The correlation of odors in the environment with ion mobility spectra patterns

Ion mobility spectrometry was applied for the detection of environmental odors. The ion mobility spectra were taken at different sampling sites where odors were detectable and emitted from industrial, municipal, and agricultural sources. After ionization with a tritium ion source, the negative spectra in particular showed characteristic spectral patterns that were dependent upon the emission source. These patterns are reproducible over a long period of time and are comparable for different sampling sites with similar emission sources. The signal intensity detected excellently correlates with the odor intensity measured by a trained assessor. The IMS signal intensity and the mass spectral data also show good agreement. A decreasing intensity of single compounds leads also to a reduced IMS signal intensity. However, meteorological parameters—especially a high humidity—must be considered during the measurement.