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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Livestock Nutrient Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #404873
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: Real-time ammonia measurement system using an electrochemical sensor

Author
item LEE, MYEONGSEONG - Texas A&M University
item BRANDANI, CAROLINA - Texas A&M University
item BUSH, JACK - Texas A&M University
item FERGUSON, GREG - Texas A&M University
item Thompson, Terra
item CASEY, KENNETH - Texas A&M University
item PARKER, DAVID - West Texas A & M University
item Koziel, Jacek
item Brauer, David
item AUVERMANN, BRENT - Texas A&M University

Submitted to: ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2023
Publication Date: 7/9/2023
Citation: Lee, M., Brandani, C.B., Bush, J.J., Ferguson, G.B., Thompson, T.N., Casey, K.D., Parker, D.B., Koziel, J.A., Brauer, D.K., Auvermann, B.W. 2023. Real-time ammonia measurement system using an electrochemical sensor. In: 2023 ASABE Annual International Meeting, July 7-9, 2023, Omaha, Nebraska. p. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.13031/aim.202301104.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13031/aim.202301104

Interpretive Summary: Due to cattle feeding industry growth, there are more concerns about gas emissions and environmental issues from feeding cattle. Real data about gas emissions are still lacking. Current methods to measure gas emissions are expensive. Inexpensive and portable sensors to measure gas emissions are being developed. This paper aims to outline the design and development of an ammonia sensor. Initial tests produced reliable data. The sensors will be used in future lab scale projects to evaluate potential ammonia reduction methods.

Technical Abstract: The worldwide increase in production in confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) has raised concerns about the side effects on air quality and regional environmental shifts. CAFO’s gaseous emissions data are still limited/lacking. Several gas measurement systems have been developed to accurately quantify gas emissions in this type of environment. Overall, they vary in gas detection method, datalogger ways, sensor accuracy, and portability, which significantly reflect the costs. As an alternative to overcome high costs, electrochemical sensors are being developed to measure gas emissions (e.g. ammonia, and methane). These portable and affordable/ inexpensive systems allow obtaining for robust and accurate data. This article aims to report a detailed process for designing and manufacturing a system using ammonia electrochemical sensors. We described in detail the material required for system operation, material placement, sensor calibration, system performance evaluation, and data loading method. Preliminary tests have shown the sensor calibration and data collection from the system are reliable. Upon completion, the measurement system will be used in in-vitro experiments to evaluate management practices to mitigate ammonia emissions.