Simultaneous chemical and sensory characterization of VOCs and semi-VOCs emitted from swine manure using SPME and multidimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry– olfactometry system. M.S. thesis. Iowa State Univ

Swine manure is associated with emissions of odor, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other gases that can aff ect air quality on local and regional scales. In this research, a solid phase microextraction (SPME) and novel multidimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry–olfactometry (MDGC-MS-O) system were used to simultaneously identify VOCs and related odors emitted from swine manure. Gas samples were extracted from manure headspace using Carboxen/ polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) 85-µm SPME fi bers. " e MDGC-MS-O system was equipped with two columns in series with a system of valves allowing transfer of samples between columns (heartcutting). " e heartcuts were used to maximize the isolation, separation, and identifi cation of compounds. " e odor impact of separated compounds was evaluated by a trained panelist for character and intensity. A total of 295 compounds with molecular weights ranging from 34 to 260 were identifi ed. Seventy one compounds had a distinct odor. Nearly 68 % of the compounds for which reaction rates with OH·radicals are known had an estimated atmospheric lifetime <24 h