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Swine Waste Odor Dispersion and Detection
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[OCT.
11, 2003]
URBANA-A study by an Illinois State Water Survey scientist indicates
that elevating the level of discharge of odors from swine production
facilities, such as a smokestack, would not greatly depreciate the
level of odor. However, the study also points to a more effective
way to measure odor levels.
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"The odor measurement tool developed, known as a 'nanonose' because
its operation depends on nanometer-sized aerosol particles, shows
promise for routine odor measurement," said Allen Williams, a
professional scientist with the Survey.
Williams's work was funded by the Illinois Council on Food and
Agricultural Research's (C-FAR) five-year $6 million project on
swine odor and waste management. Williams and other researchers
involved in the C-FAR project will present their findings Dec. 11-12
at the University of Illinois Pork Industry Conference in Champaign.
Those interested in learning more about or attending the event
should contact Gilbert Hollis at (217) 333-0013 or e-mail at:
hollisg@mail.aces.uiuc.edu .
Using various models to study the dispersion of odor transport and
account for the effects of elevated sources and other factors,
Williams and Water Survey collaborator Ho-Chun Huang found a key
limitation on use of an elevated stack for discharge.
[to top of second column in
this article]
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"The results of simulations for sources elevated up to 10 meters
show that beyond approximately a kilometer from the source, the
elevation has little effect on ground level odor concentrations,"
said Williams. "In a case where it is desirable to reduce the odor
levels at a mile or so from the source, it is unlikely that
releasing the odor from an elevated stack would be effective. As a
practical matter, the elevated source would be more effective at
distances out to several hundred meters from the source."
Early trials indicate that the 'nanonose' device can be successful
in accurately detecting odor levels. However, there are technical
problems that need to be resolved, and today the device costs about
$75,000 to produce and is much more difficult to operate than
existing devices.
"However, a single analysis can be made in one minute after the
instrument is set up and running," said Williams. "Potentially
hundreds of samples could be done during a day compared to only a
dozen or so with olfactometry, the existing method."
[University
of Illinois news release]
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