Scientists offer ideas for removing poultry litter

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) _ Researchers in Arkansas and Oklahoma have an idea for getting rid of litter from poultry farms _ use it to make electricity. <br><br>Scientists say the leftover materials could

Monday, November 18th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) _ Researchers in Arkansas and Oklahoma have an idea for getting rid of litter from poultry farms _ use it to make electricity.

Scientists say the leftover materials could be used to create fertilizer.

The issue is of particular importance in light of the states' fight over water quality standards.

Oklahoma enacted a phosphorous standard of 0.037 milligrams per liter for scenic rivers, including some that flow from Arkansas. Arkansas officials say that limit will hurt economic development in the growing northwest region, which has many poultry farms. Many see the poultry industry as the culprit in polluting the rivers.

Researchers say electricity is a good method for handling leftover poultry litter.

``Electric is the most attractive of any of the options,'' said Jim Wimberly, president of the Foundation for Organic Resources Management in Fayetteville. ``Theres a long-term market for electricity.''

But Wimberly and other researchers differ on what process would be the best and cheapest.

Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri officials plan to meet Friday in Siloam Springs to talk about the best way to dispose of excess poultry litter.

The material commonly referred to as poultry litter contains chicken manure, but it also includes rice hulls, pine sawdust and other bedding material that farmers spread in poultry houses.

Manure makes litter valuable as fertilizer, but the sawdust makes it possible to turn litter into electricity, Wimberly said.

Wimberly believes the most efficient way to turn litter into electricity is to feed it into a boiler and burn it. The steam could be turned into electricity, and the leftover ash could be used in fertilizer. A company with plants in England already uses this process, and is looking to expand.

The University of Arkansas' Division of Agriculture and Wimberly's foundation have applied for a grant to create a detailed business plan for an Ozark litter ``bank'' to help farmers take litter to a production plant. That could be electricity, ethanol, fertilizer or something else deemed to be a good use for leftover litter.

Ken Stamper, principal engineer and owner of Production Specialties in Norman, Okla., said his research shows there's a better way to turn litter into electricity.

His method involves mixing litter with water to make a slurry. That goes into an anaerobic digester, where bacteria helps turn wet litter into methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. The low-quality gases can be turned into electricity, Stamper said. The byproduct is a liquid fertilizer.

Stamper's idea has been proven in a laboratory but, critics note, never on a commercial level.

Oklahoma agencies expect to commit $600,000, about half the cost, toward Stamper and his partner developing a commercial-sized demonstration.