Characterization and determination of the odorous charge in the indoor air of a waste treatment facility through the evaluation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using TD–GC/MS

Reducing the Indoor Odorous Charge in Waste Treatment Facilities

“…Indoor air VOC concentrations 150 chemical compounds were determined qualitatively in the studied location, as it had been observed in a previous study [3], from which 102 were quantified (those compounds with a low odour threshold as well as those with toxicity component or potential negative health effects). Table 1 shows the chemical familial concentrations for each sampling day.…”

“…Additionally, several studies have demonstrated good correlations between olfactometrically determined OU and VOC concentrations [5,10,11]. The use of the presented procedure is advisable to be used when comparing differences in the odorous charge when changes in the processes developed into the facility are implemented [3]. The aim of this short report is to exemplify the effects of maintenance cleaning operations, such as draining the organic matter pit pipe, in the odorous charge of indoor air in a waste treatment facility.…”

“…Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are the main causers of odorous nuisances [3], being formed and released to the indoor environment of waste treatment facilities either from degradation processes of the organic matter or by degradation and volatilization of other materials treated. Hence, determining the odorous contribution of each VOC or family to the total odorous charge in the indoor air is a helpful method to identify, characterize and evaluate the most annoying chemicals in order to prevent their generation during the waste treatment processes, as well as to find solutions to suppress them [3]. The working thesis assumes the superposition of the individual odorous concentrations calculated through VOC concentrations and their concrete odour thresholds [3,4].…”

“…Hence, determining the odorous contribution of each VOC or family to the total odorous charge in the indoor air is a helpful method to identify, characterize and evaluate the most annoying chemicals in order to prevent their generation during the waste treatment processes, as well as to find solutions to suppress them [3]. The working thesis assumes the superposition of the individual odorous concentrations calculated through VOC concentrations and their concrete odour thresholds [3,4]. It has to be taken into account that possible effects derived from masking or synergies between the evaluated compounds are not considered, and that the total odour units (OU) determined by olfactometry could differ in a certain way [5][6][7][8].…”

“…It has to be taken into account that possible effects derived from masking or synergies between the evaluated compounds are not considered, and that the total odour units (OU) determined by olfactometry could differ in a certain way [5][6][7][8]. However, it has also to be considered that OU calculated using the presented methodology in a previous study were in the range of 1200-28,000 OU [3], in accordance with OU calculated using dynamic olfactometry (5000-30,000 OU m -3 ) in similar facilities [9,10]. Additionally, several studies have demonstrated good correlations between olfactometrically determined OU and VOC concentrations [5,10,11].…”