As the world’s population has increased, urban centers have expanded and created sprawl. Cities and their suburbs have engulfed rural and industrial areas like never before. As a result, longtime residents of these areas, such as industrial plants and facilities, have been forced to adapt. Issues that were never a concern previously, are now taking precedence. Among these concerns are the odors that are emitted as a byproduct of processes. These odors must be controlled, reduced, or eliminated altogether. Plant stakeholders must understand a number of different aspects of their operations in order to prevent or address the odors that are being emitted. Renderers are among the most affected by this and thus will be the focus of this article. Some of the factors that renderers must consider are:
It’s important to understand both the mechanical process that is producing the odors and the molecular makeup of the odor compounds that need to be controlled. Start by identifying the materials being used and the way in which these materials are being converted to the final product. Generally, odors that are released are a byproduct of this process.
Renderers process animal byproducts such as animal fat, bone, feathers, hides, blood, and internal organs. Generally, a 1,000-pound steer has about 600 pounds of edible meat. The remaining 400 pounds are processed by renderers. (Franco, 1996) The perishable nature of the material being processed results in odors being emitted from plants. The longer a material is stored without being processed, the more odor compounds are created and emitted. These odors are a very intricate mixture of organic compounds.
There are thirty or more odor-causing byproducts being created in a rendering plant. Among the major compounds are organic sulfides, disulfides, aldehydes, amines, organic acids, alcohols, ketones, and hydrocarbons. (Burgwald TA., 1971) Some of these compounds, such as Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S), have very low odor thresholds. These compounds can be detected at levels as low as 1 ppb. As a result, highly efficient odor control processes are necessary.
The two most commonly used processes to remove odor compounds from the air are: boiler incineration and multistage wet scrubber systems.
As demands for space and food continue to rise, manufacturers will continue to be pressed more and more. Renderers will be processing ever-increasing amounts of material while being told to reduce their odor emissions. Chem-Aqua has an expansive product line ready to address any odor control need or situation. We are also able to create and install generator systems customized to fit any application. Our field representatives have experience with Chlorine Dioxide, Paracetic Acid, odoreXile, and more. Contact Chem-Aqua today to have an experienced representative survey your facility and lend their expertise.
Written by: Tim Daniels
Burgwald TA. (1971). Identification of Chemical Constituents in Rendering Industry Odor Emissions, project no C8172. Chicago: IIT Research Institute.
Franco, D. A. (1996). The Original Recyclers. In D. A. Franco, The Original Recyclers (p. 33). The National Renderers Association.