What is an odor

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What is an odor?

Odor is defined as a sensation resulting in the stimulation of the human olfactory organs. For an odor to be qualified it requires a source, carrier and receiver. Any substance with a vapor pressure can emit odors. The air currents carry the odor vapors or gases to a receiver - the human nose.

The degree to which the olfactory organs pick up an odor is dependent on the concentration of the substance, location from the source, air current strength and of course the condition of the receiver. In fact, this "odor" can be pleasant or malodorous depending on an individual’s sensitivity.

Personal preferences and exposure are also an issue. What is an offensive odor to one person may be normal and ignored by another. If you live on a farm, the odors generated from animal manure is a normal everyday smell, if you live in the city and are not exposed to those odors, they may seem offensive to you.

Why is odor control a growing issue?

The cause for our heightened awareness of mal-odors can be attributed to population growth and expansion. Industries that were formally isolated are now closer to homes, parks and public areas. Odors have been proven to increase heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure. Long term exposure to odors can cause atrophy of the olfactory apparatus and may cause the loss of ones ability to smell. As a result, odor nuisance complaints from local citizens and environmental groups have increased. This has resulted in new laws enforcing resolution of odors emissions.

Where are these odors generated?

Many processes generate or release malodorous compounds. Biological wastewater plants are sources of hydrogen sulfide, organic acids, ammonia and methane, as well as mercaptans, amines, indoles and skatoles. Other manufacturing locations such as pulp and paper mills, oil refineries, rendering plants and food processing plants often generate and release significant levels of malodors including amines, mercaptans and aldehydes.

Malodorous substances can be generated in any location in a wastewater collection or treatment system where anaerobic bacteria produce hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, organic acids and other decomposition products. Stagnant or non-aerated vessels are breeding areas for anaerobic bacteria. Sludge collection and holding tanks and poorly mixed digesters can be sources of hydrogen sulfide odors. Deposits of scum or sludge do not permit a sufficient inward diffusion of oxygen for them to stay aerobic and thus, odor free. Decomposing solids inland fills are sources of malodors, as are the process areas in pulp and paper mills, food processing plants and rendering facilities.

Can something be done to resolve malodor compounds?

The answer is yes! Read on...

There are many different approaches to odor control. There can be mechanical covers, scrubbers, natural barriers like trees or bark filters, there can be odor control chemistries applied on the surface area, in the water or in the air. The choices made must reflect the severity of the odors, the surrounding neighborhood, the work environment and obviously the cost to control the odors.

Some of the ways chemistries are used:

Precipitation / Scavenging

Neutralization

Bioengineering

One way to address odors is with Mist technology by using all natural oils.