Determining the Efficiency of a Hybrid Bipolar Ionization System in Reducing Poultry Farm Air Pollution

Poultry production is crucial in the global food supply chain. However, despite its economic benefits, the industry poses significant environmental challenges, notably air pollution. This study aims to evaluate air pollution in poultry farms throughout a growth cycle using statistical techniques and assess the effectiveness of a hybrid bipolar ionization system in mitigating air pollutants in this sector.

This research was carried out at an experimental poultry farm equipped with a hybrid bipolar ionization system to reduce particulate matter (PM), ammonia (NH₃), hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), and airborne microorganisms. The study examined the effects of three factors—negative ion concentration, humidity, and ventilation—at two levels, with two replications. The data were analyzed using SPSS and MSTAT-C software, employing analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Kruskal-Wallis test at significance levels of 1%, 5%, and 10%.

The results revealed that the most substantial reduction in particulate matter was achieved in Treatment 3 (low humidity, high ion concentration, and ventilation off), with reductions of 40.88% for PM₂.₅ and 31.91% for PM₁₀, at confidence levels of 90%, 95%, and 99%. The highest reduction in ammonia levels was also observed in Treatment 3, with a mean rank of 50.13. Complete elimination of hydrogen sulfide was observed in Treatment 4 (high ion concentration, low humidity, and ventilation on), with a mean rank of 50.14 at the 10% significance level. Maximum reduction of microorganisms occurred on day 3, with an ionization level of 7 kV, ventilation off, and 30% humidity (Treatment 3).

The study confirms that increasing the concentration of negative ions generated by the ionization system significantly reduces the concentration of airborne pollutants in poultry farms. Therefore, implementing a hybrid bipolar ionization system is recommended to enhance air quality in poultry houses. Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/