Education

Research Description

Animal waste management, nutrient recovery and sustainable food production and distribution.

Honors and Awards

• College of Engineering Outstanding Faculty Mentoring Citation, 2016
• Inducted to Arkansas Academy of Biological and Agricultural Engineers, 2007

Publications

Evaluation of waste eggshells for adsorption of copper from synthetic and swine wastewater

Hess, B. J., Kolar, P., Classen, J. J., Knappe, D., & Cheng, J. J. (2018), Transactions of the ASABE, 61(3), 967-976.

Approaches to agricultural innovation and their effectiveness

Kick, E. L., Zering, K., & Classen, J. (2017), Aims Agriculture and Food, 2(4), 370-373.

Catalytic valorization of lignin using niobium oxide

Das, L., Kolar, P., Sharma-Shivappa, R., Classen, J. J., & Osborne, J. A. (2017), Waste and Biomass Valorization, 8(8), 2673-2680.

Thermochemical conversion: A prospective swine manure solution for North Carolina

Lentz, Z., Classen, J., & Kolar, P. (2017), Transactions of the ASABE, 60(3), 591-600.

Modeling the growth of archaeon halobacterium halobium affected by temperature and light

Lu, H., Yuan, W. Q., Cheng, J., Rose, R. B., Classen, J. J., & Simmons, O. D. (2017), Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 181(3), 1080-1095.

Size distributions of bioaerosols in an egg production facility and its vicinity

Hu, D., Wang-Li, L. J., Simmons, O. D., Classen, J. J., & Osborne, J. A. (2016), Environmental Engineering Science, 33(4), 215-223.

Swine manure char as an adsorbent for mitigation of p-Cresol

Fitzgerald, S., Kolar, P., Classen, J., Boyette, M., & Das, L. (2015), Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy, 34(1), 125-131.

Drying temperature - duration impacts on moisture, carbon, and nitrogen losses from broiler litter

Liang, Weizhen; Shah, Sanjay B.; Classen, John; Sharma-Shivappa, Ratna. (2014), Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR Journal, 16(4), 16-23.

Bioaerosol concentrations and emissions from tunnel-ventilated high-rise layer houses in North Carolina

Hu, D., Wang-Li, L., Simmons, O. D., Classen, J. J., Osborne, J. A., & Byfield, G. E. (2014), Transactions of the ASABE, 57(3), 915-925.

Ammonia fate and transport mechanisms in broiler litter

Liang, W. Z., Classen, J. J., Shah, S. B., & Sharma-Shivappa, R. (2014), Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 225(1).

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Grants

Fate, Transport and Transformation of Ammonia Emissions from Animal Feeding Operations and Their Impacts on Air-Soil Health

National Science Foundation (NSF)(8/15/18 - 7/31/21)

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Fate, Transport and Transformation of Ammonia Emissions from Animal Feeding Operations and Their Impacts on Air-Soil Health

Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)

Start Date: 8/15/18

End Date: 7/31/21

Abstract

Overview: In the United States, animal feeding operations (AFOs) emit approximately 2.5 million tons of ammonia (NH3) per year, contributing to about 85% of total NH3 emissions in the nation. Emission, fate, transport and transformation of AFO NH3 have become an increasing concern due to the associated adverse effects on air/water/ soil health/quality and ecosystem. Ammonia emissions contribute to the formation of secondary inorganic particulate matter (iPM2.5), and NH3 deposition contributes to the eutrophication of surface water and acidification of the ecosystem. While the scientific community has a fundamental understanding of the N cycle, the reduced N form is the least known part of the cycle. Scientific understanding of the reduced N in the environment needs to be strengthened to quantify the dynamic exchange of N species (e.g., from NH3 gas to NH4+ particulate) across air-soil-water interfaces. The overall goal of the project is to advance our understanding of ecological and environmental impacts of atmospheric “N” on air-soil health by (1) establishing a science-based understanding of fate, transport, and transformation of AFOs NH3 emissions; (2) transferring the new knowledge to students, industry, regulators, and the public through various educational and outreach programs. The project will accomplish the following specific objectives: (1) Quantifying NH3 and particulate NH4+ dry deposition as impacted by NH3 emissions, land usage and meteorological conditions in AFO environments; (2) Estimating transformation of emitted NH3 to secondary iPM2.5 as impacted by NH3 emissions, distance from source, atmospheric chemical & meteorological conditions; (3) Quantifying the impacts of NH3 and NH4+ depositions on soil chemical and biological properties, including microbial biomass, stoichimetry of nitrogen transformations, pH.

