Odorous Volatile Organic Compounds Determined Inside the ISTAC Landfilling Facility and Places at Close Vicinity by Passive Air Sampling Method

Year 2017, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 56 - 63, 25.02.2017

Arslan Saral

Abstract

Volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) attract the attention of the authorities due to their
detrimental effects on environmental and human health. People are exposed to
odor problems, which live in close vicinity of the emission sources. This is
the most obvious effect of these emissions. In order to manage and control the
emissions, released compounds at least should be monitored at source and
receptor points. So that, source contributions can be evaluated.

Landfilling
is the most frequent method used in Turkey to manage and dispose the solid
wastes. Although, engineering methods during and after the landfilling process
minimizes the undesired effects of the wastes in the environment, odorous
compounds released to the atmosphere still remains as a serious problem.
Especially, people living in the surrounding residential areas are the most
vulnerable ones.

Sampling
was conducted in the European side of Istanbul. Sampling points were selected
to be inside the landfilling facility and residential areas where are reported
to be exposed to odor from landfilling activity. Passive sampling method was
used in this study. Sample tubes were placed in the area at least for ten days.
Then, these tubes were brought to laboratory for further processing and
quantification. VOC species were detected and quantified by GC-MS.

Total VOC concentrations were ranged between 50 and
850 ppm. The VOC species with the highest concentrations were m&p xylene,
1,2,4-trimethybenzene, 1,4-diethylbenzene, n-decane, n-undecane. Concentrations
observed in summer were considerably higher than in winter. The highest
concentrations were observed in active landfilling lot, leachate waste water
collection tank and composting facility. 

Keywords

VOC, passive sampling, landfill gas, passive sampling

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