SBIR-STTR Award

We are developing a portable photocatalytic air purifier for reduction of ammonia levels in poultry houses. This will be effective regardless environmental conditions integrate with existing ventilation equipment enable cleaner air for improved poultry productivity and weight gains and have a cost payback of about one year. Our approach will reduce the number of air changes needed to maintain indoor air quality during colder months. Cleaner indoor air will reduce the consumption of propane used to heat ventilation air during these colder periods. Other benefits of this approach include reduced emissions of ammonia from animal operations and reduced impact of NH3 and NOx on the environment and lessen impact on waterways and ground water. Ammonia removal from animal agricultural operations is critical to the well-being of the animals workers and the environment. This can be accomplished by increased outside air ventilation use of scrubbers or sorbents changes to animal feed or litter amendments. None of these options are satisfactory as they all either shift the problem elsewhere or add equipment and operating costs. Effective permanent ammonia elimination is possible with PCI's novel high-intensity photocatalytic reactor technology which outperforms existing photo-reactors in terms of ability to convert reactants to products while enabling conversion of reactants to harmless products at significantly increased flow rates enabling the decomposition of ammonia to water and nitrogen gas in a low- cost package. Phase II work will include detailed economics and assess system durability via on-site poultry house field trials.

We are developing an innovative portable photocatalytic air purifier for economic reduction of ammonia concentrations in poultry houses completely converting the ammonia to water and N2end-products without NOx formation. Our solution will enabling improved poultry health feed conversion and weight gain while achieving net lowered operating costs through savings on propane for ventilation make-up and other ammonia reduction methods such as litter amendments or changes to feed. Cost payback will be about one year. Other benefits of this approach include reduced emissions of ammonia from animal operations and reduced impact of NH3 and NOx on the environment including air waterways and ground water. Ammonia removal from animal agricultural operations is critical to the well-being of the animals workers and the environment. Our solution destroys the ammonia in contrast to other solutions that simply remove it shifting the problem elsewhere. The system will be effective regardless environmental conditions and integrate with existing ventilation equipment. The innovation is driven by PCI's novel high-intensity photocatalytic reactor technology which outperforms existing photo-reactors in terms of ability to convert reactants to products while enabling conversion of reactants to harmless products at significantly increased flow rates enabling the decomposition of ammonia to water and nitrogen gas in a low-cost package. In Phase II we will mature the design optimizing components and requirements improve cost-effectiveness run controlled broiler house testing at USDA's Arkansas Research Service demonstrate durability involve potential Phase III commercialization and funding partners and develop a viable prototype for Phase III commercialization.