The DR1000 Flying Laboratory is an environmental monitoring station attached to a drone that has been developed by Scentroid.

The Scentroid DR1000 can be used to sample and analyze ambient air at heights of up to 125 meters above ground level, a feat that was previously impossible to accomplish. Air quality mapping, model verification, and analysis of potentially dangerous sites have all now been made possible! While in flight, five built-in chemical sensors can provide remote monitoring of chemicals selected at the time of ordering.

It is often used to sample stacks, ponds, and other locations where human access is difficult and/or dangerous. Furthermore, operator exposure to dangerous chemicals during sampling must be carefully considered. The Scentroid DR1000 flying laboratory allows the operator to stay safely away from potentially hazardous sources while acquiring the required air sample for laboratory analysis. 

For more information on the DR1000, please click here.

The post DR1000 Flying Laboratory appeared first on Scentroid.

The post Dynamic Olfactometer appeared first on Scentroid.

Dynamic Dilution Olfactometry is based on dilution to the threshold of a gas sample with multiple components. Odour threshold is a commonly used term. It is the minimum concentration detectable or the minimum detectable difference between two concentrations.

The post Dynamic Dilution Olfactometry appeared first on Scentroid.

Mixing of odorous gas and odour-neutral air measured by flow rate. The consistent introduction of odour-free or odour-neutral air to a concentrated amount of an odorous gas allows for accurate measurement when determining the severity of the odour’s concentration and intensity.

The post Dynamic Dilution appeared first on Scentroid.

The relative location of an observer with respect to a source of odour emission. The direction of wind movement would first cross the odour source followed by the observer.  An observer downwind of odorous sources would probably smell an odour but depends on the factors such as stack height.

The post Downwind appeared first on Scentroid.

Measurement of odour without a time lag between sampling and analysis. The time lag between sampling and analysis according to EN13725 is 30hours and according to the VDI3880 is 6 hours. This is to prevent the degradation of odour concentration. Ambient odour monitoring using a device that samples the air at specified dilutions is an example of direct olfactometry.

Source sampling and immediate measuring of odour concentration, equivalent to dynamic sampling or on-line olfactometry. It is advantageous when compared to delayed olfactometry as it minimizes the risk of sample modifications due to storage and transportation. This technique is not currently applied in the UK. Direct olfactometry can be very expensive due to the need for panellists to travel to the site of an odour event and the risk that the presence of the test person at the site may affect their response.

Field Olfactometry Advances

Recent advancements in field olfactometry such as the introduction of SM100i, have made this method more feasible and considerably more economical than delayed olfactometry.

This technique can also be used as a proactive monitoring tool providing real-time analysis.

The post Direct Olfactometry appeared first on Scentroid.

A ratio of diluting neutral gas to odorous sample gas.  According to ASTM E679, this is a ratio of diluting gas to the odour sample. According to EN13725, this is a ratio of the sum of the diluting gas and odour sample, to the odour sample.  It is calculated based on the flow rate.

Example

5 parts of diluting air to 1 part of sample

ASTM E679:  Diluting gas/odourous sample = 5:1 = 5

EN 13725:  (diluting gas + odourous sample)/odourous sample = 6:1 = 6

The post Dilution Factor appeared first on Scentroid.

A source having a specified area or volume that does not have defined airflow.  Examples include waste dumps, compost piles, and sedimentation tanks. An example that is not a diffuse source is a biofilter that has a defined airflow from a bed.  It is desirable to collect samples over diffuse areas to obtain a good representation of the source.

The post Diffuse Source appeared first on Scentroid.

The minimum amount of an odourant perceived (smelled) is known as the detection threshold (DT). This minimum amount represents the odour concentration. This serves as a measurement of 1 odour unit or 1 OU/m³ or 1 OU_E/m³.  We can determine this through a selected panel and usually represents 50% of the population.

According to the EN13725 standard, the detection threshold represents a sample. For instance, the dilution factor at which the sample has of being detected under the conditions of the test.  According to E679-04, the detection threshold represents the lowest concentration of a substance in a medium. Above all, it relates to the lowest physical intensity at which a stimulus is detected.

An odour is presented to a panel in order to judge at which dilution the sample can initially being detected. The odours are presented in a decreasing diluted series of samples (neutral gas and odourant) until the dilution at which detection occurs.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding a detection threshold, please click here to contact us.

For a full list of Scentroid Olfactometers, click here.

The post Detection Threshold (DT) appeared first on Scentroid.

A time-lag between sampling and measuring of odour concentration where the odour sample is preserved in an appropriate container (odour-neutral material). It can also be referred to as static sampling. Delayed olfactometry is the analytical technique used in the UK. EN13725 stipulates a maximum temperature during storage of 25°C and samples must be analyzed within 30 hours from the moment of collection. This temperature can be exceeded when working in hot environments provided the deviation is justified in the final report.

The post Delayed Olfactometry appeared first on Scentroid.