Monitoring of odor compounds produced by solid waste treatment plants with diffusive samplers

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Waste Management Science

Background:

• Odor nuisance is a significant challenge in waste management, hindered by the complex mixture of volatile compounds.
• Accurate quantification of odor compounds is essential for effective odor control and regulatory enforcement.
• Existing analytical methods face challenges with low concentrations and the diverse chemical nature of odorants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a reliable analytical method for quantifying specific, high-impact odor compounds.
• To assess the suitability of the developed method for regulatory purposes in waste management.

Main Methods:

• Utilized thermal desorbable radial diffusive samplers (Radiello) with Tenax cartridges for sampling.
• Determined representative odor compounds: 2-butanone, alpha-pinene, tetrachloroethylene, dimethyldisulfide, beta-pinene, limonene, phenol, and benzoic acid.
• Verified analytical repeatability, complete thermal desorption, and sampling linearity.

Main Results:

• Achieved analytical repeatability with relative standard deviations less than 7%.
• Demonstrated high recovery rates of approximately 97% for all target odor compounds.
• Confirmed no systematic differences in sampling linearity across different collection periods.

Conclusions:

• The developed method reliably recognizes and quantifies key odor compounds at relevant concentrations.
• The method's accuracy and sensitivity allow for the establishment and verification of legal odor limits by authorities.
• This analytical approach supports effective odor management strategies for waste treatment facilities.