Determination of linear response in the detection of aroma compounds by atmospheric pressure ionization-mass spectrometry (API-MS)

Linearity and detection thresholds of atmospheric pressure ionization-mass spectrometry (API-MS) were determined for 11 aroma compounds in air at concentrations ranging from 50 ppb to approximately 450 ppm (moles of volatile per mole of air). In most cases, the protonated molecular ion (i.e., m/z = M + 1) was the base peak throughout the range; however, some compounds showed an increase in fragmentation at lower concentrations. Detection limits varied greatly (from 50 ppb to 14 ppm) depending upon the aroma compound being measured. The linear range was also strongly dependent upon the aroma compound, with values ranging from <10-fold change in concentration to >4000-fold change in concentration depending upon the volatile being studied. The two volatiles with poor detection thresholds also exhibited the smallest linear range. Most compounds had linear ranges of >200. There was no apparent relationship between gas-phase basicity and either detection limit or linear range.     

Decomposition of Gaseous Acetone in an Annular Photoreactor Coated with TiO2 Thin Film

Photocatalytic decomposition of gaseous acetone was studied with a fixed-bed annular reactor using TiO₂ as the photocatalyst. The relation of UV light intensity to the reaction rate was found to be roughly first-ordered. The decomposition of acetone was obviously enhanced with increasing retention time. Removal of acetone was slightly increased with the relative humidity for experiments conducted with relative humidity below 20%. However, the removal of acetone was decreased drastically with relative humidity for experiments conducted with relative humidity greater than 20%. Decomposition of acetone was promoted considerably with increasing oxygen concentration for experiments conducted with oxygen less than 200,000 ppmv, yet the decomposition of acetone was kept relatively constant for experiments conducted with oxygen above 200,000 ppmv. Based on the mass balance for carbon species, the amount of organic intermediates formed for experiments conducted under various conditions were found to be minimal. Experimental results for the decomposition of gaseous acetone by UV/TiO₂ process can be adequately described by the developed two-site Langmuir–Hinshelwood (L–H) kinetic model.     

An Electronic Nose and Indicator Volatiles for Monitoring of the Composting Process

The aim of this research was to study whether electronic nose sensor technology (NST 3320, Applied Sensor, Sweden) can be used effectively for monitoring of the composting process. The effect of aeration on the composting process was examined using two aeration levels representing insufficient and optimal aeration for composting. An additional aim was to identify possible indicator gases in the volatile organic compound profiles of the composts by on-line FT-IR and gas chromatographic determinations. The results indicated that the electronic nose was able to distinguish between the two composter bins after 13 days of composting. Of the volatile metabolites that were identified, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) proved to be a suitable indicator compound of anaerobicity as it was only produced in considerable quantities in the insufficiently aerated composter bin.     

SE—Structures and Environment: Effects of Solids Separation and Time on the Production of Odorous Compounds in Stored Pig Slurry

Fresh pig faeces were separated into seven different liquid portions with particle size ranges <2·0, <1·4, <1·0, <0·5, <0·25, <0·15, and <0·075 mm, respectively. Separation was achieved by consecutive sieving of the fresh pig manure through a series of seven American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) standard wire screen sieves with openings of 2·0, 1·4, 1·0, 0·5, 0·25, 0·15 and 0·075 mm. The separated manure fractions were stored at an ambient temperature of approximately 20°C in Plexiglas columns (91 cm deep and 15 cm in diameter) to simulate storage in under-floor or in other types of holding pits. The results indicated that although solid–liquid separation was found to reduce production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) regarded as odour precursors, this technique might not significantly reduce odour nuisances from swine facilities unless particles smaller than 0·075mm are separated from the liquids. Inverse linear correlations were observed between total solids (TS) and total volatile solids (TVS) with both BOD₅and VFAs and therefore their respective levels could also be used to quantify the potential of odour nuisances in stored pig manure.     

