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Variation in hydrogen sulfide emissions from a U.S. Midwest anaerobic dairy lagoon
Author(s) -
Grant Richard H.,
Mangan Mary R.,
Boehm Matthew T.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.1002/jeq2.20258
Subject(s) - environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , hydrogen sulfide , atmospheric sciences , chemistry , geology , sulfur , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) emissions from midwestern United States dairy anaerobic waste lagoons are episodic and seasonal. Emissions were modeled using an inverse diffusion model in conjunction with measured concentrations and turbulence. The potential for lagoon mixing was estimated by the Brunt frequency using a theoretical Fourier series temperature profile model constructed from measured air and lagoon temperatures. Annual H 2 S emissions from the dairy parlor and holding area liquid waste, based on 318 d of measurement, were 212 g m –2 or 807 g head of cattle –1 . Hydrogen sulfide emissions were highest in the spring and the fall. Eleven days with emissions >7 g d –1 head –1 accounted for 25% of the annual emissions. Shear mixing appeared to dominate the mixing in the lagoon when the lagoon was estimated to be nearly isothermal. Wind shear correlated with significantly greater daily mean emissions. The H 2 S emissions from this lagoon appeared to result from a series of processes; biogenic production of H 2 S in the sludge, H 2 S‐enriched bubbles rise through the lagoon by buoyancy and wind shear induced mixing, and bubbles bursting at the surface either due to desiccation of the bubbles or surface disturbances induced by wind and precipitation.