Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste ...

Chair of Waste Management and Emissions
Measuring and Air Pollution Control
Research topics:
• Inspection of emissions from
waste treatment plants
• In situ solution of odour nuisances
and air pollutions
• Development and optimization of
waste gas purification plants
• Gas chromatographic analysis of
olfactory compounds using an
“olfactory detection port” (ODP)
• Analysis of volatile organic compounds
(VOC)
And sometimes, the job just stinks
If it stinks, the people in this section are in their element. To find out what, when and why it stinks, exactly where
and how strongly it stinks, is part of the research focus of this group.
Exhaust gases of all kinds are investigated with the modern gas analysis equipments. The mostly used equipments
consist of gas chromatography with mass spectrometers and flame ionisation detectors; as well as of olfactometry
and “sniffing port“. But the analysis goes further. Our research can be applied as practical solutions for
the construction and operation of emission reduction facilities from both municipal authorities and industies.
It is possible, for example, to improve the biological exhaust air purification system of a slaughter house, or to
determine the sources of strong odours emitted from a cardboard plant, which causes nuisance to local residents.
In practice, however, the purification of odour intensive exhaust gases presents a number of difficulties: the
odorous components often remain unrecognized. Therefore, current measures aim at simply reducing the main
components of the exhaust gases, which are determined by using standard analysis methods, while the odorous
trace substances remain unrecognized. However, by means of a combination of the analytical methods, specific
odour relevant components of exhaust gases can be determined. It is therefore possible to optimise exhaust gas
purification systems (for odour emissions these are often biological methods). Our work is considered in both
technical and economical aspects. Currently, national and international research projects are being conducted,
the aim of which is to develop technically and economically effective exhaust gas purification methods using a
combination of different processes. Our experience can be taken as reference by both national and international
regulations.
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