Determining daily average concentrations of ammonia in livestock buildings using a photoacoustic monitorand acid wet traps

摘要

Measuring ammonia concentrations accurately is a need for environmental and welfare purposes in livestock production. Several techniques, based on different technologies and time basis, have been developed to determine these concentrations. These techniques can be classified according to a wide range of parameters, but one of the main ones is time resolution. High time resolution techniques provide high frequency measurements, generally at high cost, while low time resolution measurements give normally daily average concentrations, but at a lower cost and with high robustness. In this paper, two ammonia concentrations measurement techniques were compared: a photoacoustic monitor and wet traps (impingers). Measurements were developed during two winter cycles in three experimental broilers houses. 70 daily average values for ammonia concentrations were obtained using both techniques. According to the results, ammonia concentrations were not statistically different, on average terms. Nevertheless, differences between techniques were found when considering only low concentrations (< 2 mg/m3). For higher concentrations, results were similar between techniques. Further research is needed in order to confirm these results.