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Urea Recovery and Urease Inhibition from Pilot Scale Scraper System

Precision Fabricating & Cleaning Co.(3/01/17 - 8/15/21)

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Urea Recovery and Urease Inhibition from Pilot Scale Scraper System

Sponsor: Precision Fabricating & Cleaning Co.

Start Date: 3/01/17

End Date: 8/15/21

Abstract

The goal of this project is to develop the operational procedures to recover urine from a swine production facility and to stabilize the urea in the recovered material. A manure scraper system will be installed under the floors of a pig barn. The collection system diverts liquids to a separate treatment system from the manure solids. We will verify the urea preservation with 3 different urease inhibitors: sulfuric acid to pH < 3.0; sodium hydroxide to pH > 12.0; and NBPT.

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Mitigating Environmental Stress for Enhanced Broiler Production Performance and Welfare

US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) - National Institute of Food and Agriculture(3/01/17 - 2/29/20)

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Mitigating Environmental Stress for Enhanced Broiler Production Performance and Welfare

Sponsor: US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) - National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Start Date: 3/01/17

End Date: 2/29/20

Abstract

This project is to address AFRI Foundational Program Area Priority in "Agricultural Engineering [A1521]". Through an environmentally controlled study and a field investigation, this project will develop and evaluate an engineering product to mitigate heat stress in heavy broilers and ammonia emission for improved broiler production performance and welfare. The specific objectives are to: (1) Obtain heat and moisture production values for heavy broilers under different temperature (T), relative humidity (RH) and air velocity (AV) set points; (2) Assess impact of the high AV for different T and RH set points under summer conditions on the performance and welfare of heavy broilers; (3) Develop a retractable baffle system to re-distribute ventilation air, thereby increasing airflow at the bird height in the grow-out cycle to mitigate heat stress in heavy broilers; (4) Evaluate the effects of the baffle system and the resultant improved airflow on the existing housing ventilation system, ammonia and particulate matter concentrations as well as broiler performance and welfare. The project will be conducted by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in broiler production and welfare, housing environmental control, air quality, and waste management. This project will produce (1) new knowledge on heat and moisture production of heavy broilers under different T/RH/AV combinations; (2) a cost-effective engineering solution for mitigating heat stress and air quality to improve heavy broiler performance and welfare. Knowledge obtained will help guide the poultry industry to improve engineering design of housing ventilation system for welfare friendly and sustainable production systems.

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Ammonia Recovery from Swine Wastewater with Selective Membrane Technology

Murphy-Brown, LLC (was Murphy Farms)(9/20/12 - 8/31/16)

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Ammonia Recovery from Swine Wastewater with Selective Membrane Technology

Sponsor: Murphy-Brown, LLC (was Murphy Farms)

Start Date: 9/20/12

End Date: 8/31/16

Abstract

A common waste management technique in swine production is to use water to flush manure from under floor pits to a lagoon for anaerobic treatment and storage prior to land application as fertilizer. A large fraction of the ammonia nitrogen is lost in this system through volatilization from the lagoon and from the spray fields. With the high cost of nitrogen fertilizer and increased emphasis on preventing environmental and ecologIical contamination, many producers would welcome a system that makes better use of manure nutrients, particularly to fertilize animal feed crops. The swine production industry is widely dispersed relative to the primary production of corn and soybeans in the Midwest; therefore more efficient nutrient recovery must be accompanied by greater nutrient concentration to reduce transportation costs. A new process developed by USDA-ARS scientists (Vanotti, M.B. and Szogi, A.A, US Patent Application SN 13/164,363, June 20, 2011) includes the passage of gaseous (or free) ammonia through a microporous hydrophobic membrane and subsequent capture and concentration in an acidic stripping solution on the other side of the membrane. This project will demonstrate this gas permeable ammonia-selective membrane system in three different manure collection systems: the NCSU under floor belt system (current CIG demonstration under NRCS Agreement #69-3A75-10-165), an under floor scraper system, and a mesophilic anaerobic digester. The purpose of the project is to remove at least 50% of the ammonia nitrogen in a concentrated form that can be economically moved off the farm and managed as a valuable resource. The project plan is to develop a modular mobile membrane ammonia recovery system with appropriate tanks, pumps and supplies; this mobile system will be moved to each of three sites where effluent will be stored in an on-site tank. The membrane ammonia recovery module will be connected into the on-site tank and ammonia will be removed into the acid solution on the mobile unit. Evaluation will quantify the mass and fraction of ammonia removal, the mass and fraction of ammonia left for on-site application, the final concentration, and the required processing time. Economic analysis will predict the value of the final product and the cost at different distances from the farm at different fuel price points. The project is innovative in that this is the first viable system to concentrate ammonia nitrogen for better management rather than removing wastewater or reducing the ammonia to nitrogen gas. We expect to develop design and operational guidelines in order to transfer this technology for adaptation as an on-farm system or expand the system to treat larger amounts of wastewater. This project builds on both the existing CIG demonstration of the under floor belt system and the patented work of USDA-ARS scientists.

