Where many animals are kept in small spaces, diseases are also rampant. Researchers have now developed a device that is intended to improve hygiene in chicken and pig sheds and thereby contribute to the health and well-being of the animals. The device combines several technical processes such as UV disinfection to reduce the burden of pathogens in the stable. In the long term, fewer antibiotics could be needed, which reduces the risk of antibiotic-resistant germs – and also benefits us humans.
Infections transmitted by pathogens, such as bird flu, are a major problem in poultry farming. To prevent these and keep the chickens healthy, animal owners usually use antibiotics. Due to their widespread use, especially in large breeding farms, the germs can also get used to the antibiotics and develop resistance. Then the medication becomes ineffective. The resistant pathogens also get into our food through animal products such as meat and eggs and into our groundwater through wastewater from poultry farming. The frequent use of antibiotics therefore poses a potential health risk for animals and people. The air in the stable can also be dangerous for the animals – and ultimately for us too. Because they often contain ammonia and so-called VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) from the animals’ excretions, which can also make you sick.
How does the new air purifier work?
In order to improve stable hygiene and animal welfare, researchers have now developed a new device that effectively cleans the stable air and could thereby reduce infectious diseases and their treatment with antibiotics. The scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technology and Image Analysis (IOSB-AST) in Ilmenau, PURION GmbH and the Society for the Promotion of Medical, Bio- and Environmental Technologies eV (GMBU) built a compact device that can be easily connected to the Can be attached to the ceiling of poultry and pig houses. The device continuously disinfects the air using UV light from LEDs. It also uses a chemical process to render particles and molecules from the air harmless.
“UV radiation has a strong microbiocidal effect in certain wavelength ranges, the pathogens are deactivated by damaging the DNA,” explains Thomas Westerhoff from Fraunhofer IOSB-AST. The UVC LEDs used emit light in wavelengths that kill viruses, bacteria and mold, as the researchers report. In addition, the device also contains UVA LEDs to indirectly neutralize ammonia and VOCs from the stable air using UV radiation. The UVA rays in the device hit coated surfaces, which trigger chemical reactions after being stimulated with light. “In this process, highly reactive hydroxyl radicals are formed from the air humidity, which oxidize or burn organic substances,” explains Westerhoff.
Prototype should be further optimized
The prototype of the air purifier already effectively cleans the stable air using these two combined methods, as the scientists have determined through tests. In further experiments, they now want to combine LEDs of different wavelengths with different photocatalyst materials and thus check whether they can optimize their device even further. They also plan to develop a filter system that prevents dust from depositing on the photocatalytically active coating in the device. “The goal of our project is a perfect, mobile device as a real innovation for poultry farming,” says Westerhoff. In the long term, the device is intended to keep the animals healthier, meaning fewer antibiotics are needed and fewer microbes can develop resistance to them.
Source: Fraunhofer Society