Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), commonly found in the atmosphere, are odorous compounds with negative effects on human and environment. VOCs and odours emitted from industrial sources have been demonstrated as hazardous and annoying compounds which may cause negative effects on humans and environment.

   The control of these compounds is therefore a key action by the plant managers in order to avoid complaints and negative impacts. In this study, microalgae and bacteria were implemented in a vertical tubular photobioreactor for the biodegradation of toluene, used as model VOC. Chlorella vulgaris strain was chosen as photosynthetic platform due to their high adaptability to adverse environmental conditions.

   Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) produce gaseous emissions that might be olfactory annoying to the surrounding population. Current odour assessment methodologies are based on costly and infrequent olfactometry measurements involving human panels, and continuous monitoring of few gases via fixed gas detectors installed on the plant.

   This leads to odour measurements with low temporal and spatial resolution, hindering an accurate characterization of the odour episodes. The main goal of the SNIFFDRONE project, presented in this paper, is to develop a drone with olfaction capabilities to acquire spatially-dense odour measurements and localize the source of odour nuisances in WWTPs.