Estimation of odor emission rate from landfill areas using the sniffing team method

in Waste Management (2006), 26(11), 1259-1269

The monitoring of the odor annoyance generated by a landfill area is difficult, since it is a multi-area-sources problem, with a discontinuous odor emission. This paper proposes an adaptation of the ... [more ▼]

The monitoring of the odor annoyance generated by a landfill area is difficult, since it is a multi-area-sources problem, with a discontinuous odor emission. This paper proposes an adaptation of the method of sniffing team campaigns to the particular case of fresh waste odors. The method is based on the field determination of odor perception points, followed by data processing with a bi-Gaussian-type model, adapted to handle the odors. In a first step, field observers delineate the region in which odor impact is experienced and then the emission rate is manipulated in a dispersion model until the predicted size of the impact zone matches that observed in the field. In a second step the adjusted emission rate is entered into the model to calculate the percentiles corresponding to the average annoyance zone. The originality of the proposed method is the introduction of all observation points and of all recorded meteorological data into the model. The paper discusses the method limitations and the errors induced on the results, i.e. the odor emission rate and the percentile lines (or iso-concentration lines) which are used to describe the odor concentrations on a map of the surroundings of the plant.The proposed method proves to be reliable for diffuse sources, such as landfill areas. The obtained results are coherent with other results found in the literature with other techniques. [less ▲]

Campagne de mesure des odeurs sur le CET et la zone de compostage de Habay Estimation des nuisances olfactives

Report (2005)

The study is conducted in the frame of a programme of monitoring of all landfill sites in Wallonia. The "odour" part is assigned to ULg. The present report concerns more particularly the landfill and ... [more ▼]

The study is conducted in the frame of a programme of monitoring of all landfill sites in Wallonia. The "odour" part is assigned to ULg. The present report concerns more particularly the landfill and composting site of Habay. Besides the usual field inspection technique, the research group has used GC-MS to estimate the chemical composition of the atmosphere over the composting area. [less ▲]

Monitoring the exhaust air of a compost pile as a process variable with an e-nose

in Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical (2005), 106(1), 29-35

In this paper, the monitoring of the composting process with an e-nose is presented. An emission chamber is developed for this purpose and put on a household waste compost pile. A lab-made e-nose with ... [more ▼]

In this paper, the monitoring of the composting process with an e-nose is presented. An emission chamber is developed for this purpose and put on a household waste compost pile. A lab-made e-nose with metal oxide sensors is located at the exit of this chamber. Simultaneously to the e-nose measurements, air sampling on sorbent tubes as well as physico-chemical analysis are realised. The adsorbed air samples are analysed in the lab by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In addition, some parameters of the composting process are collected (compost temperature, age of the pile, date of the aeration). Correlation between the sensors and 14 chemical families is determined by principal component analysis (PCA). By canonical analysis, two models are developed and calibrated by the proportion of each chemical family and in function of the compost process events. Thanks to these models, monitoring of various kinds of compost process events is possible with only one measurement device. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

Les odeurs dans l'environnement: Résumé des législations européennes et nord-américaines

Report (2005)

This short report synthesizes the policies concerning odour emissions applicable in Europe and North America. It was written in the frame of the project "Plan of air in Wallonia" aiming at inventory the ... [more ▼]

This short report synthesizes the policies concerning odour emissions applicable in Europe and North America. It was written in the frame of the project "Plan of air in Wallonia" aiming at inventory the policies, standards and measurement methods relative to air quality. [less ▲]

Campagne de mesure des odeurs sur le CET et la zone de compostage de Tenneville Estimation des nuisances olfactives

Report (2005)

The study is conducted in the frame of a programme of monitoring of all landfill sites in Wallonia. The "odour" part is assigned to ULg. The present report concerns the site of Tenneville which includes ... [more ▼]

The study is conducted in the frame of a programme of monitoring of all landfill sites in Wallonia. The "odour" part is assigned to ULg. The present report concerns the site of Tenneville which includes also a composting area. Besides the usual field inspection technique, the research group used also GC-MS analyses aiming at estimating the composition of the atmosphere over the tipping area. A study of the influence of the particular relief of the site is also provided. [less ▲]