Methane concentrations and methanotrophic community structure influence the response of soil methane oxidation to nitrogen content in a temperate forest

Methane oxidation in forest soils removes atmospheric CH₄. Many studies have determined methane uptake rates and their controlling variables, yet the microorganisms involved have rarely been assessed simultaneously over the longer term. We measured methane uptake rates and the community structure of methanotrophic bacteria in temperate forest soil (sandy clay loam) on a monthly basis for two years in South Korea. Methane uptake rates at the field site did not show any seasonal patterns, and net uptake occurred throughout both years. In situ uptake rates and uptake potentials determined in the laboratory were 2.92 ± 4.07 mg CH₄ m⁻² day⁻¹ and 51.6 ± 45.8 ng CH₄ g⁻¹ soil day⁻¹, respectively. Contrary to results from other studies, in situ oxidation rates were positively correlated with soil nitrate concentrations. Short-term experimental nitrate addition (0.20-1.95 μg N g⁻¹ soil) significantly stimulated oxidation rates under low methane concentrations (1.7-2.0 ppmv CH₄), but significantly inhibited oxidation under high methane concentrations (300 ppmv CH₄). We analyzed the community structures of methanotrophic bacteria using a DNA-based fingerprinting method (T-RFLP). Type II methanotrophs dominated under low methane concentrations while Type I methanotrophs dominated under high methane concentrations. Nitrogen addition selectively inhibited Type I methanotrophic bacteria. Overall, the results of this study indicate that the effects of inorganic N on methane uptake depend on methane concentrations and that such a response is related to the dissimilar activation or inhibition of different types of methanotrophic bacteria.     

预发酵方式对餐厨垃圾酸化抑菌及甲烷发酵的影响

餐厨垃圾水分和有机物含量高,在收集储运过程中易酸腐变臭,影响其资源化利用。该文在新鲜餐厨垃圾中分别接种酵母菌和乙酸菌进行乙醇和乙酸预发酵,预发酵后的餐厨垃圾与酒糟混合进行甲烷发酵,并与不接任何菌种的对照组比较,考察2种预发酵方式对餐厨垃圾酸化抑菌及其与酒糟混合甲烷发酵的影响。研究结果表明,乙酸和乙醇预发酵对餐厨垃圾均具有良好的酸化抑菌效果,其大肠杆菌和金黄葡萄球菌数均比对照组降低了2个数量级以上;累积甲烷产量由高到低的顺序是:乙醇预发酵对照乙酸预发酵组,前者累积产甲烷量比对照组和乙酸预发酵组分别提高21.3%和49.8%;乙醇预发酵组乙醇浓度最高,而乙酸和丙酸浓度均最低;相反,乙酸预发酵组挥发性脂肪酸浓度积累导致产甲烷菌活性较低,其产气效率最低。因此,乙醇预发酵是一种既能实现餐厨垃圾酸化抑菌,又能维持发酵系统的稳定性,提高其后续产甲烷效率的有效预发酵方式。     

Gaseous Emissions During the Coal Mining Activity and Neutralizing Capacity of Ammonium

This paper presents the simultaneous measurement of atmospheric concentration of gaseous NH₃, SO₂ and NO₂, and particulate NH ₄ ⁺ released from the mining activities of coal-mine area, Tirap colliery, Margherita (Assam). Gas samples were collected by impinger method and were analyzed colorimetrically. The vapor-phase concentration of NH₃, SO₂, and NO₂ range between 4.7?C40.03, 1.47?C6.14, and 1.92?C2.40???g/m³. The NH ₄ ⁺ concentration in PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 ranges between 0.02?C0.07 and 0.008?C0.03???g/m³, respectively. Moderately high concentrations of NH₃ and SO₂ on the first day were due to the coal-burning activity near the sampling site, while the low concentration of NO₂ is due to less vehicle density near the sampling point. All the observed concentrations are below than those reported for the urban areas and the prescribed limit fixed by National Ambient Air Quality Standard, India. Study indicates that ammonia is the major neutralizing agent for sulfate and nitrate ions present in the particulate matter during mining activities.     

Abiotic uptake of gases by organic soils

Methodological and experimental studies of the abiotic uptake of gaseous substances by organic soils were performed. The static adsorption method of closed vessels for assessing the interaction of gases with the solid and liquid soil phases and the dynamic method of determining the sorption isotherms of gases by soils were analyzed. The theoretical substantiation of the methods and their practical implementations on the basis of a PGA-7 portable gas analyzer (Russia) were considered. Good agreement between the equilibrium sorption isotherms of the gases and the Langmuir model was revealed; for the real ranges of natural gas concentrations, this model can be reduced to the linear Henry equation. The limit values of the gas sorption (Langmuir monolayer capacity) are typical for dry samples; they vary from 670–4000 g/m³ for methane and oxygen to 20 000–25 000 g/m³ for carbon dioxide. The linear distribution coefficients of gases between the solid and gas phases of organic soils (Henry constants) are 8–18 units for poorly sorbed gases (O₂, CH₄) and 40–60 units for CO₂. The kinetics of the chemicophysical uptake of gases by the soil studied is linear in character and obeys the relaxation kinetic model of the first order with the corresponding relaxation constants, which vary from 1 h ^?1 in wet samples to 10 h ^?1 in dry samples.     

