[Study on odor control using wood vinegars (II). Application of wood vinegars to piggery wastes]

The effectiveness of wood vinegars was studied for controlling offensive odors from piggery wastes. Odorant chemicals and the sense of odors from piggery farm, covered with polyvinylchloride film to prevent the volatilization to ambient air, were measured in both laboratory and in situ in order to evaluate the degree of deodorization. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The odorant chemicals from piggery wastes were identified as ammonia, methyl sulfide, hydrogen sulfide, butyric acid and valeric acid. Among them, the major chemicals being responsible for the sense of odor were butyric acid and valeric acid. 2. In a laboratory experiment using an air tight vessel, the amount of wood vinegars needed for deodorization of piggery wastes was 6.6%; The removal efficiency of the odorant chemicals volatilized from the wastes was from 70 to 90% of control levels. 3. In situ test at a piggery farm showed that removal efficiency of odorant chemicals was similar to that of the laboratory experiment. In sensory tests, authorized by the Environmental Protection Agency of Japan, minimal offensive odors were observed with the addition of 6.6% wood vinegars. Furthermore, flies were rarely observed, indicating that wood vinegars may play an important role as a repellent.