74 | Chopter 2 Consttvenls in Woslewaler Table 212 Types of errors in the sensory detection of odors? ‘odor concentration would he seported as four dilutions to MDTOC. Other tertninology commonly used to measure odor strength is ED,g, The EDs, value represents the num- ber of times an odorous air sample must be diluted before the average person (50 per- centile} can barety detect an odor in the difuted sample, Deteils of the test procedure are provided in ASTM (1979). However, the sensory determination of shis minimum threshold concentration can he subject to a number of exrors. Adaptation and cross adaptation, synergism, subjectivity, and sample modification (see Table 2-12) are the principal errors, To avvid ervais in sample modification during storage in sample col- lection containers, direct-reading offactometers have been developed to measure odors at their source without using sampling containers ‘The threshold odor of z water or wastewater simple is determined by diluting the sample with odor-free water. The “threshold odor number” (TON) corresponds to the greatest dilution of the sample with odor-free water at which an odor is just percepli- ble. The recommended simple size is 200 mL, The uumerical value of the TON is deter- mined as follows: (2-82) where TON = threshold odor nember A= mL of sumple mL of odor-tree water Description Type of error Adaptation and ‘Wher exposed continually 16 ¢ background concentration of an «ross adoptation ‘odor the subject is unable to detect the prosance of that oder ct fow concentrations. When removed rom the background odor concentration, the subjects alfactory system will recover auth Ulimatey, subjects with on adapted olfactory systom will tabla clet he presence ol en edor 6 which her ym has edopled Sample modification Bain the concentration and composition of adorous gases ond ‘wopors con be modified in sample callecian contoners and in codor-detection devices. To minimize problems associated with sample modification, the period of odor containment should be minimized or eliminoted, ond minimum contact should be allowed with ony reactive surfaces ‘Subjectivit When the subject hos knowledge of the presence of on odor, Hetty fandom error can be inlroduced in sensory measurements. Offen, knowledge ofthe ador may be inferred fram other sensory signals such as sound, sight, or touch Synergisen ‘When more than one edoront is present in « sample, it hos been observed that itis possible for c subject to exhibit increased Senslvly 1 « given odor beccuse ofthe presance of another odor TE Wilson (1975).2-4 Inorgenic Nonmetallic Constivents | 75 ‘The odor emanating from the liquid sample is determined as discussed above with human subjects (often a panel of subjects}, Details for this procedure may be found in Standard Methods (1998). The application of Fi. (2-52) is illustrated in Example 2-7. EXAMPLE 2-7 Determination of Threshold Odor Number A ?5-ml. sample of treated waste- water sequires 175 mL of distitied water to reduce the odor ta a level that is just per- ceptible. What ig the threshold odor number (TON)? Solution 1. Determine the TON using Eq, (2-52). A+B _2Smb + 175 mb _ TON = — A 8.0 Comment The value of the threshold sumber will depend on the nature of the oder compound, ‘Also, depending on the odor compound, different persons will respond differently in assessing when an odor is just perceptible, With regard to the instrumental measurement of odors, ais-dilution olfactometry provides a reproducible method for mexsuring threshold odor concentrations. Equip- ment used to analy ze odors includes (1) the triangle olfactomeer, (2) the butanol wheel, and (3) the scentometer. ‘The triangle olfactometer enables the operator to introduce the sample at different concentrations at six different cups (see Fig. 2-17}, Ateach cup, two ports contain purified aur, and one pont contains diluted sample. Each odor panel mem- ber (usually six} then sniffs cach of the three ports and selects the port which he or she believes to contain the sample. The butanol wheel is a device used to measure the inten- sity of the odor against a buranol scale containing various concentrations of butanol, A scentometer (see Fig. 2-18) is a hand-held device in which malodorous air passes through graduated orifices und iy mixed with air that has been purified by passing through sctivared-curhon beds. The cilution ratios are determined by the ratio of the size of the malodorous to purvfied inlets. The scentometer is very useful in the field for making odor determinations over a large area surrounding a treatment plant. Often 2 mobile odor laboratory, which contains several types of olfactory and analytical equip- iment in a single van-type vehicle, is used for field sites, Ttis often desirable to know the specific compounds responsible for odor, Although ‘gas chromatography has been used successfully for this purpose, it has not been used as successfully in the detection and quantification of odors derived from wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal fucilities, Equipment developed and found useful in the chemical analysis of odors is the triple-stage quadrupole mass spectrometes. The spectrometer can be used as « conventional mass spectrometer to produce simpte mass spectra or as a triple-stage quadrupole to produce collesionally activated disassociation spectra. The former operating node provides the masses of molecular or parent ions present in samples, while the latter provides positive identification of compounds, Types of compounds that can be identified include ammonia, amino acids, and volatile organic compounds.76 | Chapter 2 Constituents in Wostewater Pusnoutton Pia SR switch eB AE > Ponsactualy farangad itculerly ‘atenustor pump 6) Figure 2-17 Dynamic forced-choice triangle olfactometer: (aj schematic and (6) flow diagram. Figure 2-18 Nosopieces: Seentometer used for field studies of odors {a} schematic ond (B| front view looking ot nesepiaeas (125 x 150 x 67 mm, from Bomebey & Suicife Corp.) Aetivated-carbon bed @)