Abstract
Exhaust gas emitted as a result of the incomplete combustion of biomass in charcoal kilns includes odor compounds as well as other air pollutants such as particulate matters, sulfur and nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide. A number of offensive odor compounds affect quality of life. In this study, odor emissions were investigated from biomass burning in a pilot-scale charcoal kiln and a commercial-scale kiln. Complex odor from emission source reached up to 10,000 dilutions to threshold during the study period. Combustion fume was found to contain reduced sulfur compounds, aldehydes, and volatile organic compounds. Hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan were the major odorants which highly contributed to the offensive odor.