To better serve the Canadian market, St. Croix Sensory opened its first international odour laboratory in Toronto, Canada in February 2023.
St. Croix Sensory – Canada , is a third-party odour laboratory, dedicated to providing quality odour data and exceptional customer service to our Canadian clients. The laboratory offers a full range of olfactory evaluations, including thresholds, characterization, intensity and persistency values.
The AC’SCENT Olfactometer is a laboratory olfactometer used to measure odour thresholds according to international standards. Current installations include universities, research institutions, engineering firms, and sanitation districts worldwide.
Dimensions: 24 x 24 x 54″ (61 x 61 x 138 cm)
Weight: 350-lbs (160 kg)
Sniff Ports: Single station, single sniffing port
Testing Modes: Triangular Forced-Choice
Binary Forced-Choice
Yes/No
Direct Presentation
China odour testing methodology
Concentration Series: binary (2-fold) dilution series
Ascending series for all modes, except China testing method
Presentation Flow Rate: 20-LPM, can be customized
Dilution Range: 23 to 216 (Nominal 10 to 100,0000 dilution ratios)
Repeatability: Meets EN13725:2003 requirements
Number of Assessors: Single Stations allows for as many assessors as you choose
Sniff Time: Adjustable from 1-60 seconds (3-seconds common operation)
Required Sample Size: 5-L consumed by 10 observations (5 assessors x 2 rounds) at 20-LPM with 3-sec sniff time.
Air Supply: Self contained zero-air system in base of cabinet.
Includes compressor, air drier, and carbon filtration.
Power: 115VAC/60Hz or 230VAC/50Hz
Control: PLC driven for automated increment through the dilution series.
On-board keypad control for settings.
Data Management: Optional attached laptop or desktop to collect results via DataSense Olfactometry Software Application
Q: Why is the AC’SCENT only a single station?
The AC’SCENT Olfactometer was designed as a self contained single station olfactometer. This allows the olfactometer to: 1) occupy a small laboratory space, 2) easily accommodate any number of assessors, and 3) be moved within a laboratory without need for long connectors to an air system.
Q: How can the AC’SCENT operate in Triangular Forced-Choice with only one sniff port (mask)?
The AC’SCENT has an innovative control rotary dial, which the assessor turns to three “port” positions. When the assessor presses the button, the on-demand system either presents the assessor with the scheduled diluted odour or one of two blanks. The assessor requests a sniff from each of the three positions. The dilution air system is purging at many times per second and there is no carry-over between the dilute odour and the blank positions.
Q: How long does it take to process one odour sample ?
An experienced panel of 5 assessors will complete evaluation of two rounds of testing one sample in 15 to 20 minutes. Therefore, 3-4 samples are processed per hour of testing.
Q: Does the AC’SCENT require a computer to operate it?
The AC’SCENT is a self contained olfactometer with the PLC computer system on-board and controlling operations of the olfactometer through the operator keypad. A laptop or desktop computer is only needed to operate the DataSense Olfactometry Software application. This software receives results from the olfactometer via a serial cable and then automatically computes the sample results. DataSense keeps a database record of all odour samples tested as well as assessor testing and training histories.
Impact of the New European Odor Testing Standard on Wastewater Treatment Facilities
McGinley, C.M. and McGinley, M.A.
A&WMA Symposium on Air Quality Measurement Methods and Technology
San Francisco, CA: 13-17 October 2002
The New European Olfactometry Standard: Implementation, Experience, and Perspectives
McGinley, M.A. and McGinley, C.M.
A&WMA 94th Annual Conference
Orlando, FL: 25-28 June 2001
St. Croix Sensory President Michael McGinley recently moderated a webinar hosted by the Air and Waste Management Association (A&WMA).
Located in the Greater Toronto Area, St. Croix Sensory now operates the only independent odour laboratory in Canada, adhering to the same professional practices and methods which serve our clients in the United States. We maintain a professional practice that continually reviews ASTM International, CEN (European) and ISO methods and our quality assurance program ensuresContinue reading "Canada, eh?"
The Air & Waste Management Association is hosting a Webinar on odor assessment with specific attention on updates to the internationally recognized olfactometry standard, EN13725. This is the first in a planned series of webinars on various odor topics sponsored by the EE-6 Technical Committee on Odors. Whether you’ve managed odors for years or areContinue reading "A&WMA Webinar: “Assessing Environmental Odors – How EN13725:2022 Will Impact You”"