The Industrial Technology Development Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ITDI) has developed air biofilters for the control of ammonia, especially in poultry houses.
DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said a poultry farm in Naic, Cavite benefited from the ITDI’s project.
He said the Institute, through its Environment and Biotechnology Division (EBD), installed the developed air biofilters in one of Rosy Chicks poultry houses in Barangay Malainen Luma in Naic, Cavite on Oct. 11.
“This technical assistance to Rosy Chicks Farm, a Filipino-owned poultry business, is DOST-ITDI’s way to support Rosy Chicks’ compliance with DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) Republic Act No. 8749, otherwise known as the Clean Air Act of 1999,” de la Peña said.
The prototype was developed to convert ammonia into nitrate and further convert the nitrate into nitrogen gas by denitrification using nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria.
The development of air biofilters sought to address the danger of ammonia gas to humans, animals, and the environment by converting the toxic ammonia into a nitrogen gas that can be safely released into the atmosphere.