Odor Control

It can be hard to pinpoint the source of odors, and emissions measurement is complex and somewhat subjective. Therefore, the need to treat odors often arises only when complaints arise.

With increasing urbanization and lower tolerance for odor nuisance, some long-established sites are facing complaints for the first time. These complaints can arise even when a site meets environmental emissions limits.

Desotec’s mobile filtration services enable you to treat odors promptly, preempting action required by environmental authorities and avoiding costly downtime. You’ll also maintain your positive image in the media and community as well as creating a more welcoming facility for site workers and visitors.

Many industrial sectors inevitably produce odors. Yet, highly effective treatments such as Desotec’s mobile filtration solutions are available.

Naturally, the food and feed industries are rich in smells. Tolerance levels for certain odors are low, such as pet food, slaughterhouses, and meat and fish processing. Others, such as coffee roasting, may be pleasant, but only at lower concentrations.

Desotec filters can also reduce sulfur smells from waste management and wastewater treatment to ensure that they don’t disturb area residents.

While there is generally a higher tolerance for agricultural odors, it’s important to treat fertilizer smells and those emanating from biogas plants.

Other applications in which industrial odor control makes all the difference include those related to the manufacture or handling of asphalt and bitumen, fragrances, polyester and composites, paints, and coatings.

Odorous molecules can be volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or inorganic chemicals, including:

• Amine smells from fish processing.
• Phenol and benzene odors from petroleum.
• Acrylate and styrene odors from plastics and composites.
• Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and other sulfur smells from bitumen and biogas.
• Ammonia (NH₃) from fertilizers.
• Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), aromatic hydrocarbons, H₂S, and NH₃ from sludge, sewage and wastewater treatment.

With Desotec’s activated carbon filters, manufacturers are successfully treating these odors and many others.

As odor complaints rise, regulations are becoming stricter. Desotec has both the know-how and the technology to enable your company to comply with upcoming legislation.

At EU level, the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) is the main regulation that governs odor emissions in Europe.

Country-specific legislation includes TA Luft in Germany, which has been updated to include nationwide regulations governing odor. Other countries and regions have similar legislation.

Environmental authorities set the terms of site operating licenses, which can include odor emissions limits. If your company is facing investigations by these authorities, we can promptly deliver effective solutions.