Chemical assessment of non-thermal plasma for reduction of odour emissions from pig houses

Abstract

Methanethiol is an important odorant from pig houses, but it can be difficult to measure due to low concentrations, high volatility and because
it easily reacts to form dimethyl disulphide. A method was developed
for sampling and measuring methanethiol with minimum artefact formation using sorbent materials and thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). As odour from pig production can be a nuisance to neighbours, a non-thermal plasma system for odour removal was tested on emissions from pig houses. The experiments showed good removal for some odorants, especially indole and 3-methyl-1H-indole, and a high degree of particle removal. Gas/particle partitioning of odorants in a pig house was also investigated
and a method for measuring odorants in particles by filters and TDGC-
MS was developed and evaluated. Only low concentrations and low fractions of odorants were found in the particle phase, thus the contribution to odour from particles was evaluated to be limited.