Boric acid (BA) and sodium tetraborate (STB) were evaluated for their ability
to inhibit ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emissions from swine wastewater and manure
slurry in in vitro incubations. Addition of either 1% BA or STB inhibited ammonia and
hydrogen sulfide emissions by almost 100 % from wastewater and manure slurries over
7 days of incubation. Concentrations of BA and STB as low as 0.0625 % were effective
in treating wastewater. Other possible benefits for using boron include a reduction in
malodor of the manure slurry, control of enteric pathogens and inhibition of mold growth.
Boron, as commercial borax, is an economical treatment, costing about $1.77 per kg. A
quantitative risk assessment study should be conducted to evaluate the benefit to risk
possibilities for all factors for using boron to treat swine manure slurry.