接种率及尿素添加量对农村生活垃圾厌氧发酵产甲烷的影响

为了解接种率及尿素添加量对农村生活垃圾厌氧发酵产甲烷的影响,选取3个水平的接种率(0.3、0.5、1.0)和3个水平的尿素添加量(1%、3%、5%)进行农村生活垃圾厌氧发酵实验。结果表明,在相同尿素添加量的条件下,接种率(0.3~1.0)越高越有利于甲烷产生,同时挥发性脂肪酸降解速率越快;而在相同接种率的条件下,随尿素添加量(1%~5%)的增加,甲烷产量呈先升高后降低的趋势。Gompertz动力学模型拟合结果表明,在接种率为1.0、尿素添加量为3%的条件下,厌氧发酵产甲烷延滞期较短(12 d),70 d累积甲烷产量最高(0.44 L·g~(-1)TS),发酵过程未发生酸化现象。     

中温和高温环境下乙酸和丙酸厌氧发酵产甲烷动力学特征

采用不同浓度的乙酸和丙酸在中高温下进行厌氧发酵批次试验,采用修正的Gompertz模型和产甲烷的一级动力学模型分析,研究酸浓度和温度对发酵产气动力学的影响。研究表明,当乙酸和丙酸浓度较低时降解较快,高浓度酸抑制产气。乙酸在中温条件下降解较快,质量浓度为5 000 mg/L时中温反应有最大产甲烷速率101 mL/d;质量浓度为10 000 mg/L时高温条件下有最大产甲烷速率77 mL/d,随酸浓度增加,最大产甲烷速率减小,高温反应器对酸的耐受度较高。丙酸在高温条件下更易降解,浓度为4 000 mg/L时,中高温反应均有最大产气速率：78 mL/d（中温）和96 mL/d（高温）。另外,高浓度乙酸和丙酸厌氧降解产气具有滞后性,且随酸浓度的增加滞后期延长,降解过程受到抑制,一级动力学常数减小。温度对厌氧降解的影响大于酸浓度对厌氧降解的影响。     

Retronasal transport of aroma compounds

A comparison was made between the amounts of volatiles in the headspace above a solution and the breath volatile content (exhaled from the nose or mouth) after consumption of the same solution. The amounts of volatiles in the breath were lower than those in the headspace, with breath exhaled via the mouth containing, on average, 8-fold more volatiles than breath exhaled via the nose. Dilution of the sample by saliva in-mouth did not appear to be a major factor affecting volatile delivery. Instead, the rate of in vivo equilibration (mass transfer) appeared to be the most significant factor, principally affecting volatile delivery from the solution to the gas phase. Thereafter, gas-phase dilution of the volatile as it passed through the upper airway resulted in a further decrease in volatile concentration. The final factor affecting the volatile concentration exhaled from the nose was absorption of volatiles to the nasal epithelia, which was greatest for those compounds with the lowest air/water partition coefficients.     

工艺措施对猪粪秸秆混合厌氧干发酵产气性能的影响

为避免挥发性脂肪酸积累、提高产气效率,研究猪粪单独发酵、猪粪秸秆混合发酵、猪粪秸秆混合原料分层接种和猪粪秸秆混合原料渗滤液回流等工艺措施下,中温(37℃)厌氧干发酵(总固体含量为20%)的产酸及产气性能。结果表明:猪粪秸秆混合原料分层接种厌氧发酵启动快,产气效果最佳,累积挥发性固体含量VS产甲烷量可达139.2mL/g;混合发酵渗滤液回流可有效降低总挥发性脂肪酸(total volatile fatty acids,TVFAs)质量浓度(维持在0.66 mg/g),累积VS产甲烷量比分层接种低16.7%;猪粪秸秆混合发酵与猪粪单独发酵的反应器中TVFAs质量浓度分别达到19.08和19.83 mg/g,前15 d日产甲烷量为0.1 mL/(g·d),基本不产气。通过不同工艺措施对比,获得产气量最高和启动期最快的发酵方式,提高猪粪厌氧干发酵产气效率,为猪粪等高固体含量有机废弃物的资源化处理利用提供参考。     

Application of an electronic nose to predict total volatile bases in capelin (Mallotus villosus) for fishmeal production

An electronic nose was used as a rapid technique to monitor changes in the headspace gas above capelin (Mallotus villosus) during storage at 0 and 5 degrees C. At both temperatures, refrigeration was compared with an ice/seawater cooling system. At 5 degrees C, the effect of added 0.2% acetic acid was also tested. Electronic nose measurements were compared to measurements of total volatile bases (TVB), gas chromatography of volatile compounds, and sensory analysis. TVB analysis indicated less spoilage in seawater/ice systems than in refrigeration, but the other measurements indicated more spoilage in the seawater system compared to refrigeration. The possibility of using only a few sensors in the electronic nose to predict TVB was studied using partial least squares regression and a saturated generalized linear model. The results reported herein indicate that rapid electronic nose measurements, which require no sample preparation, can be used to predict the TVB value of the raw material stored under different conditions.     

