Development and technology assessment of the analytical performance of an eight position dynamic olfactometer

The European technical standard "Air Quality-Determination of Odour Concentration by Dynamic Olfactometry" adopts dynamic olfactometry, a sensorial methodology based on the employment of a panel of human assessors, as the official methodology for the measurement of odour concentration in gas samples. The olfactometer is the device, useful to dilute the odor sample with neutral air, according to precise ratios and to present it to the panel for the analysis. The present paper describes the development of an Italian olfactometer, able to host eight assessors, designed to improve the instrumental performance of the devices actually present on the market, and to increase the accuracy and repeatability of the olfactometric measurement. In particular, in the paper the principal features of the instrumental device and the results of calibrations of dilution valves will be shown