soil Field Studies Precision Feedlot Surface Management TX RX S The transmitter coil (TX) is placed near the earth and is energized with an alternating current. The small currents induced into the earth generate a secondary signal which is picked up by a receiver coil (RX) at a distance S away. The ratio of the two signals gives a measure of the soil’s conductivity beneath the two coils. Electromagnetic Induction Principles

Bunk Waterer Mound October 2004 Bunk Waterer Mound June 2004 Bunk Waterer Mound July 2004

Association of volatile solids (manure) to EC a

Total Phosphorus

Total Nitorgen

Area based on Conductivity Less than 25% of the area is high conductivity High Conductivity = Manure Accumulation? HighLow

Ammonia Flux Across Pen BUNK NH 3 flux  M/m 2 /hr Sample Location MOUND Feedlot pen 8X more VOC

Feedlot Survey in Cooperation with ARS- USDA, Bushland, TX Target our management strategies?

Questions?