S. Korean technology uses rice husks, microorganisms to minimize livestock waste odor

The Korea Institute of Energy Research has reduced livestock waste odor through the use of fermented rice husks and microorganisms.

By compounding a photosynthetic bacterium dubbed rhodobacter sphaeroides into a cultivated effective microorganism, the research team succeeded in removing more than 99 percent of ammonia within 30 minutes.

Ammonia is the main cause of bad odors associated with livestock waste,

An oxidation heat of 60 to 80 degrees Celsius was also generated while dissolving sludge, a water treatment sediment, contributing to reducing the energy cost for drying.

The research team used rice husk, which is about 25 to 40 percent cheaper than sawdust.

With the weight of the sludge reduced by 91 percent in nine days, it is more than three times faster than sawdust.