Ok-Hwa Hwang

The effects of composting approaches on the emissions of anthropogenic volatile organic compounds: A comparison between vermicomposting and general aerobic composting

Emission patterns of 13 VOCs were investigated in three types of vermicomposting systems (Eisenia fetida, Metaphire posthuma, and Lampito mauritii) in reference to a traditional aerobic composting system by feeding the systems with mixtures of three materials (coal ash (CA), municipal solid waste (MSW), and cow dung (CD)). On an average, the emission rates of aromatic VOCs (benzene, toluene, xylenes, and styrene) were two to three times higher than all other groups (aldehyde, ketones, esters, and alcohols) from all three types of feeding mixtures. However, the emission rates of aromatic VOCs were generally reduced over time in both aerobic composting and vermicomposting systems. Such reduction in the emission rates was most prominent from Eisenia-treated CD + MSW (1:1), Lampito-treated CD + CA (1:1), and Metaphire-treated CD. The results clearly indicated that the increase in humified organic C fractions (humic acid and fulvic acid) and the microbial biomass present during the biocomposting processes greatly reduced the emissions of VOCs. Hence, the study recommends that vermicomposting of coal ash and municipal solid waste in combination with cow dung in 1:1 ratio is an environmentally gainful proposition.

Deodorization of pig slurry and characterization of bacterial diversity using 16S rDNA sequence analysis

The concentration of major odor-causing compounds including phenols, indoles, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and branched chain fatty acids (BCFAs) in response to the addition of powdered horse radish (PHR) and spent mushroom compost (SMC) was compared with control non-treated slurry (CNS) samples. A total of 97,465 rDNAs sequence reads were generated from three different samples (CNS, n = 2; PHR, n = 3; SMC, n = 3) using bar-coded pyrosequencing. The number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was lower in the PHR slurry compared with the other samples. A total of 11 phyla were observed in the slurry samples, while the phylogenetic analysis revealed that the slurry microbiome predominantly comprised members of the Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria phyla. The rarefaction analysis showed the bacterial species richness varied among the treated samples. Overall, at the OTU level, 2,558 individual genera were classified, 276 genera were found among the three samples, and 1,832 additional genera were identified in the individual samples. A principal component analysis revealed the differences in microbial communities among the CNS, PHR, and SMC pig slurries. Correlation of the bacterial community structure with the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) predicted pathways showed that the treatments altered the metabolic capabilities of the slurry microbiota. Overall, these results demonstrated that the PHR and S MC treatments significantly reduced the malodor compounds in pig slurry (P < 0.05).

Effect of slurry treatment approaches on the reduction of major odorant emissions at a hog barn facility in South Korea

ABSTRACT The characteristics of malodor released from piggery excreta samples were investigated by measuring their emission concentrations both before and after such treatments as composting or aeration from field sites. These samples were then collected from field sites and brought into the lab for analysis with the aid of the dynamic flux chamber method. The dominating compounds in the emissions were reduced sulfur compounds, phenol, and indole. The results were examined in terms of two key odor indices: odor intensity (OI) and odor activity values (OAVs), after being grouped by some criteria. When the odor contribution in the composting facility was assessed by the OAV value, methanethiol (53.1%), trimethylamine (TMA) (25.5%), and skatole (10.1%) were dominant in the pretreatment facilities, while skatole (64.7%) and p-cresol (27.9%) in the post-treatment specimens. Likewise, in the liquid treatment facility, hydrogen sulfide (47.4%), p-cresol (26.9%), and skatole (20.2%) were dominant in the pretreatment, while only p-cresol (73.6%) in the post-treatment. In comparison to the composting facility, the liquid treatment facility proved to be more efficient in the treatment of diverse hog-barn-related odorants.

Estimation of emission factor for odorants released from swine excretion slurries

In this study, the odorant emission rates from excretory wastes collected in sealed containers from a large swine facility were determined offsite in a laboratory using both raw slurry from ([1] windowless pigpen (WP) and [2] open pigpen (OP)) and treated waste samples ([3] composting facility (CF) and [4] slurry treatment facility (SF)). The emission rates of up to 41 volatile odorants were measured for 100g waste samples (of all four types) in a 0.75L impinger with an air change rate of 8h(-1). The initial emission rates (mgkg(-1)·h(-1)) for the most dominant species from each waste type can be summarized as: (1) WP: NH3 (16.3) and H2S (0.54); (2) OP: H2S (1.78), NH3 (1.69), and p-cresol (0.36); (3) CF: NH3 (7.04), CH3SH (0.30), and DMS (0.12); and (4) SF: NH3 (11.7), H2S (11.7), and p-cresol (0.25). Accordingly, the emission factors for the key odorant (mE, kg·pig(-1))) for fattening pigs in the WP and OP facilities of S. Korea were extrapolated as 3.46 (NH3) and 0.38 (H2S), respectively. The emission factors were estimated assuming exponentially decaying emission rates and slurry production rates obtained from the literature.

