• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.61 no.1
• /
• pp.123-141
• /
• 2023

A sufficient amount of data with quality is needed for training artificial neural networks (ANNs). However, developing ANN models with a small amount of data often appears in engineering fields. This paper presented an ANN model to improve prediction performance of the ammonia emission amount with 83 data. The ammonia emission rate included eleven inputs and two outputs (maximum ammonia loss, N_max and time to reach half of N_max, K_m). Categorical input variables were transformed into multi-dimensional equal-distance variables, and 13 data were added into 66 training data using a generative adversarial network. Hyperparameters (number of layers, number of neurons, and activation function) of ANN were optimized using Gaussian process. Using 17 test data, the previous ANN model (Lim et al., 2007) showed the mean absolute error (MAE) of K_m and N_max to 0.0668 and 0.1860, respectively. The present ANN outperformed the previous model, reducing MAE by 38% and 56%.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.491-500
• /
• 2010

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of polyurethane coated urea on in vitro ruminal fermentation, ammonia release dynamics and lactating performance of Holstein dairy cows fed a steam-flaked corn-based diet. In Exp. 1, a dual-flow continuous culture was run to investigate the effect of polyurethane coated urea on nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation parameters and microbial efficiency. Three treatment diets with isonitrogenous contents (13.0% CP) were prepared: i) feedgrade urea (FGU) diet; ii) polyurethane coated urea (PCU) diet; and iii) isolated soy protein (ISP) diet. Each of the diets consisted of 40% steam-flaked corn meal, 58.5% forages and 1.5% different sources of nitrogen. PCU and FGU diets had significantly lower digestibility of NDF and ADF (p<0.01) than the ISP diet. Nitrogen source had no significant effect (p = 0.62) on CP digestibility. The microbial efficiency (expressed as grams of microbial N/kg organic matter truly digested (OMTD)) in vitro of the PCU diet (13.0 g N/kg OMTD) was significantly higher than the FGU diet (11.3 g N/kg OMTD), but comparable with the ISP diet (14.7 g N/kg OMTD). Exp. 2, an in vitro ruminal fermentation experiment, was conducted to determine the ammonia release dynamics during an 8 h ruminal fermentation. Three treatment diets were based on steam-flaked corn diets commonly fed to lactating cows in China, in which FGU, PCU or soybean meal (SBM) was added to provide 10% of total dietary N. In vitro $NH_3-N$ concentrations were lower (p<0.05) for the PCU diet than the FGU diet, but similar to that for the SBM diet at all time points. In Exp. 3, a lactation trial was performed using 24 lactating Holstein cows to compare the lactating performance and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations when cows were fed PCU, FGU and SBM diets. Cows consuming the PCU diet had approximately 12.8% more (p = 0.02) dietary dry matter intake than those consuming the FGU diet. Cows fed the PCU diet had higher milk protein content (3.16% vs. 2.94%) and lower milk urea nitrogen (MUN) concentration (13.0 mg/dl vs. 14.4 mg/dl) than those fed the FGU diet. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration was significantly lower for cows fed the PCU (16.7 mg/dl) and SBM (16.4 mg/dl) diets than the FGU (18.7 mg/dl) diet. Cows fed the PCU diet had less surplus ruminal N than those fed the FGU diet and produced a comparable lactation performance to the SBM diet, suggesting that polyurethane coated urea can partially substitute soybean meal in the dairy cow diet without impairing lactation performance.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.73-82
• /
• 1997

Regional myocardial blood flow (rMBF) can be noninvasively quantified using N-13 ammonia and dynamic positron emission tomography (PET). The quantitative accuracy of the rMBF values, however, is affected by the distortion of myocardial PET images caused by finite PET image resolution and cardiac motion. Although different methods have been developed to correct the distortion typically classified as partial volume effect and spillover, the methods are too complex to employ in a routine clinical environment. We have developed a refined method incorporating a geometric model of the volume representation of a region-of-interest (ROI) into the two-compartment N-13 ammonia model. In the refined model, partial volume effect and spillover are conveniently corrected by an additional parameter in the mathematical model. To examine the accuracy of this approach, studies were performed in 9 coronary artery disease patients. Dynamic transaxial images (16 frames) were acquired with a GE $Advance^{TM}$ PET scanner simultaneous with intravenous injection of 20 mCi N-13 ammonia. rMBF was examined at rest and during pharmacologically (dipyridamole) induced coronary hyperemia. Three sectorial myocardium (septum, anterior wall and lateral wall) and blood pool time-activity curves were generated using dynamic images from manually drawn ROIs. The accuracy of rMBF values estimated by the refined method was examined by comparing to the values estimated using the conventional two-compartment model without partial volume effect correction rMBF values obtained by the refined method linearly correlated with rMBF values obtained by the conventional method (108 myocardial segments, correlation coefficient (r)=0.88). Additionally, underestimated rMBF values by the conventional method due to partial volume effect were corrected by theoretically predicted amount in the refined method (slope(m)=1.57). Spillover fraction estimated by the two methods agreed well (r=1.00, m=0.98). In conclusion, accurate rMBF values can be efficiently quantified by the refined method incorporating myocardium geometric information into the two-compartment model using N-13 ammonia and PET.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.13-24
• /
• 2023