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Ammonia Recovery from Swine Wastewater with Selective Membrane Technology

NC Pork Council(9/20/12 - 8/31/16)

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Ammonia Recovery from Swine Wastewater with Selective Membrane Technology

Sponsor: NC Pork Council

Start Date: 9/20/12

End Date: 8/31/16

Abstract

A common waste management technique in swine production is to use water to flush manure from under floor pits to a lagoon for anaerobic treatment and storage prior to land application as fertilizer. A large fraction of the ammonia nitrogen is lost in this system through volatilization from the lagoon and from the spray fields. With the high cost of nitrogen fertilizer and increased emphasis on preventing environmental and ecological contamination, many producers would welcome a system that makes better use of manure nutrients, particularly to fertilize animal feed crops. The swine production industry is widely dispersed relative to the primary production of corn and soybeans in the Midwest; therefore more efficient nutrient recovery must be accompanied by greater nutrient concentration to reduce transportation costs. A new process developed by USDA-ARS scientists (Vanotti, M.B. and Szogi, A.A, US Patent Application SN 13/164,363, June 20, 2011) includes the passage of gaseous (or free) ammonia through a microporous hydrophobic membrane and subsequent capture and concentration in an acidic stripping solution on the other side of the membrane. This project will demonstrate this gas permeable ammonia-selective membrane system in three different manure collection systems: the NCSU under floor belt system (current CIG demonstration under NRCS Agreement #69-3A75-10-165), an under floor scraper system, and a mesophilic anaerobic digester. The purpose of the project is to remove at least 50% of the ammonia nitrogen in a concentrated form that can be economically moved off the farm and managed as a valuable resource. The project plan is to develop a modular mobile membrane ammonia recovery system with appropriate tanks, pumps and supplies; this mobile system will be moved to each of three sites where effluent will be stored in an on-site tank. The membrane ammonia recovery module will be connected into the on-site tank and ammonia will be removed into the acid solution on the mobile unit. Evaluation will quantify the mass and fraction of ammonia removal, the mass and fraction of ammonia left for on-site application, the final concentration, and the required processing time. Economic analysis will predict the value of the final product and the cost at different distances from the farm at different fuel price points. The project is innovative in that this is the first viable system to concentrate ammonia nitrogen for better management rather than removing wastewater or reducing the ammonia to nitrogen gas. We expect to develop design and operational guidelines in order to transfer this technology for adaptation as an on-farm system or expand the system to treat larger amounts of wastewater. This project builds on both the existing CIG demonstration of the under floor belt system and the patented work of USDA-ARS scientists.

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A Research Initiative to Develop Advanced Bio-Processing of Organic Residuals

NCSU Research and Innovation Seed Funding Program(7/01/14 - 6/30/15)

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A Research Initiative to Develop Advanced Bio-Processing of Organic Residuals

Sponsor: NCSU Research and Innovation Seed Funding Program

Start Date: 7/01/14

End Date: 6/30/15

Abstract

This project will identify and bring together NCSU faculty and staff, funding agency personnel, corporate partners, NGO and foundations personnel, and other partners to plan and develop a major new research initiative at NCSU. The focus of the initiative is a multi-faceted research program on advanced bio-processing of organic residuals. The fundamental idea is that almost all global agricultural production eventually falls into one of four residuals streams: plant residual, animal residual, food waste, and human residual. Most current systems treat these residuals as waste such they are treated and disposed of at considerable pecuniary and environmental cost. At best, low value products such as soil amendments are derived. Recent scientific developments, declining natural resources, and environmental concerns have created the opportunity to develop new processes that use organic residuals as feedstocks. NCSU has strengths in several key areas of science and engineering and several interested corporate and funding agency partners.

