Elutriators are used to prevent ammonia from entering the atmosphere. A new system using a plasma reactor makes the nitrogen cycle in pig houses circular.

Livestock farming is responsible for a large proportion of ammonia emissions in the Netherlands, Flanders and beyond. Farmers have to take measures to reduce emissions, for example by installing elutriators in stables. There are roughly two types: chemical scrubbers and biological scrubbers. Chemical scrubbers capture ammonia by passing stable air through a filter. Here it is washed with an aqueous solution of sulphuric acid, producing the salt ammonium sulphate. Biological elutriators use micro-organisms to convert ammonia into nitrate and nitrite. Both systems have the disadvantage of using chemicals and a lot of water, and produce a lot of waste water.