Sewage sludge has been widely used as an organic fertilizer in agriculture. However, sewage sludge can cause serious malodor problems resulting from the decomposition of organic compounds in anaerobic conditions. The malodor of sewage sludge mainly occurs due to a low carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N), high moisture, and low temperature, which are ideal conditions for ammonia emissions. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the reduction of the odor-causing ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) in sewage sludge by co-application of microbes and methanol (MeOH). The physico-chemical properties of the municipal sewage sludge showed that the odor was mainly caused by a higher NH₃-N content (2932.2 mg L^-1). Supplementation with MeOH (20%) as a carbon source in the sewage sludge significantly reduced the NH₃-N up to 34.2% by increasing C/N ratio. Furthermore, the sewage sludge was treated with the NH₃-N reducing and plant growth promoting (PGP) bacteria Stenotrophomonas rhizophila SRCM 116907. The treatment with S. rhizophila SRCM 116907 significantly increased the seedling vigor index of Lolium perenne (10.3%) and Chrysanthemum burbankii (42.4%). The findings demonstrate that supplementing sewage sludge with methanol significantly reduces ammonia emissions, thereby mitigating malodor problems. Overall, the study highlights the potential of using a microbial and methanol approach to improve the quality of sewage sludge as an organic fertilizer and promote sustainable agriculture.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.128-138
• /
• 1998

This study was focused to find how each factors effect on the biological nitrification in wastewater treatment under high ammonia nitrogen concentration. Batch reactors in aerobic conditions were used to test the treatment efficiency of mixed liquor, nightsoil and piggery wastewater. The results are summeried as follows; Initial ammonia nitrogen concentration and pH were the direct influencing factors of nitrite build-up. More than 250 mg NH$_{4}$$^{+}$ - N/L in initial concentration built up nitrite and then the inhibition rate to Nitrobacter was above 70 percentage. And maximum nitritation rate was showed at pH 8.3 and nitrification could be completely achieved by pH control. Temperature and dissolved oxygen were the indirect influencing factors of nitrite build-up. These were a great effect on the activity of nitrifying microbes and ammonia nitrogen removal. Maximum nitritation rate was showed at 30 $\circ $C. The effect of DO concentration was negligible at more than 3 mg/L.

• 한국환경농학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2009.07a
• /
• pp.329-338
• /
• 2009

Emission of ammonia to the atmosphere are considered a threat to the environment. The application of livestock manure and compost contributes significantly to the emission of ammonia from agriculture. The reduction in NH3 losses from field-applied manure and compost would be a good strategy to reduce national $NH_3$ emission. In this study, various application techniques of liquid manure and compost were compared to evaluate their potential for reducing $NH_3$ emission. In compost application, the reductions in $NH_3$ emission were 70 and 15% for immediately rotary after application (IRA) and rotary at 3-day after application (RA-3d) in comparison with surface application (SA). Total ammonia emissions for 13 days, expressed as % ammonia-N applied in compost, were 42, 35.7, and 12.7% for SA, RA-3d, and IRA treatments, respectively. Mean reductions in NH3 emission from application of liquid pig manure were 26 and 50% for rotary harrow after surface broadcast application in spring and fall, respectively, in comparison with surface broadcast application. Ammonia emission rate was decreased with increasing water content in soil due to dilution effect, but this reduction only was temporary up to 12 hours after application and cumulative $NH_3$ emission was increased with increasing water content in soil. However, the delay would be beneficial because it allows time for rotary hallow of the applied liquid pig manure. Therefor, ammonia emission can be reduced by immediately incorporation of liquid manure and compost after surface application.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.7
• /
• pp.922-928
• /
• 2000