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Ammonia Recovery from Swine Wastewater with Selective Membrane Technology

US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)(9/20/12 - 8/31/16)

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Ammonia Recovery from Swine Wastewater with Selective Membrane Technology

Sponsor: US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)

Start Date: 9/20/12

End Date: 8/31/16

Abstract

A common waste management technique in swine production is to use water to flush manure from under floor pits to a lagoon for anaerobic treatment and storage prior to land application as fertilizer. A large fraction of the ammonia nitrogen is lost in this system through volatilization from the lagoon and from the spray fields. With the high cost of nitrogen fertilizer and increased emphasis on preventing environmental and ecological contamination, many producers would welcome a system that makes better use of manure nutrients, particularly to fertilize animal feed crops. The swine production industry is widely dispersed relative to the primary production of corn and soybeans in the Midwest; therefore more efficient nutrient recovery must be accompanied by greater nutrient concentration to reduce transportation costs. A new process developed by USDA-ARS scientists (Vanotti, M.B. and Szogi, A.A, US Patent Application SN 13/164,363, June 20, 2011) includes the passage of gaseous (or free) ammonia through a microporous hydrophobic membrane and subsequent capture and concentration in an acidic stripping solution on the other side of the membrane. This project will demonstrate this gas permeable ammonia-selective membrane system in three different manure collection systems: the NCSU under floor belt system (current CIG demonstration under NRCS Agreement #69-3A75-10-165), an under floor scraper system, and a mesophilic anaerobic digester. The purpose of the project is to remove at least 50% of the ammonia nitrogen in a concentrated form that can be economically moved off the farm and managed as a valuable resource. The project plan is to develop a modular mobile membrane ammonia recovery system with appropriate tanks, pumps and supplies; this mobile system will be moved to each of three sites where effluent will be stored in an on-site tank. The membrane ammonia recovery module will be connected into the on-site tank and ammonia will be removed into the acid solution on the mobile unit. Evaluation will quantify the mass and fraction of ammonia removal, the mass and fraction of ammonia left for on-site application, the final concentration, and the required processing time. Economic analysis will predict the value of the final product and the cost at different distances from the farm at different fuel price points. The project is innovative in that this is the first viable system to concentrate ammonia nitrogen for better management rather than removing wastewater or reducing the ammonia to nitrogen gas. We expect to develop design and operational guidelines in order to transfer this technology for adaptation as an on-farm system or expand the system to treat larger amounts of wastewater. This project builds on both the existing CIG demonstration of the under floor belt system and the patented work of USDA-ARS scientists.

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Modeling Airflow in the Brooks Gasification Process

US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)(3/01/12 - 9/30/12)

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Modeling Airflow in the Brooks Gasification Process

Sponsor: US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)

Start Date: 3/01/12

End Date: 9/30/12

Abstract

The Brooks Gasification Process (BGP) is a continuous feed, indirect heating process suitable for processing a variety of solid feedstocks, primarily manure and other agricultural waste materials. The focus of this proposed work is solely on poultry litter, the mixture of wood-chip bedding, manure, spilled feed, and water. A pilot scale unit being tested has shown significant repeated fouling of the heat exchanger by ash and tar. This project will investigate the feasibility of simulating airflow and heat transfer from within an engineering design platform to provide insights into possible design or operational modifications that would address the fouling problem.

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Swine Lagoon Sludge Processing with the Brooks Gasification Unit

US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)(10/01/11 - 9/30/12)

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Swine Lagoon Sludge Processing with the Brooks Gasification Unit

Sponsor: US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)

Start Date: 10/01/11

End Date: 9/30/12

Abstract

This project will develop the operation manual and operating instructions for the Brookes Gasification Process (BGP) gasification unit at the NCSU Animal and Poultry Waste Management Center in order to facilitate the assessment of swine lagoon sludge gasification properties. This operation manual and operating instructions will provide NRCS staff with an understanding of how to operate a Brookes Gasification Process (BGP) gasification unit in order to facilitate the assessment of swine lagoon sludge gasification properties.

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Manure Belt Collection System and Energy Recovery System

US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)(9/22/10 - 9/30/15)

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Manure Belt Collection System and Energy Recovery System

Sponsor: US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)

Start Date: 9/22/10

End Date: 9/30/15

Abstract

Three new swine barns will be built in Harnett County with an under floor belt collection system that separately collects solid and liquid from the manure stream. The solids will be used in an energy recovery system (digester or gasifier) while the liquids will be stored in a covered tank until land applied on site. The system will be analyzed for nutrient reduction, pathogen reduction, ammonia emissions, odor, energy production and energy consumption. An economic analysis will include the capital costs, operational cost, the value of the net energy recovered and any impacts on the productivity of the animals.

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