1 1

Odors Perception and Odor

Analysis of Latrines in Africa

and India.

Charles Jean-François Chappuis, Yvan Niclass,

Isabelle Cayeux, and Christian Starkenmann

In Partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates

Foundation

FSM 3 conference, Hanoi, 20.01.2015

2 2

› Malodors Drive the concept of lack of Hygiene, Sanitation,

Respect & Dignity

› Fragrances Ideal messenger to communicate on Hygiene,

Sanitation, Respect & Dignity

› Firmenich Creates fragrances & delivery technologies

Malodors, Sanitation & Hygiene

3 3

› Mixture of volatile substances that we can perceive

What is an odor?

4 4

Analysis of Volatiles in the Latrines

Sludge

5 5

Results: Important Odorants in Fecal

Odors Acids Phenols

Nitrogen

derivatives

Sulfur

derivatives

+

Fecal reconstitution Latrine reconstitution Stale urine reconstitution

6 6

Sensory Survey

Ahmedabad

(India)

Nairobi

(Kenya)

Durban

(South Africa)

Geneva

(Switzerland)

RTI

SEWA

NEERMAN

SANERGY

Milicent Kasaya

Pr. Chris Buckley

Dr. Lungiswa Zuma

ETHEKWINI WATER

Firmenich

7 7

Results: Pleasantness

India Kenya South Africa Switzerland

Ple

asa

ntn

ess

Fecal Latrine Urine Banana Citrus Lavender

-3-2

-10

12

3

de

de

d

c

ac

bc

e e

e

a

ac

bc

e e

de

a

ab

c

de

e de

ac

ac

ac

8 8

› The fecal reconstitution (4 molecules) produced similar results as the

latrine reconstitution (same 4 molecules + 4 others found in latrines

sludge) in every country.

› A reconstitution with butyric acid, p-cresol, indole and dimethyl

trisulfide can evoke an olfactory experience similar to the one during

the use of latrines in three different continents.

› This confirms and consolidates previous studies on fecal odors that

butyric acid, p-cresol, indole and dimethyl trisulfide are strong

contributors to the human fecal odor.

› Stable synthetic reconstitution of pit-latrine malodor is essential for

perfume creation, the development of odor control method and for a

better understanding of the perception of the latrine malodor.

Conclusions

9 9

Thank you for your attention

10 10

11 11

Ingredients and Perfumes

Ingredients Artist Creation

12 12

What is a Malodor?

Passiflora gilbertiana Jasmine Vanda tessellata

P-cresol Indole Skatole

13 13

Results: Association with Images

-1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5

-1.5

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

Dim 1 56.52 %

Dim

2 2

8.9

7 %

feces

latrine

sew age

urine

banana

lemon

leavesflow er

ban:indban:kenban:sa

ban:sw i

bl:ind bl:ken

bl:sa

cit:ind

cit:kencit:sa

cit:sw i

lav:ind lav:kenlav:salav:sw i

A

-1 0 1 2

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

Dim 2 28.97 %

Dim

3 9

.38 %

feceslatrine sew age

urine

banana

lemon

leaves

flow er

ban:indban:ken

ban:sa

ban:sw i

cit:ind

cit:ken

cit:sa

cit:sw i

lav:indlav:ken

lav:salav:sw i

bl:ind

bl:ken

bl:sa

B

-1.5 -1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

Dim 1 56.52 %

Dim

4 4

.09 %

feces

latrine sew age

urine

bananalemon

leavesflow er

ur:indur:ken

ur:sa

ur:sw i

fec:ind

fec:ken

fec:sa

fec:sw i

lat:indlat:kenlat:sa

lat:sw i

C

1 2 3 4 5

DimensionC

um

ula

tive p

erc

enta

ge o

f variance

020

40

60

80

100

D

14 14

Results: Association with Images

-1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5

-1.5

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

Dim 1 56.52 %

Dim

2 2

8.9

7 %

feces

latrine

sew age

urine

banana

lemon

leavesflow er

ban:indban:kenban:sa

ban:sw i

bl:ind bl:ken

bl:sa

cit:ind

cit:kencit:sa

cit:sw i

lav:ind lav:kenlav:salav:sw i

A

-1 0 1 2

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

Dim 2 28.97 %

Dim

3 9

.38 %

feceslatrine sew age

urine

banana

lemon

leaves

flow er

ban:indban:ken

ban:sa

ban:sw i

cit:ind

cit:ken

cit:sa

cit:sw i

lav:indlav:ken

lav:salav:sw i

bl:ind

bl:ken

bl:sa

B

-1.5 -1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

Dim 1 56.52 %

Dim

4 4

.09 %

feces

latrine sew age

urine

bananalemon

leavesflow er

ur:indur:ken

ur:sa

ur:sw i

fec:ind

fec:ken

fec:sa

fec:sw i

lat:indlat:kenlat:sa

lat:sw i

C

1 2 3 4 5

Dimension

Cum

ula

tive p

erc

enta

ge o

f variance

020

40

60

80

100

D

15 15

Results: Intensity

India Kenya South Africa Switzerland

Inte

nsity

Fecal Latrine Urine Banana Citrus Lavender

12

34

5

cdf

cdef

ij ij ij j

a

ac

adf

de

eh bef

ac

ad

befg

hij

ij

ghij

abd

adef

adefi

defj

efj cdefj

16 16

Results: Familiarity

Fecal Latrine Urine Banana Citrus Lavender

Fam

iliarity

, perc

enta

ge

020

40

60

80

100

b b b

a ab

India Kenya South Africa Sw itzerland

Fam

iliarity

, perc

enta

ge

020

40

60

80

100

b

aa

a

17 17

Results: Use of Latrines

India Kenya South Africa

Perc

enta

ge

020

40

60

80

100