• The Circlair system captures ammonia from the air in pig and cattle barns, reducing emissions from livestock farming
  • Instead of sulfuric acid, the technology uses nitric acid, producing a concentrated ammonium nitrate solution as a nitrogen fertilizer
  • The installation is being tested at the TRANSfarm University of Leven farm for approx. 700 pigs, and the KU Leuven algorithm automatically controls pH and water circulation

This technology is said to have only advantages. Not only does it reduce harmful emissions from livestock, but it also enables nitrogen to be reused in agriculture - reports Agrarheute.

How does Circlair work, and what benefits does it offer livestock farming?

Unlike traditional scrubbers, which use sulfuric acid to capture ammonia and ammonium sulfate, Circlair uses nitric acid. The result is a concentrated ammonium nitrate solution that can be used as a liquid fertilizer.

Another advantage of the technology is its significantly lower water consumption. The system needs 10 times less water than traditional air treatment systems, and the salt concentration in the final solution can reach 60 percent by mass. According to specialists, this product could be equivalent to commercial liquid nitrogen fertilizers.

Pilot project in Belgium: a pigsty for approx. 700 pigs

The system developed by the Belgian inventors has already been installed on a trial basis at the TRANSfarm University of Leven farm in Belgium, where it cleans the air in a pigsty intended for approx. 700 pigs.

A specially developed KU Leuven algorithm continuously monitors the pH level and the amount of ammonia in the air, and automatically regulates the acid supply and water circulation.

Plasma reactor and nitric acid from air. What are the creators planning?

As we read, the creators of Circlair plan to use a plasma reactor in the future to produce nitric acid directly from air and integrate it with their air purification system. This will reduce or eliminate the need to purchase acid and make the entire technology almost self-sufficient.