Our Services - Odour Analysis
Measuring odors is not the same as doing a chemical analysis of atmospheric pollutants. Indeed, you may know perfectly well what pollutants are being released and at what rate, but this may tell you nothing about the odor. Odor is caused by volatile organic compounds usually emitted several at a time, as a mix. The perceived odor is the result of their combined interaction with the huge number of sensors in the human nose. For the sake of illustration, human DNA contains 1 gene for hearing, 3 for vision, 12 for taste, and 1000 for smell.
Odor characterization and measurement are a new field. ODOTECH is a world leader in this area. Accurate instrumentation for odor measurement is crucial, and ODOTECH has developed some of the best instruments available today, including an advanced electronic nose and the world's leading olfactometer.
ODOTECH was able to do that because, among other things, of its extensive experience as a provider of odor-related services to municipalities, waste disposal sites, composters, manufacturing plants, water treatment plants, and more.
Odor Impact Studies
An odor impact study is designed and prepared following a scientific method similar to that of an air quality impact study. Using techniques and tools specific to odors, an odor impact study supplies the information required to assess the impact of a project in terms of odor emissions, and is designed to meet regulatory requirements.
Atmospheric Dispersion of Odors
Conventional contaminant atmospheric dispersion models do not allow adequate simulation of odor dispersion. Odotech therefore simulates the atmospheric dispersion of odors using mathematical models specifically designed for odors. There are many applications: verifying facility compliance with existing regulations, estimating the abatement level required to eliminate the odor problem, supplying the elements needed to identify and select possible approaches, etc.
Stack, Surface Source (Liquid or Solid), and Ambient Air Sampling
Odor sampling to characterize the source is the first stage in solving an odor problem. Odotech does ambient air as well as point and surface emission source sampling.
Olfactometric and Chemical Analysis Characterization of Odors
Olfactometry means characterizing odors by means of a trained jury of "noses". During an olfactometric analysis, the jury is exposed to different dilutions of the odoriferous sample. Physico-chemical characterization of an odoriferous sample is an attempt to seek out and quantify the chemical elements present in the atmosphère, to then check a tabulation of the olfactory properties of each substance in order to try to characterize the resulting odor. This method has definite limitations.
Public Surveys
In assessing nuisance odors, surveys can be effected among the population involved in order to determine the degree of inconvenience being caused.