Odor and VOCs: Human Perception, Sensing, and Treatment

A special issue of Environments (ISSN 2076-3298).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2018) | Viewed by 15198

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Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-Ro, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
Interests: environmental & biomedical monitoring; air quality & environmental engineering; material engineering; coordination polymers; metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The chemical composition of volatile odorants is often found to consist of various chemical components with diverse source characteristics. As such, the potential of certain odorants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is recognized to exert considerable impacts both mentally and psychologically. It is in fact known that some of these compounds, when accumulated beyond the certain concentration range, can exert toxic effects on human beings. However, the context of its perception varies greatly between different humans and between different mental statuses of each person. Hence, odorants and VOCs are often designated as the main target of sensory pollution regulation. At present, the assessment of odor/VOC pollution is generally made either by indirect means such as quantitative analysis based on instrumental detection or by the use of direct (sensory or olfactometry) methods. In this Special Issue, we would like to invite all types of research efforts focusing on perception, sensing (including material-based sensing, e-nose, instrumental detection, and all associated fields), and treatment techniques for odorants and VOCs.

Prof. Dr. Ki-Hyun Kim
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Odor
  • VOCs
  • threshold
  • nuisance
  • odor intensity
  • e-nose
  • odor prevention

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 3353 KiB  
Article
Fast Aqueous Biodegradation of Highly-Volatile Organic Compounds in a Novel Anaerobic Reaction Setup
by Yonhara García-Martínez, Judith Chirinos, Christophe Bengoa, Frank Stüber, Josep Font, Agustí Fortuny and Azael Fabregat
Environments 2018, 5(11), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments5110115 - 27 Oct 2018
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6361
Abstract
The present work explores the biodegradation of some emerging pollutants (EPs) in an anaerobic slowly-agitated up-flow packed-bed reactor (USPBR) filled with biological activated carbon (BAC). Chlorobenzene (CB) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) were selected as volatile organic compounds (VOC) and major constituents of many [...] Read more.
The present work explores the biodegradation of some emerging pollutants (EPs) in an anaerobic slowly-agitated up-flow packed-bed reactor (USPBR) filled with biological activated carbon (BAC). Chlorobenzene (CB) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) were selected as volatile organic compounds (VOC) and major constituents of many pesticides. Experiments carried out in continuous operation showed that bioconversion up to 90% was achieved for CB and 2,4-D, at space times below 0.6 h and 1.2 h, respectively, at ambient temperature. Overall, removal rates of 0.89 g L−1 d−1 and 0.46 g L−1 d−1 were obtained for CB and 2,4-D, respectively. These results revealed that the degradation of CB and 2,4-D in this anaerobic configuration of bioreactor is an efficient and fast process. The Michaelis–Menten model properly describes the degradation process for CB. Above initial concentrations of 100 mg L−1, 2,4-D presented a considerable inhibitory effect over the biofilm. For this reason, a substrate inhibition factor was included in the Michaelis–Menten equation; the expanded model presented a good fitting to the experimental data, regardless of the inlet concentration. Therefore, USPBR-BAC combination showed to be a highly efficient system for the biodegradation of such compounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Odor and VOCs: Human Perception, Sensing, and Treatment)
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9 pages, 29065 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Instrumental Odor Analysis Using SIFT-MS: A Case Study
by Vaughan S. Langford, Murray J. McEwan, Mary Askey, Helena A. Barnes and James G. Olerenshaw
Environments 2018, 5(4), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments5040043 - 23 Mar 2018
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 8087
Abstract
Instrumental analysis of odor is challenging due to the chemical diversity of many important odorants, the high sensitivity required to achieve human odor thresholds, and the dynamic nature of the odor itself. Conventional sensor-based and chromatographic technologies are poorly suited to the task. [...] Read more.
Instrumental analysis of odor is challenging due to the chemical diversity of many important odorants, the high sensitivity required to achieve human odor thresholds, and the dynamic nature of the odor itself. Conventional sensor-based and chromatographic technologies are poorly suited to the task. In this paper, we apply a novel direct mass spectrometric technique—selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS)—to the chemical analysis of odor. The SIFT-MS technique provides comprehensive real-time odor analysis through detection and quantitation of all odorants, including aldehydes, amines, organosulfur compounds, and volatile fatty acids. In the case study described, SIFT-MS is utilized to monitor specific odor compounds at a gelatin factory in Christchurch, New Zealand. Odor composition from various steps in the gelatin manufacturing process was determined using SIFT-MS in scan mode. Over a period of several years, the gelatin manufacturer made improvements to their plant to reduce fugitive odors, and sources were re-analyzed. In this investigation, SIFT-MS analysis was utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of an odor neutralization technology based on UV photolysis at the plant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Odor and VOCs: Human Perception, Sensing, and Treatment)
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