分层接种对猪粪厌氧干发酵产气性能及微生物群落结构的影响

为避免厌氧干发酵酸抑制,提高产气效率,以猪粪和玉米秸秆为发酵原料,采用中温批式试验,在总固体(Total Solid,TS)为20％、接种比为25％的条件下研究分层接种和混合接种对猪粪干发酵厌氧消化性能的影响.结果表明:2种接种方式下的发酵体系内挥发性脂肪酸(Volatile Fatty Acids,VFAs)均发生明...     

Characteristics in Concentration of Chemical Species in Ambient Air Based on Three-Year Monitoring by Filter Pack Method

Continuous monitoring of concentrations of particulate matter and gaseous compounds for three years by a four-stage filter-pack method clarified the characteristics in the concentrations of chemical species in particulate matter and gaseous compounds in ambient air in Kobe, Japan. The amount of materials in blank filters was low enough for this method to be used for the monitoring of ambient air. Little or none of the hydrogen chloride was derived anthropogenically. The concentrations of both particulate sulfate and sulfur dioxide in spring and summer were significantly higher than those in autumn and winter. The concentration of gaseous nitric acid was high in summer, which suggests that active photochemical reactions in the atmosphere provided more nitrogen species in summer. The measured concentration products [HNO₃][NH₃] showed good agreement with the theoretical predictions with some exceptions. The total concentration of ammonium species showed no significant seasonal variation except that the concentration in winter was low. The concentration of nss-Ca²⁺ in spring was significantly higher than that in the other seasons, which is most likely associated with the so-called yellow-sand events. The concentrations of nss-K⁺ and nss-Ca²⁺ accounted for most of K⁺ and Ca²⁺, respectively, whereas that of nss-Mg²⁺ accounted for only 5% of Mg²⁺     

Effect of flavor compound chemical structure and environmental relative humidity on the binding of volatile flavor compounds to dehydrated soy protein isolates

Influence of flavor compound chemical structure, including functional group and stereochemistry, and environmental relative humidity (RH) on the binding of volatile flavor compounds to dehydrated soy protein isolates (SPIs) was evaluated by inverse gas chromatography. Binding of selected volatile flavor compounds differed slightly between SPIs of different origins. Results showed that the flavor compound chemical structure greatly determined its binding potential to SPIs. Binding of nonpolar flavor compounds (hydrocarbon) to soy proteins was attributed mainly to nonspecific van der Waals dispersion forces and was not affected by adsorbed water. The more polar flavor compounds (ester, ketone, aldehyde, and alcohol) exhibited both specific (hydrogen bonding, dipole forces) and nonspecific interactions, and their binding with soy proteins was greatly impaired by adsorbed water in the extremely low humidity region (approaching 0% RH). Further water uptake in the 30 to 50% RH region did not significantly affect the binding of polar compounds, although sorption of alcohol compounds (when present at high levels) further increased.     

Organic compounds of different extractability in total solvent extracts from soils of contrasting water repellency

Previous studies examining organic compounds that may cause water‐repellent behaviour of soils have typically focussed on analysing only the lipophilic fraction of extracted material. This study aimed to provide a more comprehensive examination by applying single‐ and sequential‐accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), separation and analysis by GC/MS of the total solvent extracts of three soils taken from under eucalypt vegetation with different degrees of water repellency. Water repellency increased in all the soils after extraction with DCM/MeOH (95:5), but was eliminated with iso‐propanol/ammonia (95:5). Quantities of major lipid compound classes varied between solvents and soils. Iso‐propanol/ammonia (95:5) solvent released saccharides, glycerol, aromatic acids and other polar organic compounds, which were more abundant in fractionated extracts from the single extraction and the third step sequential ASE extraction, than in the extracts from the DCM/MeOH ASE solvent. Dominant compounds extracted from all soils were long‐chain alkanols (>C₂₂), palmitic acid, C₂₉ alkane, β‐sitosterol, terpenes, terpenoids and other polar compounds. The soil with the lowest repellency lacked >C₁₈ fatty acids and had the lowest concentrations of alkanols (C_26,C₂₈ and C₃₀) and alkanes (C₂₉, C₃₁), but a greater abundance of more complex polar compounds than the more repellent soils. We therefore speculate that the above compounds play an important role in determining the water repellency of the soils tested. The results suggest that one‐stage and sequential ASE extractions with iso‐propanol/ammonia and subsequent fractionation of extracts are a useful approach in providing a comprehensive assessment of the potential compounds involved in causing soil water repellency.     

