A technology has emerged to resolve the issue of livestock waste, a hotbed of odor complaints. It has shown higher efficiency compared to existing chemical treatment methods, with high installation costs but significantly reduced maintenance expenses, resulting in long-term cost-saving potential.
The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT) announced on the 17th that it has developed a nano-technology-based cleaning system capable of addressing odor complaints such as fine dust and ammonia generated at organic fertilizer manufacturing facilities for livestock waste.
Approximately 1,500 organic fertilizer manufacturing facilities for livestock waste are currently operating in the country. These facilities frequently experience odor complaints due to fine dust and ammonia. According to the Environmental Statistical Portal, odor complaints have increased from 14,816 in 2014 to 40,854 in 2019, with around 30%, or more than 12,000 complaints, originating from the livestock sector.
To address the odor issue from livestock waste, the Ministry of Environment amended the Air Quality Preservation Act enforcement regulations in May 2019, requiring the registration of compost organic fertilizer manufacturing facilities as air pollutant emission facilities, and set the ammonia emission standard at 30 ppm (1 ppm is one part per million). However, most livestock facilities are unable to respond adequately due to their small-scale operations and lack of readiness.
Currently, organic fertilizer manufacturing facilities for livestock waste are using liquid cleaning systems. This is the most common method for removing odor gases or harmful gases using chemical reactions and physical absorption. However, these systems are characterized by low treatment efficiency and high costs for cleaning wastewater treatment and chemicals.
The research team led by Researcher Jeong Won-sik from KICT has developed a nano-technology-based cleaning system that can efficiently reduce ammonia and fine dust emissions from fertilizer manufacturing facilities. This technology enhances the efficiency of capturing fine dust and odors by applying nano-emulsion devices and flotation separation to the existing cleaning system. It also extends the usability of cleaning wastewater, allowing for reductions in chemical costs.
The research team conducted pilot tests in Hongseong, Chungcheongnam-do, and Byeokje, Gyeonggi-do, followed by a demonstration test at the Mogah Agricultural Cooperative's compost facility in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do. Previously, existing technology achieved an ammonia removal rate of only 30-60%, with a cleaning water replacement cycle of within 7 days. In contrast, the cleaning system developed by the research team can achieve an ammonia removal rate of over 90% and has a cleaning water replacement cycle of over 45 days, making it economical and efficient.
The new cleaning system has installation costs approximately 40 million won higher than existing facilities, but it reduces cleaning wastewater treatment costs by 60% and chemical costs by 30%, resulting in a reduction of about 100 million won in annual maintenance expenses. It is noted by KICT that this also helps in reducing odor complaints, thereby aiding in the operation of livestock facilities.
KICT Director Park Seon-kyu said, “The newly developed nano-cleaning system can be applied not only in the livestock sector but also in various industries, including more than 12,000 cleaning towers at sewage treatment plants and over 20,000 cleaning towers installed in general factories,” and added, “It will contribute to solving environmental issues related to social concerns through alleviating fine dust and odor complaints.”