Sulfur Compounds in Gases Emitted From Stored Manure

Under anaerobic conditions, organic compounds containing sulfur break down, forming intermediate sulfurcontainingcompounds that ultimately form hydrogen sulfide. The objectives of this project were to determine varioussulfur-containing compound concentrations in collected air and liquid samples from stored swine and dairy manure andcorrelate these sulfur compound concentrations with each other. Three different manure-handling/storage methods(a batch study, a semi-batch study, and a field study) generated a total of 52 paired (air and liquid) samples. Of the20 sulfur-containing compounds detectable by the analytical laboratory, six were detected in the air samples and sevenwere detected in the liquid samples. None of the compounds was significantly affected by specie (swine and dairy).Concentrations of hydrogen sulfide, dimethyl sulfide, and carbon disulfide changed significantly with time. Additionalresearch is needed to further examine the biochemical pathways in the formation of hydrogen sulfide from anaerobicallystored manure.