Use of an Electronic Nose to Evaluate Odors from Swine Operations

In this project, an AromaScan A32S electronic nose and a human panel at the Duke Taste and Smell Lab were used to evaluate the effectiveness of biofilters in reducing the malodors in the exhaust air from swine confinement facilities. Three experiments are reported: 1) detection threshold tests for the electronic nose and human panel for a significant component of swine slurry – acetic acid, 2) hedonic tone evaluation by the human panel and electronic nose in a benchtop biofilter setup for an synthetic swine slurry, and 3) field test of the electronic nose in an operational biofilter at a swine production facility. The feasibility of using an electronic nose to replace the human panel in these applications is demonstrated.