Polyanionic Copolymer Salts for Ammonia Reduction in Animal Feed
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Solution Overview
Problem
High levels of gaseous ammonia in animal containment facilities due to inefficient nitrogen conversion in animal waste, leading to health issues and production decreases in poultry and mammals.
Innovation Solution
Adding polyanionic copolymer salts, such as maleic-itaconic copolymer salts, to animal feed and water to reduce volatilized ammonia from feces and excrement, specifically using a mixture like MTM® which is a partial calcium salt of a maleic-itaconic copolymer in combination with a partial ammonium salt, at specific concentrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-protein diets are fed to poultry to meet nutritional requirements, then animal health and growth are improved, but nitrogen excretion increases leading to higher ammonia levels in the facility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by converting the harmful ammonia produced from nitrogen excretion into a beneficial process. The copolymer salts react with ammonia to form ammonium salts, which are then converted to nitrogen gas through microbial action, effectively transforming the harmful ammonia into harmless nitrogen that can be vented without causing health issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The copolymer salts serve as an intermediary substance between the nitrogen in animal waste and the final nitrogen gas output. These salts facilitate the conversion process by reacting with ammonia and providing a mechanism for nitrogen transformation, acting as a mediator that enables harmful ammonia to be converted into beneficial nitrogen gas.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional treatments like aluminum sulfate or ferrous sulfate are applied to poultry litter to reduce ammonia, then ammonia levels decrease, but the complexity of facility management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The copolymer salt amendment enables the poultry litter itself to perform the ammonia reduction function. The salts are incorporated into the feed, and the resulting copolymer salts in the litter automatically react with ammonia through microbial action, making the system self-regulating without requiring external chemical treatments or complex management procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the feed by incorporating copolymer salts, which alter the decomposition process of manure. This parameter change in the feed composition leads to different ammonia volatilization characteristics, reducing ammonia levels through modified chemical reactions rather than external treatments.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If fermentable carbohydrates like bran or pulp are added to poultry diets to reduce ammonia, then gaseous ammonia decreases marginally, but feed formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining copolymer salts with the poultry feed formulation. This composite approach integrates the ammonia-reducing functionality directly into the feed structure, creating a unified feed product that simultaneously provides nutrition and reduces ammonia without requiring separate additions of fermentable carbohydrates.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Significantly reduces gaseous ammonia concentrations in animal facilities without affecting animal health or nutrient uptake, as demonstrated by reduced ammonia readings and odor in poultry and cattle trials.
Implementation Method 1
ammonia binding capacity of the copolymer salts
Implementation Method 2
where further microbial action release ammonia into the air during manure decomposition
Data Source
AI summary
Improved animal feeds and/or waters are provided, which include amendments comprising one or more copolymer salts serving to reduce volatilized ammonia derived from the excrement of animals. The copolymers are preferably water soluble and have substantially equimolar amounts of maleic and itaconic moieties.