Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Livestock Nutrient Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #395141

Research Project: Strategies to Manage Feed Nutrients, Reduce Gas Emissions, and Promote Soil Health for Beef and Dairy Cattle Production Systems of the Southern Great Plains

Location: Livestock Nutrient Management Research

Title: Mitigation of air pollutants by UV-A photocatalysis in livestock and poultry farming: a mini-review

Author
item LEE, MYEONGSEONG - Texas A&M University
item Koziel, Jacek
item LI, PEIYANG - Iowa State University
item JENKS, WILLIAM - Iowa State University

Submitted to: Catalysts
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/13/2022
Publication Date: 7/15/2022
Citation: Lee, M., Koziel, J.A., Li, P., Jenks, W. 2022. Mitigation of air pollutants by UV-A photocatalysis in livestock and poultry farming: a mini-review. Catalysts. 12(7). Article 782. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal12070782.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/catal12070782

Interpretive Summary: Air pollution poses threat to the human health. Environmental photocatalysis can oxidize air pollutants and effectively purify air. Ultraviolet (UV) triggers catalytic reactions. To date, environmental photocatalysis has been the subject of numerous investigations focused on mitigating undesirable pollutants in air and gas-phase, mainly as the proof-of-the-concept. Still, much less is known about the current state-of-the-art of UV photocatalysis in the context of animal agriculture. The purpose of this review paper is to present UV-A photocatalyst mechanism, to summarize UV-A photocatalysis technology's effectiveness in mitigating targeted air pollutants in livestock and poultry barns, and to evaluate the potential of UV-A photocatalysis. Scientists from ARS, Iowa State University and Texas A&M University reviewed the current literature and this review traces the progression of UV-A photocatalysis applications to animal farming since the mid-2000 and developments from laboratory to farm-scale trials. In addition, this re-view paper discusses the practical limitations and outlines research needs for increasing the technology readiness and practical UV application in animal farming.

Technical Abstract: Ultraviolet (UV)-based photocatalysis has been the subject of numerous investigations focused on mitigating undesirable pollutants in the gas-phase. Few works report on applications beyond the proof of the concept. Even less is known about the current state of the art of UV photocatalysis in the context of animal agriculture. A growing body of research published over the last 15 years has advanced the knowledge and feasibility of UV-A photocatalysis for swine and poultry farm applications. This review paper summarizes UV-A photocatalysis technology's effectiveness in mitigating targeted air pollutants in livestock and poultry farms. Specifically, air pollutants include odor, odorous VOCs, NH3, H2S, and greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O). We trace the progression of UV-A photocatalysis applications in animal farming since the mid-2000 and developments from laboratory to farm-scale trials. In addition, this review paper discusses the practical limitations and outlines research needs for increasing the technology readiness and practical UV application in animal farming.