Industrial odour removal

Activated carbon filtration is a prompt and effective treatment for industrial odours, helping to protect your business continuity and reputation. DESOTEC’s activated carbon filters can be delivered fast to start work immediately in urgent situations. We have extensive expertise and experience in industries where odour complaints are common, including food processing, biogas, asphalt production and waste management. 

It can be difficult to find the exact source of odours, but activated carbon can treat a huge range of odorous molecules, including:

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and solvents;
• Ammonia (NH₃) from agriculture;
• Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMS), dimethyl disulfide (DCMS), aromatic hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and NH₃ from sludge, sewage and wastewater;
• H₂S and other sulfurs from bitumen and biogas;
• Phenol and benzene from petroleum;
• Acrylate and styrene from plastics and composites;
• Amines from fish processing;
• Mercaptans from slaughterhouses and animal feed production;
• Onions, fish and other odours from food production;
• Fragrances that are unpleasant in high doses from cosmetics and detergents;
• And many more …

Activated carbon is highly effective at enabling companies to meet odour regulations – which are generally becoming stricter. DESOTEC has regional know-how and extensive industrial odour control expertise to help you comply with legislation such as the EU’s Industrial Emissions Directive and Germany’s TA Luft. Our activated carbon filters are installed swiftly, allowing you to meet the terms of your operating licence without fail. Compliant carbon waste handling is included in our full-service solution. 

Activated carbon filtration is a Best Available Technology (BAT) for many odour abatement applications, and is often the most cost-effective and sustainable option – but it does depend on various factors.

For example:

• Where air flow is discontinuous, activated carbon is generally more cost-effective than alternatives such as thermal oxidisers (RTOs).
• If space is tight, DESOTEC filters have a smaller footprint than most alternatives.
• For short-term usage, our filters are mobile and rental – unlike more permanent installations such as RTOs.
• If treatment is needed immediately, our filters can be delivered fast and are plug-and-play – some alternatives have a lengthy lead-in time.
• If your needs might change in the future, our systems are modular – other technology might be less adaptable.
• If flow rates, concentrations and compounds are changeable, activated carbon is generally more versatile than alternatives. 

DESOTEC is keen to help customers find the best treatment for their needs, and our experts will tell you if they think another technology might be more suitable than activated carbon. 

Odour issues can cost companies in terms of fines, business interruption, and damage to brand reputation – but activated carbon filtration offers a cost-effective and versatile solution. There are many ways to optimise set-ups, e.g. placing filters in series for H₂S and VOCs, using different carbon grades, or combining filters with complementary technology such as scrubbers.

DESOTEC solutions offer a low total cost of ownership (TCO): Capex costs are minimal, and testing, maintenance, upgrading and ongoing support are included in our service. Filter installation and exchange are swift, minimising production downtime. Our technology requires no manpower to operate, and our experts are always on hand to troubleshoot.

Carbon waste handling is also included in our service, saving you disposal costs. Plus, it is often possible to reactivate and reuse the carbon, cutting costs and boosting your company’s sustainability.