Potential of Particulate Matter as a Pathway for Odor Dispersion

Particulate matter (<75 ) were collected from two commercial hog growing operations (Aand B) and extracted to quantify the adsorbed odorous organics. Five aldehydes, one alkane, andhydrogen sulfide were consistently measured in samples. Dust samples collected were separatedinto three sizes, small (5 to 20 ), medium (20 to 40 ) and large (40 to 75 ) and analyzedindividually. The key results and conclusions from this work are as follows: 1. Combined analysis of all sizes based on location of sampling showed that three compounds,heptanal, nonanal, and decanal, showed differences based on sampling location. 2. Significantly higher amounts of hydrogen sulfide, octanal, and nonanal were found in small sizeparticles when compared to medium and larger particles. All other compounds tested showed nodifference based on size of particles. 3. Location B samples showed greater differences based on when the samples were obtained(warmer weather v. cooler weather). In this case warmer weather tended to have significantlyhigher concentration of odorous compounds. 4. At location A, only two (decanal and n-octane) of the seven compounds tested showeddifferences based on when they were obtained (summer v. winter). In this case cooler weatherconditions resulted in greater amount of compound adsorbed.