Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric identification of some organic compounds and odours in poultry wastes

Air and waste samples coming from poultry breeding farms have been analysed by means of thermal desorption coupled to the gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric technique. The solid samples not only showed the presence of organic compounds such as acids, sulphides, benzopyrroles and phenols originated by anaerobic biotransfor‐mation of the natural products, but also the occurrence of anti‐oxidant substances: 2,6‐di‐ tert ‐butylcresol, 2,6‐di‐ tert ‐butylphenol and two of their oxidation derivatives. In the air, four artificial benzoquinones were detected, two of which had already been identified in the solid waste. In this work, the mechanism by which oxidized compounds are formed, is suggested.