| Odours are a common occurrence at wastewater treatment plants, biosolids processing facilities, and biosolids recycling locations. Accurate, objective measurement techniques are needed to monitor emissions, to develop new waste handling procedures and to reduce the production of the volatile gases. The odorants were collected and concentrated by solid phase microextraction (SPME) and then quantified by gas chromatography with detection by mass spectrometry. A 75-mum Carboxen-Polydimethylsiloxane coating was used for the analysis of trimethylamine, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide and methyl mercaptan. The differences found in sensitivity between fibers, the competition for the active sites on the fiber and the production of artifacts make SPME well suited for qualitative analysis and enables quick screening for the identification of compounds with adverse organoleptic characteristics.; The objective of this research was to determine the mechanisms and pathways of volatile sulfur compounds production from biosolids in order to provide a foundation for the development of odour control. Volatile sulfur compounds were measured from the biosolids headspace. The effect of environmental conditions during the storage, the wastewater and sludge treatment processes and the protein concentrations were examined. The results from this study can be applied to understand better the volatile sulfur production from different processes. |