The effects of animal species and supplements on rumen fluid characteristics, plasma urea-N (PUN) concentration, plasma urea-N pool size, urea-N degradation in the gut and urea-N net flux (urea-N synthesis rate) were studied in goats and sheep, with some minor differences detected. The animals were fed either chopped rice straw ad libitum+200 g soybean meal (SBM), or chopped rice straw ad libitum+190 g soybean meal+300 g sago meal (SBM+SM) for 14 days. The supplements were isonitrogenous (80 g crude protein/animal/d). [$^{14}C$]-urea was used as the marker for urea metabolism studies. Two animals from each species were fed either supplement in a cross-over design in two periods. The results showed that rumen pH was significantly (p<0.001) lower in animals fed SBM+SM than those fed SBM supplement. The ammonia concentrations of rumen fluid were significantly (p<0.01) higher in sheep (382.9 mg N/L) than goats (363.1 mg N/L) when fed SBM supplement but lower (282.5 mg N/L) than that of goats (311.0 mg N/L) when fed SBM+SM supplement. Total VFA concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) higher in animals fed SBM+SM supplement than those fed SBM supplement. Goats had significantly (p<0.01) higher molar proportions of acetate (79.1, 77.7%, respectively) than sheep (75.8, 74.0%, respectively) in both supplements. The molar proportion of acetate was significantly (p<0.05) higher, while that of butyrate lower in animals fed SBM supplement than those fed SBM+SM supplement. In animals fed SBM supplement, the molar proportion of propionate was significantly (p<0.01) higher in sheep (18.0%) than in goats (15.6%), but in animals fed SBM+SM, the molar proportion of butyrate was significantly (p<0.01) higher (9.6%) in sheep than in goats (7.2%). Plasma urea-N concentration, plasma urea-N pool size, urea-N degradation in the gut, urea-N net flux and the fraction of urea-C from the blood entering the rumen were not significantly different between goats and sheep fed either supplement. However, PUN concentration was significantly (p<0.05) lower in animals fed SBM+SM supplement (average of 13.8 mg N/100 ml) than in those fed SBM supplement (average of 16.5 mg N/100 ml). The urea net flux was significantly (p<0.05) higher in goats (average of 14.5 g N/d) than sheep (average of 12.9 g N/d), and animals fed SBM supplement showed higher (average of 14.9 g N/d) urea net flux than animals fed SBM+SM supplement (average of 12.9 g N/d). A significant (p<0.05) positive correlation was observed between urea-N net flux and urea-N degradation; urea-N net flux and pool size; urea-N net flux and urea excretion in the urine; and PUN and rumen ammonia in goats. While in sheep, significant (p<0.05) positive correlation was observed between urea-N net flux and urea excretion in the urine; and PUN and rumen ammonia.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.77-82
• /
• 2007

Volatilization of ammonia from N fertilizer is the major mechanism of N losses that occur naturally in all soils and is influenced by numerous soils, environmental and N fertilizer management factors. Vegetables are often damaged by $NH_3$ gas volatilized from the high rates of N fertilizer. We determined the rate of $NH_3$ volatilization from urea applied to surface of the alluvial soil (coarse silty, mixed, mesic family of Dystric Fluventic Eutrochrepts, Ihyeon series) as affected by fertilizer management factors such as rate of urea application, irrigation schedule and temperature. The $NH_3$ volatilization was triggered about 3 d after urea application and reached at maximum level in general within 15 days. Cumulative amounts of 3.0, 4.4, and 8.0 kg of $NH_3$ N after 17 d were volatilized at application rates of 200, 400, and $600kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$, respectively, which were equivalent to the N losses of 15.0, 10.9, and 13.0% of N applied. Masses of N volatilization were 5, 21, 75 and $87kg\;NH_3\;N\;ha^{-1}$ at 5, 8, 22, and 28, respectively. Total amounts of 21.3, 21.2, and $16.6kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$ were volatilized at control, 5 and 10 mm water irrigation before fertilization, respectively. However, those at 5 mm irrigation after fertilization were only $10.44kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$. Results showed that urea loss can be avoided by incorporating with the recommended level, applying when temperatures are low or irrigating immediately to carry the urea into soil.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.306-311
• /
• 1992

The stable structures of pure ethylene and mixed ethylene-ammonia cluster ions are studied using an electron impact ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Investigations on the relative cluster ion distributions of $(C_2H_4)_n(NH_3)_m^+$ under various experimental conditions suggest that $(C_2H_4)_2(NH_3)_3^+$ and $(C_2H_4)_3(NH_3)_2^+$ ions have the enhanced structural stabilities, which give insight into the feasible structure of solvated ions. For the stable configurations of these ionic species, we report an experimental evidence that both $(C_2H4)_2^+(C_2H_4)_3^+$ clusters as the central cations provide three and two hydrogen-bonding sites, respectively, for the surrounding $NH_3$ molecules. This interpretation is based on the structural stability for ethylene clusters and the intracluster ion-molecular rearrangement of the complex ion under the presence of ammonia solvent molecules.

• 대한핵의학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2005.11a
• /
• pp.342.2-342.2
• /
• 2005