Analysis of volatile emissions from porcine faeces and urine using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry

The headspaces above faecal and urine samples provided by six pigs have bee n analysed using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT/MS). The co ncentrations of ammonia, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, acetone, methanol, ethanol, dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and low molecular weight carboxylic acids in the headspace volume were measured down to the parts per billion (ppb) levels. The differences in the relative concentrations of these compounds b etween faeces and urine, the implications of these differences and the adva ntages of using SIFT/MS in such diagnostic and physiological monitoring wor k are discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.