Odor Component Identification - Environmental Control Center

Odor & Fragrance Odor Component Identification

When it becomes necessary to identify the main components responsible for odors, such as during investigations of odor complaints or research and development, we identify odor-causing substances by combining sensory evaluation using the human sense of smell with instrumental chemical analysis.

Overview

There are many situations in which identification of odor components is required, including the investigation of odors generated by business activities, identifying the source of unusual odors in the atmosphere or rivers, and obtaining fundamental data to improve manufacturing processes affected by product off-odors or food off-flavors.

We identify the components responsible for these odors by combining instrumental analysis with sensory evaluation.

Applications

Our odor component identification service is commonly used in the following situations:

Countermeasures for odors generated by business activities

Identifying the source of unusual odors in the atmosphere or rivers

Obtaining data for improving manufacturing processes affected by product off-odors or food off-flavors

Investigation & Analysis Process

We first identify and understand the target odor by examining where and how it occurs and, where applicable, comparing odorous products with normal products. We then determine the most suitable sampling, analytical, and concentration methods before conducting instrumental analysis and sensory evaluation to identify the odor-causing components. When necessary, reference chemicals are obtained and odor contribution analysis is performed.

Step 1: Situation Assessment

We examine the location and process where the odor occurs and compare odorous samples with normal samples to understand the characteristics of the target odor.

Step 2: Selection of Investigation and Analytical Methods

Appropriate sampling, analytical, and concentration methods are selected based on the characteristics of the target odor.

Step 3: Analysis and Reporting

When necessary:

● We obtain reference chemicals for the identified components and evaluate their odors directly (please note that some reference chemicals may not be commercially available).

● We can estimate the contribution of identified components to the overall odor by comparing literature values for odor threshold concentrations with measured odor concentrations. If no published threshold values are available, we can also determine the odor threshold concentration experimentally.

Features

Experience the Identified Odors

You can directly smell the identified odor components using reference chemicals when available.

Customers can also experience measurements using our Sniffing-GC/MS system.

Odor Threshold Measurement

If no published odor threshold concentration is available for an identified compound (currently available for only a few hundred compounds), we can determine the threshold experimentally.

Examples & Achievements

Examples of Identified Odor Components

● River water odor: 2-Methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyrazine
● Leachate odor: Naphthalene and aniline
● River effluent odor: Trichloroanisole and synthetic musks
● Freshwater fish odor: Trichloroanisole and synthetic musks
● Livestock facility odor: Sulfur compounds, fatty acids, cresols, etc.
● Mouse breeding facility odor: Trimethylamine and acetylpyrroline
● Biofuel odor: Fatty acids
● Resin raw materials: Sulfur compounds
● Air filters: Lower alcohols and aldehydes
● Human skin gas: Aldehydes, fragrance compounds, etc.

Important Note

Since odors are often generated by biological processes, particularly in the case of sudden odor incidents, the source and cause can become increasingly difficult to identify over time. Prompt investigation and analysis are therefore essential.

Service