title: Dynamic olfactometry and GC-TOFMS to monitor the efficiency of an industrial biofilter.
abstract: Biofiltration is the most widely used technique for eliminating odours in waste treatment plants. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are among the odorous compounds emitted by waste management plants, and serve as variables to measure odour emissions depending on the type of aeration process used. In this work, we assess the performance of an industrial-scale biofilter where composting is the main source of VOCs and odour emissions. Dynamic olfactometry is the sensorial technique used to determine odour concentration, while gas chromatography-time of flight-mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS) is used to perform the chemical characterization. This work examines a total of 82 compounds belonging to 15 odorous families of VOCs, particularly mercaptans, sulphur-containing compounds, alcohols and terpenes, among others. Principal component analysis (PCA) is used to assess the influence of each of these families of VOCs on the total variance of the measure with regard to both the input and output flow of the biofilter. Finally, partial least-squares (PLS) regression is used to estimate the odour concentration in each of the samples taken at the inlet and outlet of the biofilter in each of the samples based on the chemical information provided by chromatographic analysis. The study shows that there is an adequate correlation (r=0.9751) between real and estimated odour concentrations, both of which are expressed in European odour units per cubic metre (ou(E)·m(-3)).
authors: University of Cordoba (Spain), Department of Inorganic Chemical and Chemical Engineering, Campus Universitario de Rabanales, Carretera N-IV, km 396, Edificio Marie Curie, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Gutiérrez
authors: University of Cordoba (Spain), Department of Inorganic Chemical and Chemical Engineering, Campus Universitario de Rabanales, Carretera N-IV, km 396, Edificio Marie Curie, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Martín
authors: Odournet SL, Parc de Recerca UAB, Edificio Eureka, Espacio P2M2, 08193, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Pagans
authors: Odournet SL, Parc de Recerca UAB, Edificio Eureka, Espacio P2M2, 08193, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Vera
authors: NIR/MIR Spectroscopy Unit, Central Service for Research Support (SCAI), University of Cordoba, Campus de Rabanales, 14071 Cordoba, Spain.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: García-Olmo
authors: University of Cordoba (Spain), Department of Inorganic Chemical and Chemical Engineering, Campus Universitario de Rabanales, Carretera N-IV, km 396, Edificio Marie Curie, 14071 Córdoba, Spain. Electronic address: afchica@uco.es.
authors: A F
authors: AF
authors: Chica
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis*; D064367:Olfactometry / Q000379:methods; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds
keywords: Biofilter; Composting; Odour concentration; Partial least-squares (PLS); Principal component analysis (PCA); Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)