Applying the electronic nose in the environment

Poster (2005)

The communication presents the various requirements imposed to electronic nose to become an instrument of environmental monitoring. Obstacles of the monitoring of real life environmental odours may be ... [more ▼]

The communication presents the various requirements imposed to electronic nose to become an instrument of environmental monitoring. Obstacles of the monitoring of real life environmental odours may be classified into three categories: • the final goal of the study, requiring to measure a global odour annoyance and not any gaseous emission, • the analysed sample itself, which is highly variable, due to the process evolution and to the influence of ambient parameters; • and the operating conditions, needing to work far from any building and sometimes at locations not easy to reach. The paper suggests some simple solutions to those problems. [less ▲]

Fuzzy k-NN applied to moulds detection

in Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical (2005), 106(1), 52-60

The possibility to detect Aspergillus versicolor growing on different building materials by a metal oxide sensor array is studied. Results show that an accurate classification rate of 89 +/- 3% can be ... [more ▼]

The possibility to detect Aspergillus versicolor growing on different building materials by a metal oxide sensor array is studied. Results show that an accurate classification rate of 89 +/- 3% can be obtained combining an extended linear discriminant analysis plus a fuzzy k-NN classifier. The classification ability of the classifier is assessed within the dataset by crossvalidation and also in a second dataset collected 5 months later. There is a slight decrease in the classification performance for all the algorithms, being the most sensitive the most accurate one. [less ▲]

Vers une proposition de mode de détermination de la distance minimale à respecter entre les bâtiments d'élevage et les habitations.

Report (2004)

Le cahier des charges de cette petite étude prévoyait trois étapes: - précision de la faisabilité des lignes-guides pour la Wallonie, - comparaison des distances calculées par les lignes-guides aux zones ... [more ▼]

Le cahier des charges de cette petite étude prévoyait trois étapes: - précision de la faisabilité des lignes-guides pour la Wallonie, - comparaison des distances calculées par les lignes-guides aux zones de nuisances olfactive évaluées par d'autres méthodes, - proposition pour une réglementation ou un guide de bonnes pratiques applicables en Wallonie. Le groupe de recherche d'Arlon a décidé de tester la faisabilité des lignes-guides existant dans d'autres pays ou régions sur base d'études de cas concrets, avec visites de terrain. En simulant, pour chacun de ces cas, la dispersion des odeurs au moyen d'un modèle de dispersion atmosphérique, il est alors possible de vérifier si les limitations spatio-temporelles ainsi déterminées par les percentiles, sur base de débits d'odeur fournis par la littérature, sont cohérentes avec les distances préconisées par les lignes-guides. Les résultats de ces deux premières étapes peuvent alors servir à jeter les bases d'une méthode adaptée à la Wallonie. [less ▲]

Seconde campagne de mesure des odeurs sur le CET "Cour-au-Bois" à Braine-le-Château Estimation des nuisances olfactives

Report (2004)

The study is made in the frame of a follow-up monitoring of all landfill sites in Wallonia, initiated by the Ministry of Environment and managed by ISSeP. The present report concerns a second campaign on ... [more ▼]

The study is made in the frame of a follow-up monitoring of all landfill sites in Wallonia, initiated by the Ministry of Environment and managed by ISSeP. The present report concerns a second campaign on the landfill site "Cour-au-Bois" at Braine-le-Château. The usual field inspection technique was applied together with a GC-MS analysis aiming at determining the chemical composition of the ambiant air around the tipping area. [less ▲]

CONVENTION ''PLAN DE L'AIR EN REGION WALLONNE'' Rapport final – Partie ''odeurs'' Etude comparative des différentes méthodes de caractérisation quantitative et qualitative des odeurs dans l'environnement dans le but de déterminer une méthode applicable en région wallonne.

Report (2004)

The report presents a part of a complete study aiming at inventory policies, standards and measurement methods for air quality assessment. It concerns more particularly the "odour" part and considers ... [more ▼]

The report presents a part of a complete study aiming at inventory policies, standards and measurement methods for air quality assessment. It concerns more particularly the "odour" part and considers qualitative and quantitative methods, key odorous compounds, standards and guidelines for odour assessment. [less ▲]