Livestock Manure Odor Reduced by 77%... Jeonnam Gwangju Agricultural Institute Pilots Microbubble Technology

Oxygen transfer efficiency improves by 83%
Effectiveness verified at pig farms
Potential for cost reduction confirmed

The Jeonnam Gwangju Metropolitan City Agricultural Research and Extension Services will apply 'microbubble' technology to pig farms to enhance livestock manure processing efficiency and reduce odors.

According to the Jeonnam Gwangju Metropolitan City Agricultural Research and Extension Services on August 11, a prototype incorporating microbubble aeration technology has been developed, and pilot testing will be conducted at a local pig farm.

Microbubble Schematic Diagram.

Microbubble is a water treatment technology in which bubbles are smaller than ordinary bubbles, remain suspended longer in water, and provide more efficient oxygen transfer. When applied to livestock manure treatment facilities, it is expected to promote organic decomposition by increasing microbial activity, while reducing sludge accumulation and solidification within facilities, according to the research institute.

As of 2025, livestock manure produced in the Jeonnam Gwangju area is estimated at approximately 6.38 million tons. As the scale of livestock farming grows, there is an increasing need for treatment technologies that can ensure stable operation of manure processing facilities and reduce odor problems.

The research institute explained that in conventional livestock manure treatment facilities, extended operation may cause sludge accumulation and solidification inside tanks, which in turn can lead to decreased aeration efficiency and treatment performance. They further noted that this can increase odors as well as facility maintenance and management costs.

This is the reason the research institute has initiated on-site application of the microbubble technology. In a preliminary experiment conducted last year, facilities utilizing microbubble aeration showed approximately 77% reduction in ammonia generation compared to conventional aeration methods. Oxygen transfer efficiency also improved by around 83%.

The research institute plans to verify through this pilot testing whether such laboratory-level results can be replicated in actual livestock operations. They will comprehensively assess sludge solidification, odor reduction, aeration efficiency, operational stability, and the potential to reduce maintenance and management costs. Based on the pilot results, they aim to establish operational techniques that can be easily implemented by farmers, and further advance manure treatment technology so that it can be adopted even by small-scale farms in the future.

Choi Jae-eun, Director of the Livestock Research Institute at Jeonnam Gwangju Metropolitan City Agricultural Research and Extension Services, said, "Microbubble aeration technology can reduce sludge solidification and enhance microbial activity to improve the performance of livestock manure treatment. We will thoroughly validate its field applicability and complete it as a practical technology for resource recovery of livestock manure and improvement of livestock farm environments, ultimately distributing it for widespread use."

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