The Effect of the Addition Levels of Odor Reducing Contents on the Concentration of Volatile Fatty Acid and Volatile Organic Compound in Pig Slurry

This study was to investigate the effect of addition levels of odor reducing contents on reducing the concentration of odorous compounds. Slurry treatments included three levels mixture of horseradish powder (HP), mushroom waste (MW) and probiotics powder (PP), and non-treatment control (n=4 each group). Levels of odorous compounds were measured from the liquid slurry incubated in room temperature (20~25℃) for 2 wk in chamber whose structure is similar to slurry pit. Concentration of phenols and indoles was lower (p<0.05) in level 1, which was mixed HP 0.01%, MW 0.4% and PP 0.004% (98.69, 1.87 ppm) compared to control. Short chain fatty acid (SCFA) and branched chain fatty acid (BCFA) was lowest (p<0.05) level 1 (6,557, 1675 ppm). Taken together, lower level are effective in reducing odorous compounds in pig slurry. (Key words : Swine slurry, Odor, Odor reducing contents, Volatile organic compound, Volatile fatty acid)

Effect of Prebiotics on Intestinal Microflora and Fermentation Products in Pig In Vitro Model

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the different types and levels of prebiotics on intestinal microflora and fermentation products in the in vitro fermentation model. The prebiotcs used in this study were IMO (iso-malto oligosaccharide), CI (partially digested chicory-inulin), RA (raffinose) and CD (cyclodextrin). Experimental diet for growing pigs was predigested by digestive enzymes and this hydrolyzed diet was mixed with buffer solution containing 5% fresh swine feces. Then, the mixture was fermented with or without prebiotics at the concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0% for 24 h. Samples were taken at 24 h, and viable count of micoflora, gas, pH, volatile organic compounds and short-chain fatty acids were determined. The viable count of Enterobacteriaceae was significantly decreased (p<0.001) in all treatments added with prebiotics in comparison to control without prebiotics. However, the increase of lactic acid bacteria was observed in the prebiotics treatment. Gas production increased as the level of prebiotics increased. The pH values in the fermentation fluid decreased in a dose-dependent manner with increasing the concentration of prebiotics. The fermentation with prebiotics resulted in the reduction of malodorous compounds such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, indole and skatole. The increase in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production was observed in the treatments with prebiotics. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrated that the fermentation with prebiotics was effective in reducing the formation of malodorous compounds and increasing lactic acid bacteria and SCFA. These effects depended on the concentration of prebiotics. Moreover, further study is needed to determine whether the in vitro efficacy on the reduction of malodorous

A Study on the Effects of Heat Stress on Feedlot Environment and Productivity of Dairy Cattle

Environmental heat stress by global warming has a severe effect on the productivity of livestock and, in particular, on that of dairy cattle. Heat stress during high temperature environment directly and indirectly affects milk yield, milk quality and physiological response. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of heat stress on productivity and physiological responses of livestock. Temperature-humidity data logger were established inside the feedlot for measuring real time changes in the feedlot environment. Milk was collected every day for analysing the productivity of dairy cattle. Blood sample and respiration of dairy cattle were collected once in a week for investigating the physiological response factors. Blood component concentration associated with lipolysis metabolism and milk production showed change during tropical night period. Temperature humidity index(THI) of a specific location inside the feedlot showed continuously high levels. (Key words : Dairy cattle, Environment, Feedlot, Heat stress, Productivity)

Effect of metabolic imprinting on growth and development in piglets

It has long been known that nutritional and environmental influences during the early developmental period affect the biological mechanisms which determine animal metabolism. This phenomenon, termed ‘metabolic imprinting’, can cause subtle but long-lasting responses to prenatal and postnatal nutrition and even be passed onto the next generation. A large amount of research data shows that nutrient availability, in terms of quantity as well as quality, during the early developing stages can decrease the number of newborn piglets and their body weight and increase their susceptibility to death before weaning. However, investigation of potential mechanisms of ‘the metabolic imprinting’ effect have been scant. Therefore, it remains unknown which factors are responsible for embryonic and early postnatal nutrition and which factors are major determinants of body weight and number of new born piglets. Intrauterine undernutrition, for example, was studied using a rat model providing dams 50% restricted nutrients during pregnancy and the results showed significant decreases in birth weight of newborns. This response may be a characteristic of a subset of modulations in embryonic development which is caused by the metabolic imprinting. Underlying mechanisms of intrauterine undernutrition and growth retardation can be explained in part by epigenetics. Epigenetics modulate animal phenotypes without changes in DNA sequences. Epigenetic modifications include DNA methylation, chromatin modification and small non-coding RNA-associated gene silencing.. Precise mechanisms must be identified at the morphologic, cellular, and molecular levels by using interdisciplinary nutrigenomics approaches to increase pig production. Experimental approaches for explaining these potential mechanisms will be discussed in this review.

Isolation and Characterization of Phosphorus Accumulating Microorganisms under Liquid Fertilization of Swine Slurry

This study was conducted to investigate the bacterial capability to accumulate phosphorus during liquid composting process of pig slurry. Storage liquid compost and pig slurry were analyzed by using MALDI-TOF technique, which showed the colonies of Acinetobacter towneri and Bacillus licheniformis. In addition, bacterial colonies were isolated under high phosphoric acid conditions using X-phosphate MOPS medium with the addition of 2 mM K2HPO4. Microbial growth was observed in high and low phosphoric conditions due to the growth of bacterial diversities in the liquid fertilizer and slurry. The colonies isolated in the high phosphoric acid medium were uncultured bacterium clone and Acinetobacter sp. were identified by analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. Uncultured bacterium showed higher growth rate and excellent phosphorus ability then Acinetobacter sp.. In addition to Paenibacillus sp. AEY-1 isolated from pig slurry performed excellent phosphorus utilizing capability.

Predicted Impacts of Climate Change on Dairy Cattle using Temperature Humidity Index (THI)

The climate of the earth is expected to change rapidly and continuously. Despite climate change is expected to impact on productivity of crop and livestock, a study for adaptation and impact of livestock to global warming is not enough. This study was performed to develop a method to evaluate the effects of heat stress on dairy cattle. Feedlot environment and health status of livestock were measured through an infrared thermography camera and a temperature-humidity sensor. Environmental factors such as temperature and humidity were measured to calculate the Temperature humidity index (THI). The change of the milk yield was similar to THI data pattern, suggesting that THI might play an important role to predict the effect of climate change on dairy cattle. THI data would be useful to predict long-term climate change effects on dairy cattle with RCP8.5 scenario. (