the invention among the various advantages comprising the use of liquid ferric sulfate , or ferric chloride includes use of a readily available form of iron that is relatively safe ; its activating effect is more rapid ; it acts to promptly initiate the desired hydrolysis ; and , in the case of litter bedding application , acidulates the litter more quickly . liquid ferric sulfate is commonly a product produced by the digestion of an iron source ( hematite , magnetite , scrap iron ) with sulfuric acid . lfs can also be processed waste from steel pickling or other ferrous material manufacturing and processing . typically the liquid ferric sulfate will have 10 %- 12 % by weight iron and from about 0 . 1 % to about 5 . 0 % free acidity . it will have a specific gravity of less than about 1 . 3 % to about 1 . 6 % gm / cc . lfs can also be produced by dissolving various dry or solid ferric sulfate or ferrous sulfate products in water and processing to the desired final product strength and characteristics . it can also be a by - product of pigment ( tio 2 ) manufacturing . liquid ferric chloride can also be utilized alone , or in combination with ferric sulfate ; ferric sulfate being the preferred treatment mechanism . ferric chloride can be produced by digestion of an iron source in hydrochloric acid or wet chlorine streams . the larger volumes are by - products from tio 2 manufacturing or steel / iron manufacturing and processing . it will typically contain 10 - 12 % iron and & lt ; 1 -& gt ; 3 % free acid . waste pickle liquor ( wpl ) is a ferric / ferrous chloride / sulfite by product of iron and steel manufacturing and processing . it is variable in chemical assay and strength tending to low (& lt ; 5 %) iron content and high (& gt ; 5 %) acidity . it is often used as a starting material for other products herein such as ferrous chloride or ferrous sulfate . liquid ferric sulfate normally may be processed from a ferric sulfate manufacturing plant , or from industrial waste acid streams or through dissolving scrap iron in sulfuric acid by diluting or concentrating the desired strength . substituting hydrochloric acid for the sulfuric acid in the previous manner produces ferric chloride and ferrous chloride materials also suitable . ferric sulfate is also available as dry materials from iron and pigment manufacturers and when utilized can be solubilized in water to the appropriate concentration for use . in essence the invention provides an environment enhancing system comprising applying a compound selected from liquid ferric sulfate , liquid ferric chloride and mixtures thereof in amounts effective to suitably treat the type of animal waste and its physical and chemical characteristics and within limits of from about ten ( 10 ) to thirty ( 30 ) gallons containing about 5 % to about 15 % by weight of iron per thousand square feet of floor area of bedding or litter surface in which the livestock such as , poultry , swine or cattle are housed . the invention will be further described by reference to the following examples . however , the invention is not meant to be limited to the details described therein . in the examples , parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise noted . use of liquid ferric sulfate as a litter amendment for broiler chicken manure . one hundred grams of one - year old used broiler litter was added to 900 ml deionized water and mixed 30 minutes using a six place phipps and bird model 7790 - 400 jar stirrer . the litter sample was obtained mar . 08 , 2004 from a commercial operation in springdale , ark . growing cobb - vantress birds six weeks . five flocks of 20 , 000 - 30 , 000 birds were raised on this rice hull litter which was decaked ( manure mats removed partially ) and top - dressed ( replenished ) with fresh rice hulls after every flock . no litter amendments were used . to each of six samples aluminum sulfate was added as a known effect at doses per liter of litter and water of 0 ( control ) 1 g , 2 . 5 g , 5 g , 10 g and 20 g . the test data with lfs at 12 . 1 % fe were based on 0 . 5 g / 1 . 0 g , 2 . 5 g , 5 g , 10 g and 20 g . the ph was determined on samples settled for one hour using an orion ionanalyzer model ea920 . target ph is & lt ; 6 for ammonia control . srp was determined on a hach model 780 spectrophotometer using the phosver ® 3 method . srp was determined on diluted samples of litter . deionized and distilled reagent blanks were also run . dose alum 12 % lfs g / l ph srp ph srp 0 8 . 06 110 8 . 06 110 0 . 5 — — 7 . 93 60 1 . 0 7 . 70 76 7 . 70 46 2 . 5 7 . 41 35 6 . 81 45 5 . 0 6 . 88 16 5 . 81 34 10 . 0 5 . 72 16 4 . 15 10 20 . 0 4 . 55 16 3 . 22 27 at equivalent dosages in grams of product per liter of sample lfs produced a low ph . alum still produced generally lower srp values — but lfs produced the lowest srp . lfs produced the desired results . based on experimental data a commercial broiler house ( s ) will be treated with lfs at 0 , 7 . 5 gallons / 1000 square fee and 15 gallons / 1000 square feet . this is equivalent to 100 # dry alum / 1000 square feet and 200 # dry alum / 1000 square feet or 25 and 50 gallons of 7 % liquid acid alum respectively . analytical data include ammonia , ph of litter , srp of litter , bird growth statistics including feed conversion , mortality and condemnation rate , insect infestation and litter microbiology . after total clean out of commercial broiler houses the dirt floors ( pad ) will be treated with 0 , 7 . 5 gallons , 15 gallons per 1000 square feet or liquid ferric sulfate containing 10 % to 12 % as fe . analytical data will include soil ph at 0 , 2 ″ and 6 ″, soil srp , soil organic content and microbiology . the use of liquid alum for ammonia , particulates , and srp control is a significantly increasing application for litter amendment product . a 7 % acid product being the leader . by virtue of its higher acidity and metal content lfs et al can be shipped greater distances to poultry or swine areas not easily served by liquid alum plants . srp regulations on agricultural wastes go into effect in 2006 with agricultural air quality enforceable regulations 2 - 4 years later . the advantages of the lfs system should expand into the market holes not reachable by alum or competitive products either by freight or functionality . use of liquid ferric sulfate is projected in a commercial swine raising house deep manure pit . these deep pits are beneath the swine and the decomposition of manure , urine and spilled feed generates considerable odors . after analysis of manure pit contents and house atmosphere , lfs is sprayed directly under the slats the swine stand on . this spray will have the effect of scrubbing ammonia and hydrogen sulfide from the air as well as treating the contents of the manure pits . dosage rates will be determined based on stoichiometric rates of iron for hydrogen sulfite control and multiples thereof . that is stoichiometric fe × 1 ; 1 . 5 , 2 , 2 . 5 and the like . additional determinations will be focused on the required lfs to depress and maintain ph of manure to & lt ; 6 . 0 for ammonia control . soluble reactive p will be determined on treated and untreated manure samples . although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments , blends of one or more of the various additives described herein can be used , and substitutes therefor , as will be known to those skilled in the art . thus the invention is not meant to be limited to the details described herein , but only by the scope of the appended claims .
liquid ferric sulfate is applied to litter , bedding or manure storage facilities in livestock and animal growing facilities for the control of ammonia , hydrogen sulfide , particulate emissions , soluble phosphorus and for animal performance improvement . application of such materials at described rates of & lt ; 50 #/ 1000 sq . ft . to & gt ; 200 #/ 1000 sq . ft . control ammonia , odors , particulate emissions , soluble phosphorus , and improve livestock performance .