Kuipers A, Galama P, Spoelstra S F, Wiering C J, Groot Koerkamp P W G
Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 WD Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Agricultural Biosystems Engineering Group, Wageningen University and Research, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands.
J Dairy Sci. 2025 Jul;108(7):6565-6586. doi: 10.3168/jds.2024-26154. Epub 2025 May 8.
Removal of contaminants and gases from air in cattle housing systems makes a positive contribution to in-house air quality, thereby benefiting both animal and human welfare as well as reducing the environmental pressure from cattle. In this review, we aimed to combine knowledge of the capture of ammonia and methane from dairy cattle facilities by removing and oxidizing these gases from the ventilation air in one process. For cattle housing, several techniques are currently available and in various stages of development and application to capture ammonia from the air. A central component of these approaches is an air scrubber with acid to remove the ammonia from the ventilation air flow. In this review, we focused particularly on enteric methane from ruminants, because that represents the largest methane output on the dairy farm (∼80%) and remains the biggest challenge. We sought suitable physicochemical and microbiological methods and applications that absorb or oxidize methane from the air. Our literature review showed that the concentration of methane in modern, naturally ventilated, open cattle barns is relatively low (averages of 5 to 100 ppm), and at present, no cost- and climate-effective technology is available that can capture and oxidize methane at this low concentration. It was apparent that most techniques may only be able to capture or convert methane at concentrations above 500 ppm (and preferably >2,000 ppm). The limiting factor is the diffusion speed of methane and the competition with other gases in case filtering or adsorption techniques are used. Therefore, we formulated the ventilation challenge, which refers to smart ventilation techniques that would allow capturing methane from the barn air at higher concentrations. In addition, technologies that have the capacity to capture ammonia and methane from the air are described separately and in combination. Then, inventive designs are presented to picture capturing of ammonia and methane in a one-process approach. Applying selected innovations, promising results are expected in lowering methane emissions from barns and storage areas (∼one-fourth reduction at the farm level). The development of more efficient adsorbents and bio and soil filters to optimize the process of adsorption and oxidation at low concentrate levels would enhance this reduction.
在奶牛养殖系统中去除空气中的污染物和气体，对室内空气质量有积极贡献，从而有利于动物和人类健康，并减轻奶牛养殖对环境的压力。在本综述中，我们旨在整合通过在一个过程中从通风空气中去除和氧化这些气体来捕获奶牛场氨气和甲烷的相关知识。对于牛舍，目前有几种技术可供使用，且处于不同的开发和应用阶段，用于从空气中捕获氨气。这些方法的核心组成部分是用酸的空气洗涤器，以从通风气流中去除氨气。在本综述中，我们特别关注反刍动物产生的肠道甲烷，因为它占奶牛场甲烷排放的最大比例（约80%），并且仍然是最大的挑战。我们寻找合适的物理化学和微生物方法及应用，以吸收或氧化空气中的甲烷。我们的文献综述表明，在现代自然通风的开放式牛舍中，甲烷浓度相对较低（平均为5至100 ppm），目前还没有既经济又有效的技术能够在这种低浓度下捕获和氧化甲烷。很明显，大多数技术可能只能在浓度高于500 ppm（最好>2000 ppm）时捕获或转化甲烷。限制因素是甲烷的扩散速度以及在使用过滤或吸附技术时与其他气体的竞争。因此，我们提出了通风挑战，即指能够从牛舍空气中以更高浓度捕获甲烷的智能通风技术。此外，还分别描述了能够从空气中捕获氨气和甲烷的技术及其组合。然后，展示了创新设计，以描绘在一个过程中捕获氨气和甲烷的情况。应用选定的创新技术，有望在降低牛舍和储存区域的甲烷排放方面取得显著成果（在农场层面约减少四分之一）。开发更高效的吸附剂以及生物和土壤过滤器，以优化低浓度水平下的吸附和氧化过程，将进一步减少甲烷排放。
