Published:Journal of Chromatographic Science,
ISSN 0021-9665Volume
44, Number 7, August 2006, pp.451-457
Solid-Phase Microextraction as a Novel Air Sampling
Technology for Improved, GC–Olfactometry-Based Assessment
of Livestock Odors
Jacek A. Koziel[1], Lingshuang Cai[1], Donald
W. Wright[2], and Steven J. Hoff[1]
[1]Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa
State University, Ames, IA and
[2]Microanalytics, A MOCON Company, Round Rock, TX
Air sampling and characterization of odorous livestock
gases is one of the most challenging analytical tasks. This is
because of low concentrations, physicochemical properties, and
problems with sample recoveries for typical odorants. Livestock
operations emit a very complex mixture of volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) and other gases. Many of these gases are odorous. Relatively
little is known about the link between characteristic VOCs/gases
and, specifically, about the impact of characteristic odorants
downwind from sources. In this research, solid-phase microextraction
(SPME) is used for field air sampling of odors downwind from swine
and beef cattle operations. Sampling time ranges from 20 min to
1 h. Samples are analyzed using a commercial gas chromatography–mass
spectrometry–olfactometry system. Odor profiling efforts
are directed at odorant prioritization, with respect to distance
from the source. The results indicate the odor downwind is increasingly
defined by a smaller number of high-priority odorants. These “character
defining” odorants appear to be dominated by compounds of
relatively low volatility, high molecular weight, and high polarity.
In particular, p-cresol alone appears to carry much of the overall
odor impact for swine and beef cattle operations. Of particular
interest is the character-defining odor impact of p-cresol as
far as 16 km downwind of the nearest beef cattle feedlot. The
findings are highly relevant to scientists and engineers working
on improved air sampling and analysis protocols and on improved
technologies for odor abatement. More research evaluating the
use of p-cresol and a few other key odorants as a surrogate for
overall odor dispersion modeling is warranted.
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