Abstract
Odour problems often arise from liquids that contain odorants. Depending upon circumstances like high turbulence etc., these odorants can be stripped off the liquid, generating nuisance in the environment. In order to assess a liquid concerning its ability to emit odorants, it is necessary to measure the total content of odorants in that liquid. The procedure to attain this goal it the Odour Emission Capacity (OEC) measurement method. Frechen and Köster (1998) presented this method for the first time international in the year 1998, although the methodology was established by them since 1993. Frechen (2009) reported on the method and gave a summary of ten years of using this measurement method, doing more than 800 OEC measurements. Also other researchers started to use the method, e.g. Zarra et al. (2010) who analysed 20 samples of 2 wwtps from March to December 2010. Nevertheless, the method was not subject to any standardization so far. Now the German VDI started a committee to standardize this method as VDI guideline 3885/1 “Olfactometry – Measurement of the Odour Emission Potential of Liquids” (in progress).
When setting up a standard, the method to be standardized must be very clearly described, using the experience of its application so far. This paper deals with the basic procedure of the OEC method and then presents some evaluation of the existing data that will be used for further elaboration of the draft guideline text, undertaken by Frechen.
