Deodorization

Elimination of bad odors. Bad odors are formed mainly during the putrefactive decomposition of organic substrates: various wastes, human and animal excretions, food products, etc. Bad odors can appear in sealed or poorly ventilated rooms: in underground shelters, in hospital wards of purulent surgical departments, etc. Specific odors are constantly observed at some industrial enterprises: sheepskin, leather, some chemical, etc.

Finally, a bad odor can come from a patient with a long-term serious illness. The presence of a bad odor is an indicator of violation of sanitary rules for the operation of premises and other facilities, failure to comply with requirements for the maintenance of public utility facilities, insufficient ventilation, violation of personal hygiene rules, etc. In this sense, deodorization has not only aesthetic, but also important sanitary and health significance.

Deodorization itself should not be mixed with masking bad odors using various aromatic substances. So, to fill the so-called deodorizers (ozonizers) hung in public restrooms, essential or pine oils are taken; mothballs are placed in urinals; Using aromatic substances, candles, paper, and powders are made, which, when burned, mask bad odors. All these means have only aesthetic value and often create a false impression of imaginary sanitary well-being.

Deodorization involves, first of all, the implementation of measures to prevent the occurrence of bad odors: proper storage of products, regular removal of sewage and waste, proper operation and maintenance of restrooms, garbage chutes, garbage receptacles in compliance with sanitary standards, keeping residential and non-residential premises clean, good ventilation of residential and business premises premises, personal hygiene, etc.

If it is impossible to remove foul-smelling substrates (difficulties with transport), lack of ventilation (sealed rooms), or if it is difficult to carry out wet cleaning of premises (water shortages), deodorization is carried out using physical and chemical methods.

The rotting masses are covered with earth, sand, peat in a layer of 8-10 cm or bleach and quicklime. The latter, having disinfecting properties, are also deodorizing agents (they kill rotting microbes); they are used in 20% solutions. Copper and iron sulfate are used in the same concentration.

At home (in the restroom, bathroom, etc.) for deodorization, you can use a 0.5-1.0% solution of potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide, etc.

For measures to eliminate or mask bad breath and sweating of the body and feet, see the articles “Bad Breath” and “Sweating”.

Deodorization is the removal of unpleasant odors and gases that are formed during the operation of buildings or technological processes in various industries, such as the chemical industry, food industry, tobacco factory, confectionery factory. Deodorization is also used in medical institutions to remove unpleasant odors from toilets, bathrooms, wards, and laboratories.

Deodorization can be divided into several types. The most famous are chemical deodorization, biological deodorization, ozonation, deodorization of premises using UV treatment. Biological deodorization includes traditional methods of prevention and odor control, such as maintaining cleanliness (washing floors, wiping off dust, etc.), carrying out special procedures (dust removal and air freshening, treating surfaces with special compounds). Many of these methods are described as deodorizing even though they are of low effectiveness. On an industrial scale, they are used solely to reduce the risk of exposure to unpleasant odors in confined spaces. Household or clinical technologies for eliminating odor are ineffective. Chemical deodorization is recognized as the most effective method of eliminating odors - this results in the release of toxic gases. This is not the most common method