Industrial Odor Elimination

Eliminating unpleasant or potentially harmful odors should be at the forefront of any industrial or commercial maintenance program. Unpleasant odors can lead to unhappy employees, contractors, customers, and visitors. Nobody likes bad smells–especially when some odors could affect physical health!

Let’s take a look at potentially harmful odors and how odor elimination works.

What is an Odor Eliminator?

An odor eliminator is a product or device that is used to reduce or eliminate unpleasant odors in the air. Odor eliminators are typically used in indoor spaces where unpleasant or potentially harmful odors are regularly present. This includes industrial facilities and large commercial facilities.

Odor eliminators are also available for homes and businesses but are often weaker and less specialized than industrial versions.

What are Harmful Odors?

There are many harmful odors that can be present in indoor and outdoor environments. Exposure to certain odors can cause a range of negative health effects, from irritation and discomfort to serious respiratory problems and long-term health effects. Common harmful odors include:

Smoke

Smoke from burning materials, tobacco, or other sources contains many harmful chemicals, including carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and benzene, which can cause respiratory problems and increase the risk of cancer.

Mold

The smell of mold indicates the presence of microscopic fungi that can cause respiratory problems, allergic reactions, and other health effects, especially in people with weakened immune systems.

Chemicals Odors

Many chemicals, such as those found in cleaning products, solvents, and pesticides, can emit strong and harmful odors that can cause irritation and respiratory problems.

Sewage

The smell of sewage can indicate the presence of harmful bacteria and viruses that can cause gastrointestinal problems and other health effects.

Gas

The odor of natural gas, which is added to the gas supply for safety reasons, can indicate a gas leak, which can be extremely dangerous and potentially deadly.

It is important to be aware of harmful odors and to take steps to reduce or eliminate them to protect the health of anyone who may be exposed to them.

How Odor Eliminators Work

Odor eliminators work by neutralizing or masking unpleasant odors in the air. There are several types of odor eliminators, each with its own unique mechanism of action. The most common types of odor eliminators include:

Odor Absorption

Some odor eliminators work by absorbing the odor molecules into a porous material, such as activated charcoal or zeolite. The odor molecules are trapped in the material, removing them from the air and reducing the overall odor.

Odor Chemical Reactions

Other odor eliminators work by chemically reacting with the odor molecules to break them down into less odorous compounds. For example, some odor eliminators contain enzymes that break down organic compounds that cause odors, such as pet urine or food waste.

Masking Odors

Some odor eliminators work by masking the unpleasant odor with a more pleasant scent. This is typically done by adding a fragrance to the air that is designed to be more pleasant than the odor being eliminated.

Odor Oxidation

Some odor eliminators work by oxidizing the odor molecules. This is typically done using an oxidizing agent, such as ozone or hydrogen peroxide, which reacts with the odor molecules to break them down into less odorous compounds.