How it Works

METHODS OF GOC ODOR CONTROL

There are three (3) primary methods of odor treatment available from GOC Technologies. The first method is by Air Contact. This is the atomization of reactants and deodorizers into the same air currents that are carrying the odorous gases, enabling a reaction between the molecules of the odorous gas or gases and the deodorizer upon contact in the atmosphere. The second is by Surface Contact. This is the spraying or misting of a solid or liquid surface with reactants and deodorizers to generate reactions near or on that surface. This method treats the molecules as or just before they enter the gaseous or "vapor" state. The third method is by Incorporation. This is the addition of a substance or substances into a substrate in order to change the underlying reactions causing the odorous compounds to occur. This method reduces or eliminates the quantity of odor to be treated by air or surface contact.

AIR CONTACT

Products which operate through air contact must be misted, atomized, fogged, or otherwise initiated into

the air containing the offensive gases. This may be in either indoor or outdoor situations, and requires

corresponding equipment and technology depending on the exact situation. As the term "air contact"

implies, these products work by coming into physical contact with the molecules of the odor in the

atmosphere. Consequently, the product must be introduced in a form that allows its molecules to travel

wherever the odor molecules are traveling. The product particles must be small enough and light enough

to stay in the air so that the odds of their coming into contact with the odorous molecules are increased.

In general, GOC prefers atomization systems instead of fogging or misting due to the smaller size and

lower weight of the atomized particles. The nozzles we recommend and sell expend less than 1 gallon

of total fluid per hour at continuous operation. Some atomize only one half gallon per hour. There are

certain situations which require high volume while retaining small particle size. We utilize special air

powered nozzles with capacities up to 6 gallons per hour and more for these situations. We recommend

low pressure hydraulic systems for outdoor use or use in very large indoor areas, and compressed air

systems for indoor use in smaller applications, exhaust stacks, or in any situation where total

introduced moisture is an issue.

Control devices for these systems allow continuous or intermittent operation depending on the needs of the particular situation. Examples of situations for hydraulic systems include perimeters of landfills, the

mixing or turning areas of compost sites, large transfer station floors, and feedlots. Examples of situations

for compressed air systems include smaller transfer stations, pressing rooms in wastewater treatment

plants and paper mills, garbage rooms or compactor areas in buildings and hotels, and even restrooms.

In some applications, deodorization equipment may be attached to existing equipment and/or vehicles.

This is especially true at landfill and compost sites.

Some situations offer very few alternatives other than air contact treatment. This may be for physical

reasons, process reasons, or economic reasons. Other sites may be treatable in more than one way,

or they may require a combination of treatments. In some situations, a perimeter air contact

(atomization) system is installed as an emergency fall-back treatment for use only when other systems

fail to contain odors or cannot keep up with odor generation. For example, a transfer station that normally

utilizes topical treatment of the receiving floor and incoming wastes might maintain an atomizing system

over doors or near a perimeter as an emergency measure in conditions of high heat and humidity, or

when an extremely odorous load arrives.

SURFACE CONTACT

Surface contact products are designed to work topically on odor producing substrates. They can be

utilized on liquid or solid surfaces, and primarily work in one of two ways. They may form a crust or

surface seal or barrier to keep gases in, or they may form an area of increased biological or chemical

activity at the surface which limits or changes the reactions occurring and thus changes the types and

quantity of gases formed and emitted. Surface contact products may be applied using hand-held or

pressurized sprayers, or they may be applied with overhead nozzle systems, or attached to existing

equipment. In exact opposition to air contact systems, the particle size required to deliver these

products is larger and heavier than air. These particles need to drop quickly and spread over the surface.

They contain powerful surfactants to help the product penetrate rapidly and thoroughly. The desired

delivery system will lose minimal amounts of product to evaporation or to drifting.

Once a surface application is completed, further control is unnecessary until new material is introduced

or the surface area is agitated, turned, or otherwise disturbed. For example, a compost windrow treated

topically would need additional treatment after or during turning because one of the functions of turning is

to move the surface material into the interior of the row and to move the internal material to the surface.

A new surface is created by this action and therefore a new treatment is necessary.

Topical treatment is a very effective method of controlling nuisance odors in landfills. Topical products are cost effective for large surface areas, and many landfills have water trucks on hand. Adding a water cannon or fire nozzle to these trucks converts them to an excellent system for application of topical products. Usually one or two applications per day (midday and closing) are sufficient to eliminate or contain most odors.

When treating liquid substrates such as holding ponds, manure lagoons, or leachate ponds, remember that strong winds creating a choppy surface will be constantly agitating and changing the surface materials. This makes these surfaces difficult if not impossible to treat topically without regular re-application. The same is true for ponds and lagoons utilizing aeration or bubbling systems. Such applications are far more suited to incorporation treatments.

INCORPORATION

As the name implies, these products are actually mixed, injected, dripped, or otherwise infused into

a substrate. There are products suitable for liquid substrates, and products suitable for solid substrates.

These products are utilized in composting, wastewater treatment, wet well and lift station treatment,

facultative lagoons, and other applications.

In composting, methods such as static pile and aerated static pile are ideal for incorporation treatment.

The products may be incorporated at the same time the various feedstocks are being mixed together.

Incorporation is also ideal in digesters and lift stations in wastewater treatment, where a drip system or

metering pump may be the only equipment needed.

GOC does not primarily develop or sell bacterial products. Some GOC incorporation products work by

influencing the micro-biology of the decomposing wastes in the substrate. By delivering selected nutrients

and oxygen-rich compounds, these products increase the presence of microbes producing non-odorous

waste by-products while decreasing the presence of microbes which produce odorous by-products. This

is accomplished by modifying the substrate such that it enhances and encourages bacterial proliferation.

At GOC we believe the substrate must be modified to support desired microbial activity.
Without a supportive substrate, the addition of bacteria directly will be a brief fix that must require continuous reapplication.

Other GOC products utilize chemical reactions such as saponification (a reaction in which animal or vegetable fats, oils, and grease are converted to soaps) to eliminate the compounds which facilitate odor formation.

GOC incorporation products are extremely cost effective and represent excellent alternatives to the more conventional methods of air and surface contact.

Major examples of each method may be found in the applications section of this site. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are outlined in the table below.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGE
Air Contact
May be used anywhere	Larger perimeter areas may become cost prohibitive
Immediate impact	More equipment needed
Visibility to public	Treatment must be on-going
Surface Contact
Ease of application	Impermanent; new surface requires new treatment
Capital equipment needs are minimal	Performance may not be immediate
Cost effective	May not be visible to public
Incorporation
Single treatment	Requires time to be effective
Low cost	May require product customization for each situation
May have value added benefits