Removing Harmful Gases from Litter Used in a Broiler House by UV Lights

Over the years, the growth in chicken production has brought with it certain problems. Pollutants from poultry farms cause environmental and health problems. Various measures must be taken to properly manage these issues and mitigate their effects. Proper ventilation and litter management within the broiler house are the primary measures. Additionally, the treatment of pollutants in litter using UV rays is an alternative method. In this study, NH3 and CO2 gases originating from litter material obtained from a broiler farm operating in the Bursa region were treated using UV rays on a laboratory scale. Litter samples were exposed to UV-A and UV-C rays at different exposure times and distances, and their treatment efficiencies were determined. The data obtained as a result of the study show that UV rays are effective in reducing livestock-derived pollutant gases. When the treatment efficiencies of the parameters are evaluated independently, the highest CO2 treatment efficiencies in terms of exposure time were observed at the 120th minute (93.56% for UVA and 100% for UVC). For NH3 gas, the highest efficiencies over time were recorded at the 60th minute (90.50% for UV-A) and at the 90th minute (95.33% for UV-C). When the application distances were examined individually, it was determined that the highest purification performance for both gases and lamp types (UVA and UVC) was achieved at 40 cm. In this context, it has been determined that the UV-C lamp shows the highest treatment efficiency for CO2 gas, and the UV-A lamp for NH3 gas, at a distance of 40 cm for both gases.