Some considerations on the washout of sulfate from stack plumes

A theoretical analysis of the contribution to rainwater sulfate concentration by precipitation scavenging of gaseous S0₂ and sulfate containing aerosols is presented. Aspects, such as the proper choice of mean raindrop diameter, are discussed in detail, and guidelines for their use are explored. Sample calculations are provided in which emissions from a hypothetical stack are considered as the source of the gaseous S0₂ and sulfate aerosol. The basic assumption of irreversible sorption behavior is discussed and utilized to obtain an upper limit to the resulting sulfate concentration. The effect of raindrop diameter on the sulfate concentration is not consistent. However, for a given drop diameter the sulfate concentration decreases as the precipitation rate increases. The sulfate concentration resulting from aerosol scavenging depends on the particle diameter and the precipitation rate. The sulfate concentration shows a maximum with respect to particle size; at moderate distances from the source, it is maximum for particles having aerodynamic equivalent diameter of about 5 to 10 gm.     

Nitrous Oxide Production and Consumption Potential in an Agricultural and a Forest Soil

Both a laboratory incubation experiment using soils from an agricultural field and a forest and field measurements at the same locations were conducted to determine nitrous oxide (N₂O) production and consumption (reduction) potentials using the acetylene (C₂H₂) inhibition technique. Results from the laboratory experiment show that the agricultural soil had a stronger N₂O reduction potential than the forest soil, as indicated by the N₂O/N₂ ratio in denitrification products. Without C₂H₂ inhibition, N₂O could reach a maximum concentration of 51 and 296 ppmv in headspace of the agricultural and forest soil slurries, respectively. Addition of glucose decreased the maximum N₂O concentration to 22 ppmv in headspace of the agricultural soil slurries, but increased to 520 ppmv in the forest soil slurries. Addition of exogenous N₂O did not change such N₂O accumulation maxima during the incubations. The field measurements show that average N₂O emission rates were 0.56 and 0.59 kg N ha^?1 in the agricultural field and forest, respectively. When C₂H₂ was provided in the field measurements, N₂O emission rates from the agricultural field and forest increased by 38 and 51%, respectively. Nitrous oxide consumption under elevated N₂O condition (about 300 ppmv) was found in all five agricultural field measurements, but only in three of the six forest measurements under the same conditions. Field measurements agreed with the laboratory experiment that N₂O reduction activity, which plays a critical role in abating N₂O emissions from soils, largely depended on soil characteristics associated with land use.     

Physiological responses of Quercus ilex Leaves to Water Stress and Acute Ozone Exposure Under Controlled Conditions

The combined effect of water stress and ozone (O₃) on stomatal O₃ flux, damage to photosynthesis, and detoxification by biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) in Quercus ilex leaves was studied. A 4-weeks O₃ exposure (250 ppb, 4 h per day) caused a reduction of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, which was fully recovered 1 week after the end of the treatment, in well-watered and water-stressed plants. Measurements of stomatal O₃ flux revealed a low stomatal flux of the pollutant, which became minimal after stomatal closure caused by water stress. An induction of volatile monoterpenes, important compounds in the O₃ scavenging system in Q. ilex, and a burst of lipoxygenase compounds (LOX), which are released as gaseous by-products of membrane peroxidation, was observed after 2–3 weeks of O₃ fumigation. However, these compounds were also released in control leaves that were exposed to ozone only briefly, to determine stomatal O₃ flux. The low stomatal flux that occurred in water stress conditions helped avoiding permanent damage to Q. ilex leaves, although during the O₃ treatment photosynthesis was severely limited by stomatal closure. In well-watered plants, O₃ fumigation caused a noticeable increase of nocturnal stomatal conductance. If confirmed on adult plants under field conditions, this effect can imply larger flux of O₃ at night and possible detrimental effects of O₃ on leaf functions in plants exposed to high nocturnal O₃ levels.