Controlling odors generated by rendering facilities is a public relations challenge facing renderers today. Now there is a way to neutralize odors using essential oils.
For rendering facilities, common areas of odor generation include raw material receiving areas, scrubbing systems, drain lines, and wastewater treatment operations. To deal with these odors there are a number of options. Scrubbers, oxidizers, and absorption techniques are being used with some success, but as residential homes grow closer to rendering facilities, and the tolerance of these neighbors lessens, further methods are needed. Although the like or dislike of certain odors is purely subjective, some specific odorous gases can cause breathing problems, sore throats, and other health concerns.
Common odors around a rendering facility include odors caused by mercaptans, amines, ammonia, and corrosive hydrogen sulfides. Often times odorous compounds and the resulting smells will change as production levels and raw materials change and the odorous gases react together. As a result, renderers take steps to reduce odors, but find neighbors complaining about new or different smells. In the past, many facilities attempted to spray masking agents that do not address the issues of odors but rather do a poor attempt at covering them.
Essential Oils
Aquafix, Inc., has blended a group of compounds, referred to as DAZZeL essential oils, that have the ability to break up and destroy odors. The first application with this product was when a customer in a rendering related facility asked for help in knocking out odors coming from the “grease capped” wastewater pond. They had tried everything in the past, with little success. When the essential oils were developed, applied, and subsequently worked, the rendering plant’s engineers were pleasantly surprised, and their results have propelled the product ever since.
Essential oils are oils extracted from a plant source, botanical, or spice product. The oils are blended according to their ability to react with and neutralize odorous compounds. Specific formulations are used to react with different odor molecules. These essential oils are atomized into small micron beads that then bond with the odor molecules, react going from a vapor to a gaseous phase, and destroy the odor. These oils react quickly, reducing odor intensity, and then further react with the molecules as they break down. In some cases, these oils will break the odor molecule; in other cases they will simply change the odor molecule, knocking out the smell.
Methods of Application
Because the essential oil products are natural and completely safe, atomization of the product does not require specially designed equipment. Many customers use off-the-shelf equipment like a fogging machine or a pressurized pump with nozzles. Customers are guided to find effective, simple equipment solutions.
These products are most effective when applied directly over the source of the odors. When applying the essential oils, it is important to set up a system that provides an even application over the odorous area. The oil product has been applied to receiving areas, into scubbing systems, or around wastewater operations. Some users have electrically tied their atomizer into a thermostat or wind vane, which is then set to turn on at certain temperatures or with certain wind directions.
Drain Lines
In many cases, the essential oils are used to clean the floors. The essential oils are now blended with select grease digesting bacteria to naturally clean grease and odors out of drain lines. Either way, the goal is to have a simple, effective system.
Overall, essential oils are safe and inexpensive to use and will leave your neighbors’ olfactory senses less aware of your presence.
This technology works well with technologies already present in rendering facilities and goes one step further in excellent public relations.
October 2002 Render