Bulk Activated Charcoal: The Significance of Industrial Odour Control

If you are a business owner that’s concerned about the state of hygiene of your facility, you’ve come to the right place. This article will discuss odour control as foul odours can have adverse effects on your business. Aside from turning off clients and giving your workers a huge headache, this can prevent you from getting your license renewed. Thankfully, its unpalatable stench is easy to control odour with a product like bulk activated charcoal. Read on below to delve into this issue.

The Importance of Controlling Odour

Various companies and facilities produce industrial odours. This typically comes from wastewater, chemical processing, and garbage incineration. Even niches like food manufacturing and developing infrastructure produce these gaseous foul smells. To further illustrate, take a look at the following industrial processes that generate problematic odours:

  • Specific production processes produce and emit a terrible smell.
  • Using old processing gadgets that are in dire need of repair.
  • When microbes decompose and decay certain items.
  • The presence of an organic substance in anoxic or anaerobic water.

Furthermore, industrial odours become heavily influenced by environmental factors. For instance, a scorching day can intensify the bad smell. Similarly, the strength of the wind and its direction will carry the foul smell in various directions. As cities and towns continue to grow, expand, and develop, the scent has become a huge problem. Back in the day, facilities were isolated from communities. However, due to the burgeoning populations, neighbourhoods have become closer, making odour elimination not a mere vanity but necessary.

The Harrowing Effects of Industrial odour

Bad odour is more than just an annoying nuisance that hurts the nose. It is actually considered a form of pollution that creates stress. Hence, people who are constantly exposed to it will find their quality of life severely reduced. Without proper odour control, your company’s foul odours will drift into various surroundings. You may face problems with the city health council and other government agencies when they complain. Improper odour control protocols can lead to a breach of health regulations, leading to fines and license revocation.

Remember, a businessman that fails to address complaints can damage their reputation. It becomes even worse now that traditional and social media can readily expose unjust stories. In the same token, you cannot neglect foul odours even if it is just contained to your workplace. When your workers are constantly exposed to the terrible scent, it will affect their productivity and performance. Bad smells adversely impact mental health and job satisfaction.

The Perfect Solution to Neutralise Odour

If you want your company to remain compliant with government regulations, you need successful control and reduce the industrial odours. Doing so will also lessen complaints coming from the community and assure your employees have a clean working environment. If your company emits industrial odours, this is definitely a cause for concern. As such, you must follow best practices for odour control and elimination. You will find many different procedures for odour control in the market. One of the most tried and tested solutions is bulk activated carbon.

Activated carbon is famous for its power and ability to control gaseous odours. It works by removing specific VOCs and other organic contamination. This acts akin to a sponge by effectively soaking up odours as the air flows over it. To assure continued effectiveness, replace your activated carbon when it gets saturated. Having this on standby assures that you will have a replacement on hand when saturation happens to avoid foul industrial odour from permeating the air. The type of Activated Carbon filters used to purify air are mentioned below:

Carbon Pleated Air Filters

They are utilized for general odour control and are loaded with granular activated carbon.

Carbon Panel Air Filters

This one is equipped with granular activated carbon along with other types of absorbents.

Rigid Box Filters

These filters are used as the final filter or secondary air filter in an air system. 

Compact Industrial Mini-Pleat Filter

This type is seen in HVAC installations mostly where the highest quality of air filtration is a requirement. 

V-Bank Filters

These are also used in HVAC applications due to their high efficiency.

1. Air Scrubbing Systems

Another successful way of removing gases and particulates from industrial exhaust streams are the air scrubbing systems. They pass the polluted air through a cleaning liquid (usually water). The gases or particles from the air are collected in that liquid, treated and then disposed. 

Mostly, air scrubbing systems are found at industrial sites, such as chemical processing facilities, petroleum refineries, steel works and acid manufacturing plants. 

2. Photoionisation Systems

This method works by applying intense UV (ultra-violet) light and by utilizing specialized catalysts to eliminate odours from the air. Also, Photoionisation systems are beneficial for disinfecting the air with less power, space and without using any chemicals or other treatments.

3. Misting and Dosing Systems

Special blends of surfactants, essential oils and organic compounds are used in misting and dosing systems to encourage decomposition and absorption of odours. These systems are usually installed at sensitive sites as boundary barriers. They work well for both, surface-based and airborne odours.

4. Odour Control Chemicals

A wide range of chemicals is utilized for offensive odour abatements, such as ammonia, mercaptan and hydrogen sulphides, etc. Your supplier can guide you about the most suitable solution for your requirements. Speak to an expert about the application of the chemicals as well.

Summary

The pressure on organisations and facilities to keep the odours released from their industrial premises under control will continue to increase. To find out more about the various available options for controlling or removing industrial odours, you should speak to odour control experts who will help to identify the most appropriate solution. If you have any questions about industrial odour control, contact the Enva odour control team today.

Author:  Alison Lurie