Odours and volatile organic compounds emitted from municipal solid waste at different stage of decomposition and relationship with biological stability

Odours (OUE) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) emission during biological process used to treat MSW were studied under standardized conditions in order to detect potential risk for workers and population. Results obtained indicated that odours and VOCs emitted depend on the biological stability of waste measured by the dynamic respiration index (DRI) and a very good correlation were found between these parameters (OUE vs. DRI, r = 0.96, p < 0.001, n = 6; VOC vs. DRI, r = 0.97, p < 0.001, n = 6). study of the VOCs indicated the presence of a group of molecules that were degraded during the process. On the other hand, a second group of molecules, i.e. aromatic and halogenated compounds, and furan persisted in the waste sample, although molecule concentrations were always lower than Threshold Limit Value–Time Weighted Average (TLV–TWA).