Determination of Sulfur Compounds With a Strong Olfactory Impact on the Population

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop an analytical method capable to determine mercaptans in air at low concentrations, lower than the ones that produce an olfactory discomfort. A reliable, rapid, and simple high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for the determination of mercaptans, a sulphur compounds class. The developed method can be successfully applied to the quantitative determination of four compounds (Methyl mercaptan, Butyl mercaptan, Ethyl mercaptan and Propyl mercaptan).