1993 MEETING MINUTES

The meeting opened at 11:40AM

Present: See list of attendees. Minutes recorded by Martha O’Brien and Pete Warner in the absence of Steve Ellis (Secretary).

Pre-Agenda: Bill Manning (Effects Division Chair representing the 1992-3 Technical Council) identified to the Committee new protocol/guidelines in preparation of future sessions for the National meetings beginning with Cincinnati 1994. These include a pre-national meeting preparation of the following year’s sessions and a compressed timetable for submission of manuscripts (August 15 deadline for Abstracts).

AGENDA

1. n-butanol replacement subcommittee activity – Sam Cha
   

Four members presently use n-butanol as a standard. Dave Benforado suggested creating an intensity response curve comparison for 2-butanol vs. n-butanol. Chuck McGinley responded with the suggestion of using as a reference material dissolved aqueous samples of n-butanol and 2-butanol. Chuck the offered to the committee for their review flasks containing (x)-n-butanol and (1/3x)-2-butanol. There was no committee consensus regarding hedonic comparison although some members agreed and some disagreed with this approach to estimating the n-butanol/2-butanol odor equivalency. Ed Switala suggested that Bill Cain had made this comparison at an earlier date. Sam Cha will follow up to look into this possibility.

2. Guidelines for Odor Sampling and Dynamic Olfactometry – Martha O’Brien
   

Martha distributed to her subcommittee (for response) copies of a draft Guideline revised May 1993. Martha noted that the most critical parameter, flow rate, was proposed as 8 lpm, and expressed some concern regarding the defensibility of any substantially higher flow rates. These guidelines will be finalized for discussion at a presentation for the proposed International Specialty Conference on Odor Measurement, 1995.

3. Planning for Odor Sessions 1994 AWMA Conference, Cincinnati, OH – Committee Discussion.
   

The following session was prepared for subcommittee to the AWMA Technical Council on June 16, 1993 for the next National Meeting of AWMA, June ’94.

Title: "Recent Challenges and Special Topics in Standardization for Odor Measurement Techniques, Odor control Technologies & Regulation."

Chairman: Ron Poustchi
Vice Chair: Martha O’Brien

Dave Benforado suggested the need for a technical paper on calibration. Alex Gnyp observed that standardization was best applied to a procedure rather than a "panel."

4. Proposed International AWMA Specialty Conference on Odors, 1995 – Committee Discussion.

1. Candidate Cities

1. New England Section – Boston Area (proposed by Martha O’Brien)

General Chairman – to be nominated by John Chandlor
Program Chairman – Richard Duffee

2. Upper Midwest Section – Minneapolis Area (proposed by Melba Hensel)

General Chairman – Linda Tanner
Program Chairman – Robert Polta

3. Sydney, Australia

General Chairman – Jeff Mann
AWMA Contact – Chuck McGinley
Air Travel: ~$1200 from US

4. Quebec, Canada
   Chairman (AWMA Contact – Serge St. Laurent)

2. International Conference Components

1. An olfactometry workshop should be included together with a display of various olfactometers.
   
2. Exhibit booths – only exhibitors of substantial or high quality equipment should be encouraged.
   
3. An Open Forum in which all participants have the opportunity to describe what approaches they use in measurements and controls, etc.

3. Proposed Sessions.

1. Non-sensory, "novel" (chemical) analytical methodology, as found in certain European studies as well as US, defense industry and RFP’s, etc.
   
2. Theoretical Aspects of Odor Sensory, bio-neuron research – (contact Steve Ellis)
   
3. Standardization and calibration of odor measurement methods.
   
4. Odor dispersion modeling
   
5. Sensory Evaluation as this applies to flavors, etc. modifiers, counteractants.
   
6. Odor Control Technology
   
7. Odor-Related Regulations

    5.   Task Force for Revising Odor Control Manual

Bill Prokop reported that essentially all Chapters of this manual are complete except Chapter #6 on generation of odors within sewer collection systems and wastewater treatment plants. This material has been sent out for review. The Volume should be completed by October 1993. It will be published as a Revised Manual of Practice (MOP-22) "Odor Control" by the Water Environment Federation (WEF). Bill Prokop also distributed a draft of the Odor Testing Method proposed for inclusion in the Minneapolis Ordinance.

6. NEW BUSINESS

1. General Topic of Odor Modeling.

The following concerns were expressed as areas which require scientific clarification through continued research and study: (1) averaging time, (2) frequency and duration parameters, (3) matching meteorological data to support a given model, (4) model validation (Monte Carlo, etc.), and (5) calibration (SF6, etc.).

2. Calibration

Dave Benforado noted the need to include a standard odorant together with panel evaluations as a check on the panel’s odor sensory response.

3. Future New Issues

Composting odor as a area of future concern for odor intensity measurements.

4. As requested by Bill Manning of the AWMA Technical Council at the beginning of the meeting, a group of 25 Key Words and 3-4 Key Topics were assembled for submission to AWMA Headquarters Office following the EE-6 meeting. These words/topics indicated the range of interests of the EE-6 Committee.

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