Synthetic Faeces Project
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Creation of better quality synthetic faecal malodour 'standards' for use in development of malodour counteraction/elimination technologies.
IRAS ID
140674
Contact name
Norman M Ratcliffe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of the West of England
Research summary
The aim of the project is to create synthetic faeces, that accurately represents faecal odour. These synthetic faeces or ‘faecal standards’ are for use by the company Givaudan for development of new products for eliminating odour.
We propose to collect faecal samples from volunteers from a diverse range of ethnic groups and to analyse these samples using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify the main volatile or ‘odour causing’ compounds in faeces.
The differences in odour and odour causing compounds between different ethnic groups will also be investigated to allow the company to develop region specific products.
After identification of the odour causing compounds, this information will be used to create the synthetic 'faecal standards' which can then be used by Givaudan. This research will also provide more information about the causes of faecal (and related sanitation) malodour, and lead to the development of protocols which can be of use in future research.REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NE/0029
Date of REC Opinion
31 Jan 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion