{"id":13869,"date":"2025-01-21T18:13:48","date_gmt":"2025-01-21T12:43:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businessprojects.in\/nichem\/?p=13869"},"modified":"2025-04-02T14:30:22","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T09:00:22","slug":"odor-removal-technologies-for-recycling-processes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businessprojects.in\/nichem\/odor-removal-technologies-for-recycling-processes\/","title":{"rendered":"Odor Removal Technologies for Recycling Processes."},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRecycling of Plastic is a challenging activity for processors. The plastic waste is a mixture of \norganic and chemical compounds. These compounds degrade due to exposure to high \ntemperatures during processing. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVolatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) contribute significantly to the mal-odor as these arise \nfrom perishable items like food packs, milk pouches, cooked food pouches, fresh produce \npacks etc. One of the main sources also includes residual monomers, additives like plasticizers, \nstabilizers, flame retardants and by-products from polymer degradation. The by-products such \nas amines, phenols, mercaptans, styrene, aldehydes and ketones are common contributors to \nunpleasant odors in plastics. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRecycling processes further intensify these odors causing the polymers to degrade further. The \nfoul odors are sometimes retained in the end components which may not be acceptable to the \nconsumer as well as the end application. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThus, there is a need to identify unwanted odors and remove these contaminants during \nprocessing.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Disadvantageous of Mal-odors during Recycling \n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThus, there is a need to identify unwanted odors and remove these contaminants during \nprocessing.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  1. Worker Health and Safety<\/strong>
    Exposure to unpleasant and potentially harmful odors can cause headaches, nausea and respiratory distress among workmen. This may result in decreased productivity and concern among workmen.<\/li>
  2. Product Quality and Consumer Acceptance<\/strong>
    The final products made from recycled polymers may have persistent unpleasant odors. This may not be acceptable to consumers resulting in reduced demand for recycled items and hampering the company\u2019s credibility and reliability.<\/li>
  3. Environmental Impact<\/strong>
    Some VOCs may release unwanted intermediates which may cause air pollution and harm the environment.<\/li>
  4. Process Efficiency<\/strong>
    Dealing with odors can complicate the recycling process. It may need additional steps such as washing, deodorizing and using odor removal additives. It increases the cost and complexity of recycling operations.<\/li>
  5. Regulatory Compliance<\/strong>
    Stringent regulations regarding emissions and workplace safety may require recycling facilities to invest in additional set up for odor control. This legal compliance requirement may increase the operational costs.<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEffective Mal-Odor Management is crucial to mitigate these disadvantages and ensure that the \nprocessing facilities are convenient for workmen and recycled polymers are safe, reliable, high\nquality and marketable. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Odor Removing Techniques \n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    There are various advanced purification and odor removal techniques developed over the years for removing mal-odors during polymer processing. The primary mechanical pre-treatment method includes shredding of plastic into smaller pieces, washing the shredded material with water & drying the shredded material before moulding. This pre-treatment is followed by 4 main techniques, namely Adsorption, Thermal Treatment, Chemical Treatment and Deoderization. These techniques help to improve the quality of the recycled polymers and reduce unpleasant odors on the processing lines.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    1. Adsorption<\/strong>
      This involves using adsorbents that trap the VOCs and odorous compounds and do not
      release them back into the atmosphere. In simple words, Adsorption is the adhesion of
      atoms, ions or molecules from a gas, liquid or dissolved solid to a surface. The surface is
      called an \u2018adsorbent\u2019 and the substance getting adhered to the surface is called an
      \u2018adsorbate\u2019.<\/li>
    2. \u00a0Thermal Treatment<\/strong>
      This involves using heat processes to volatilise and eliminate the odorous compounds.<\/li>
    3. \u00a0Chemical Treatment<\/strong>
      This involves using chemical scrubbing compounds which react with the mal-odors and
      oxidise them. It describes the degree of loss of electrons of an atom in a chemical
      compound. Oxidation chemically removes the mal-odor compounds from the molten
      polymer mix.<\/li>
    4. Deodorizing Agents<\/strong>
      These are chemical compounds that are added as additives to neutralise or mask the mal
      odors. There is a growing trend of using bio-based additives that contain enzymes and
      natural extracts that break down or mask the odorants.<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Odor Removing Compounds <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Chemical actives used in Odor Removing Additives are selected based on specific types of odors they are expected to target and the nature of the polymers being treated. The actives include adsorbents, deodorizers, cyclodextrins, metal oxides, antioxidants, acid neutralizers, essential oils, enzymes etc.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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      1. Adsorbents<\/strong>
        Activated Carbon is one of the most widely used adsorbant due to its high surface area and porosity. It adsorbs VOCs and other odorants very effectively. Zeolites are aluminosilicate minerals which effectively trap and hold the VOCs due to their microporous nature. Silica Gel is also an effective adsorbent commonly used during recycling processes to remove foul odors.<\/li>
      2. Deoderizers<\/strong>
        Potassium Permanganate reacts with odor causing substances to neutralise them from the processing atmosphere.<\/li>
      3. Cyclodextrins<\/strong>
        Cyclic Oligosaccharides form complexes with odor molecules, encapsulate and neutralize them.<\/li>
      4. Metal Oxides<\/strong>
        Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide catalyse the break-down of VOCs and other odorants thereby reducing the mal-odor.<\/li>
      5. Antioxidants<\/strong>
        Compounds like Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) prevent the oxidation of polymer components. This reduces the formation of degradation byproducts during polymer processing.<\/li>
      6. Acid Neutralizers<\/strong>
        Compounds like sodium bicarbonate neutralize the acidic odoriferous molecules to control their odor.<\/li>
      7. Essential oils<\/strong>
        Aromatic oils like rosemary oil, wintergreen oil, vanillin, lemongrass oil etc are natural extracts which can neutralise or mask the odors due to their own antimicrobial or perfumery property respectively.<\/li>
      8. Enzymes<\/strong>
        Biological molecules like enzymes break down the mal-odor molecules to non-odor<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        NICHEM\u2019s Odor Control Technologies \n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNICHEM has developed a 2-stage control Odor Removing Technology\u2013 ODOGONE for the \nrecycling industry. It works on Adsorption and Oxidation Mechanisms explained below. \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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        Fig 1: Adsorption Mechanism of OdoGone <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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        Fig 2: Oxidation Mechanism of OdoGone<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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        1. Odor Removal by Adsorption<\/strong>
          Fig 2: Oxidation Mechanism of OdoGone During recycling, as the shredded polymer granules pass through the extruder, they melt due to the heat. This generates volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Some of these
          compounds are adsorbed on the surface of OdoGone molecules as depicted in Fig 1. Thus, the foul odors during processing are reduced significantly. The active compounds in OdoGone are selected based on their thermal stability at high temperatures as in the barrel of the extruder. The period of adsorption of mal-odors from the finished material cannot be defined due to the varied chemical nature of the VOCs. However, the finished material\/article prepared from recycled plastic may develop some odor due to trigger by external factors like heat. Data needs to be generated using accelerated UV\/Heat stability testing to analyse the reoccurrence of mal-odor in different types of shredded waste from the processors.<\/li>
        2. Odor Removal by Oxidation<\/strong>
          During recycling, while some VOCs get adsorbed, some of them get oxidised by losing electrons to the active molecules of OdoGone present in the hot molten mixture. The oxidation of VOCs reduces the mal-odor of the molten mixture. In this process, OdoGone gets reduced by gaining the electrons from the VOCs as depicted in Fig 2. Unlike physical adhesion of VOCs in Adsorption mechanism, Oxidation process chemically removes the mal-odors from the polymer mix.<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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          \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe recycling industry is very huge in developing countries, including India. Recycling is also \ngaining good momentum as the world is working towards creating a sustainable environment \nfor healthy living. Odor Removal Additive targets to solve one of the major hindrances in \nRecycling Plastic waste. NICHEM aims to have a range of products to promote recycling \ninitiatives. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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          About NICHEM<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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          Long-standing Specialty Chemicals player with ISO 9001:2015 certification and a history of providing specialty solutions for over 25 years. The company is headed by senior chemical industry specialists with the combined expertise of more than 100 years. With an emphasis on eco-friendly, non-toxic products, the company\u2019s primary strength is research, development, and customization. More information on NICHEM can be found at\u00a0https:\/\/nichem.solutions<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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          References:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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            \n \t
          1. https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Adsorption#cite_note-11<\/a><\/li>\n \t
          2. Guruge, Amila Ruwan (2021-02-17). “Absorption Vs Adsorption”. Chemical and Process\nEngineering. Retrieved 2023-11-26.)<\/li>\n \t
          3. https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oxidation_state<\/a><\/li>\n \t
          4. https:\/\/www.polymerupdateacademy.com\/WeeklyInsights\/Details\/1271749#:~:text=Volati\nle%20substances<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            Recycling of Plastic is a challenging activity for processors. The plastic waste is a mixture of organic and chemical compounds. These compounds degrade due to exposure to high temperatures during processing. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) contribute significantly to the mal-odor as these arise from perishable items like food packs, milk pouches, cooked food pouches, fresh […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14254,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"blog-type":[19],"product-category":[71],"class_list":["post-13869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","blog-type-technical-articles","product-category-polymer"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businessprojects.in\/nichem\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13869","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businessprojects.in\/nichem\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businessprojects.in\/nichem\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businessprojects.in\/nichem\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businessprojects.in\/nichem\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13869"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/businessprojects.in\/nichem\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13869\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16869,"href":"https:\/\/businessprojects.in\/nichem\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13869\/revisions\/16869"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businessprojects.in\/nichem\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14254"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businessprojects.in\/nichem\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13869"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businessprojects.in\/nichem\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13869"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businessprojects.in\/nichem\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13869"},{"taxonomy":"blog-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businessprojects.in\/nichem\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog-type?post=13869"},{"taxonomy":"product-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businessprojects.in\/nichem\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product-category?post=13869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}