Background
Three chemical elements and their derivatives are responsible for the most of the odors we commonly encounter in our homes, offices and plant environments. The elements are Nitrogen, Oxygen and Sulfur. All three of these components are ubiquitous in nature. Not all odors are unpleasant. In fact while chemical compounds containing nitrogen and sulfur are usually associated with foul odors, those containing oxygen tend to have a sweet or perfume like odor. The parent compound of most nitrogen containing odiferous chemicals is ammonia and urine (Chemical formula base NH3 ) is a typical example.
Not all ammonia compounds are considered offensive such as those found in glass cleaners, cleaning compounds and is the primary ingredient in smelling salts. While these odors are pungent they are not necessarily classified as foul or overly offensive. Organic derivatives of ammonia are however another story. Simple amines such as dimethylamine and triethylamine are constituents of herring brine and cause the “fishy odor” that many people find offensive. Another chemical member of this amine group is putrescene, its common name is tetraethylene diamine. This chemical compound is formed by the putrification of organic proteins. A good example of this action is the process that takes place in a cat litter box when organic proteins putrefy and begin their decomposition process. Another chemical formed by this same process is pentamethylene diamine commonly known as cadaverine. Ammonia derived compounds and the breakdown of the proteins in the animals urine as well as other factors such as the reaction of nitrogen and sulfur account for the pungent odor in pet urine. Good examples of sulfur derived odors are hard boiled eggs that burn in the pan, the smell of rotten eggs, a sewer lift station or a poorly functioning septic system. The culprit in these situations is hydrogen sulfide H2S and its organic derivative , butyl mercaptan; butyl mercaptan is the key ingredient in “skunk” odor.
How are odors detected?
For an odor too be detected, the responsible chemical compound must be volatile, i.e. it must become gaseous and readily disperse within the air we breath. Once this occurs, the compounds can stimulate the olfactory glands in the nasal passages and trigger a variety of complex reactions resulting in the brain detecting and in many cases recognizing the odor. With certain chemical compounds only a few molecules are required to cause the sensation of intense odor. Other chemicals effectively anesthetize the olfactory glands when present above a certain level and can no longer be detected. Hydrogen sulfide is in this category, and since it is in fact an acute poison, this feature is a dangerous phenomenon.
How are odors formed?
Many common household, yard , plant and institutional odors result from either waste products or decaying organic matter. During the decaying process the organic matter breaks down into smaller chemical molecules which are volatile and are released into the atmosphere.
How are odors controlled?
Odors can be controlled in three fundamentally different ways, masking, encapsulation and by a process known as destructive elimination. Everyone is familiar with the masking concept, which is basically what a common household air freshener does. In this approach, a variety of pleasant fresh smelling ingredients are atomized and introduced in a sufficiently high concentration that the pleasant odor temporarily covers up the unpleasant odor. The olfactory senses are tricked for a short period of time and in many cases people with allergies have reactions from mild to violent allergic rhinitis due to this exposure. The obvious weakness to this approach is that the odor is not destroyed but remains in the background and returns when the short lived fragrance dissipates. In many cases people with sensitive olfactory glands or people just entering the room can still smell the offensive odors.
A further complication comes when the odor source is of a persistent nature like a cat litterbox. You may be able to regularly spray a masking agent and trick your olfactory receptors but when a new person enters this environment the combination of the pungent urine odor and the sweet cover up become oppressive. Encapsulation is a mechanical process whereby an odor is coated with a zinc salt and the odor is covered up. The problem with this approach is that it is also temporary and the odors return within hours of the treatment.
Destructive elimination on the other hand is a process which actually destroys the odor producing chemicals, and can also be used to eliminate and treat a persistent source. In this process, an odor eliminating chemical is atomized or otherwise introduced in the atmosphere of the unpleasant odor. It then reacts chemically with the compound to a new compound which has no odor: ie the process actually destroys the odor. Further, when odor eliminating chemicals are sprayed an a persistent source such as waste matter, rotting vegetation, mildew, etc., not only does the compound destroy the immediate odor, but these chemicals speed up the destruction of the persistent source by oxidizing and reducing it to a non-volatile and therefore non-odorous material.
Although our odor destruction chemicals can not be combined with pleasant smelling compounds and perfumes they do have a characteristic fresh smell. The chemical reaction that takes place is similar to what happens to the air as a result of a thunderstorm. In fact, traces of the chemical responsible for the fresh smell found after a thunderstorm are present in our destructive elimination formula.
EXP 2000 is a safe non-toxic, biodegradable, non pathogenic, non-masking hypo-allergenic formula that is safe and economical to use. Feel free to use it wherever odors are a problem.
|
