Study of offensive odor (Report II)

Determination of offensive odor compounds in solid waste by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system

Abstract

Trace odor pollutants in model garbage and a waste disposal factory were identified by gas chromatography or gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer data system. The model garbage made of foods was kept in 10 liter polyethylen bottle for 3 months at room temperature under anaerobic condition. Gas sample was collected using the cold trap method with liquid oxygen. Many of odor compounds identified in model garbage were agreed with them in waste disposal factory. About 30 substances including alcohols, esters, aliphatic hydrocarbons, terpens, fatty acids and sulfur compounds were identified in model garbage.
Aromatic hydrocarbon and halogenated hydrocarbon were additionally identified in waste disposal factory. Some compounds identified in the gases were derived from foods themselves and a part of the compounds were supposed to be due to the decomposed products containing contaminated substances. It seems probable that offensive odor of solid waste will be consisted of the mixture of a number of components.
These results would be effective to evaluate the components responsible for the offensive odor of solid waste.