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Odour Monitoring by Combined TD–GC–MS–Sniff Technique and Dynamic Olfactometry at the Wastewater Treatment Plant of Low H2S Concentration

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Abstract

The most odorous compounds in a wastewater treatment plant of low hydrogen sulphide concentration were identified by the instrumental gas chromatography–mass spectrometry–sniff method, and odour concentrations (OU/m3) were determined by dynamic olfactometry. The focus in the study was to combine information of single odour components with the results from dynamic olfactometry in order to illustrate the correlation between them. Eight odour threshold exceeding compounds were detected. Those were dimethyl sulphide, dimethyl disulphide, toluene, heptanal, alpha-pinene, dimethyl trisulphide, octanal and limonene. Also 3-carene, allyl methyl sulphide, diethyl ether and hexanal caused odour perceptions in gas chromatography–mass spectrometry–sniffing analysis, although their odour thresholds were not exceeded. The single compound concentrations of dimethyl sulphide, dimethyl disulphide, diethyl ether, limonene and toluene did not show a direct correlation with the odour concentration. In addition, the total volatile organic compound concentration did not show any correlation in comparison with the overall odour either. A rather good correlation between the odour concentration and compound concentrations was achieved by calculating the sum of all odorous compounds that exceeded the odour threshold concentration and comparing it with the odour concentration results described as odour units (OU/m3).

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our appreciation for the financial support of the Finnish Graduate School in Environmental Science and Technology. We would also like to thank the employees of the municipal wastewater treatment plant for their help and co-operation during the measurements.

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  1. Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P. O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Jenni Lehtinen & Anja Veijanen

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  1. Jenni Lehtinen
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  2. Anja Veijanen
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Correspondence to Jenni Lehtinen.

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Lehtinen, J., Veijanen, A. Odour Monitoring by Combined TD–GC–MS–Sniff Technique and Dynamic Olfactometry at the Wastewater Treatment Plant of Low H2S Concentration. Water Air Soil Pollut 218, 185–196 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0634-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0634-3

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