Manure Mat Sucks Up Odor

Manure Mat Sucks Up Odor MANURE HANDLING Equipment 28-6-43 Hog producers can clean up a lot of odor and maybe some bad feelings between neighbors with a new product call Zeomat. As a bonus, they may get a higher quality fertilizer for their fields and not have to pump lagoons as often. In North Carolina trials, a Zeomat cover reduced ammonia released into the atmosphere by over 80 percent and totally removed the odor from a hog manure lagoon simply by covering the surface with a roll-out fabric mat and a thin layer of a mineral called Zeolite. "The foam-backed fabric is rolled out over the surface and then a thin layer of zeolite, like a fine grade of sand, is spread over the fabric with a lawn fertilizer spreader," explains Danny Campbell, specialty markets manager for Huesker, Inc. Zeolite is a volcanic mineral that absorbs gases. A pound of it has the surface area of 3 1/2 football fields and only 1/4 to 1/2 lb. is needed per square foot of fabric cover. It absorbs ammonia and hydrogen sulfide gases until they're broken down and consumed by bacteria that live in the foam and fabric. The test lagoon has been monitored by North Carolina State University, USDA, EPA and Duke and Oregon State Universities. The researchers have found that over time the stabilized nitrogen levels in the initial test lagoon have risen. Liquid levels continue to fall, and manure solids break down. The North Carolina hog farmer says that while he hasn't had to clean out the covered lagoon, three neighboring lagoons have had to be pumped. He reports that the cover, which has been in place for four years, has survived five hurricanes and more than five tropical storms. It was unaffected even when Hurricane Ivan blew the roof off one of his hog barns. "The geosynthetic fabric resists UV and tearing," says Campbell. "It comes in rolls 15 ft. wide and 100 ft long. The edge of each roll has a flap that can be sewed to the edge of the next roll. Once they are field sewn and the zeolite spread, they can be pulled across the lagoon surface." The zeolite absorbs moisture and, once damp, absorbs the gases. It is photoregenerative. As sun hits the zeolite, the gases are broken down into nitrogen, hydrogen and water and released. As it is slowly released, the nitrogen is eaten by the lagoon bacteria. Another benefit of the foam is that it insulates the lagoon surface, keeping it a more uniform temperature, which is good for bacterial efficiency. Because foam and the felted fabric are porous, rain passes through as does snow as it melts. Zeomat sells for around $2 per sq. ft. The material has a life expectancy of between five and ten years, though Campbell expects it to last even longer. "This is a simple system," he says. "My competition for odor control is anaerobic generators, and they require a lot of technology, maintenance and labor. With Zeomat, there is no labor after it has been installed." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Danny Campbell, Huesker Inc., 11107-A South Commerce Blvd., Charlotte, N.C. 28273 (ph 704 588-5500 or 800 942-9418; email: dcampbell@hueskerinc.com).

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