Volatile organic compounds from garden waste

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 32; no. 10; pp. 2049 - 2055
• Main Authors: Wilkins, Ken, Larsen, Kjeld
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-05-1996; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Other wastes and particular components of wastes; Pollution; Wastes; Gas chromatography; Compost; Chemical analysis; Headspace; Volatil organic compounds; Mass spectrometry; Vegetal waste
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/0045-6535(96)00113-0

About 170 compounds were identified in the headspace or liquid exudate from garden waste. Typical for microbiological growth were branched and straight chain alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters C
2–C
8. Several of the substances have been identified in early studies of compost For some waste samples the organosulfur compound concentration (C
1 and C
3 mono-, di- and trisulfides) was ca. 10 mg/m
3 which suggests that these substances may contribute to mucous membrane irritation or nausea reported by waste collection personnel.