Special Report No. 09-05: Investigating Odorous Compounds in Pulp and Paper Mill Wastewater Treatment Plants Using Gas Chromatography Olfactory Mass Spectroscopy

The National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc. (NCASI) has developed, evaluated, and applied a variety of analytical methods to investigate sources of odors from pulp and paper mill wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This report presents information on development and application of a gas chromatography olfactory mass spectroscopy (GC/O/MS) method to identify odorous compounds in aqueous samples collected from nine pulp and paper mill WWTPs. As part of this research, a literature review was conducted to identify possible odorous compounds and compile information regarding odor thresholds and odor descriptions.