This biological ammonia filter has been approved after years of research

Air scrubbers are very important in stables; they ensure that ammonia emissions are reduced. Ammonia emissions do not only cause an unpleasant odour in the environment, but can also cause various health problems. Hazardous substances in the air are reduced by using an air scrubber.

We often use chemical air scrubbers, where one usually has to work with all kinds of acids. That is not the case with the biological air scrubber: the air in the barn is blown into the BioAir air filter using fans. It is then evenly distributed over the filter in the pressure chamber. The foul air passes through a layer of wood chips, where enzymes and bacteria do their work. These enzymes and bacteria ensure that the stench, ammonia and fine dust particles are removed from the ventilated air.

The BioAir is comparable to other (chemical) air scrubbers in terms of the purchase price, but the BioAir offers great advantages. Not only in terms of environmental friendliness but certainly also in terms of maintenance costs. You do not have to work with all kinds of acids with the BioAir, so there is no need to discharge flushing water. The BioAir hardly contains any parts that can break, and little to no maintenance is required.
 
It took a long time for Jan Waayer’s biological air scrubber to pass inspection. Wageningen University did not find the system consistent enough, so it did not pass their inspection. Waayer then built a test installation and had the entire process measured by independent research agency Tauw. The biological air scrubber finally passed the inspection after years of measuring and checking, with great success. Research showed that the reduction of ammonia and odour is much higher than the requirements set by the RAV.

Jan Waayer has invested around 2 tons in the BioAir with his company over the past five years. The expectation for the future is that dozens of copies will be sold in the coming years. The first talks with farmers have already been held, and the first BioAir will probably be installed this summer. The BioAir can also be interesting to other sectors, such as dairy farming, rabbit farming and veal farming.

This development was made possible in part by a loan (SME fund) from Regio Twente and Agenda van Twente. Regio Twente wants to stimulate developments in SME’s with the SME fund.