Simultaneous Characterization of VOCs and Livestock Odors Using Solid-phase Microextraction - Multidimensional Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry-Olfactometry

Livestock manure is a very complex source of odor, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other gases that can affect local and regional air quality. Identification of VOCs responsible for odor can be used to solve livestock odor problem. In this research solid phase microextraction (SPME) and a multidimensional (MD)-GC-MS-Olfactometry system was used for the separation, isolation and identification of compounds in swine manure headspace. Olfactometry analyses using human nose as a detector were simultaneous with chemical analysis via the MS. Odor analyses including odor character and odor intensity were performed in both modes. Several SPME fiber coatings were compared for their extraction efficiency for a wide range of compounds extracted from manure headspace. The Carboxen/PDMS 85 mu m coating was the best overall SPME fiber coating for extractions of a wide range of analytes emitted from swine manure. As many as 295 compounds were identified as emitted to headspace from swine manure using the SPME-MDGC-MS-O. Seventy one compounds were recognized as odorous compounds. Sixteen of the compounds identified were listed as hazardous air pollutants. Among the 295 compounds identified, 188 were not reported in previous studies and physical and chemical properties of the compounds emitted from swine manure were also studied and summarized.