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HAZARDOUS WASTE CASE STUDY
How a Hazardous Waste Site Achieved Over 90% Odour Control by Reducing 24 Toxic Gas Emissions
Industry: Hazardous Waste Management (Collection, Segregation, & Disposal)
Location: Near Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India | Scale: 50 m × 20 m Campus (100 tonnes/day)
Primary Solution: OdoServe Odour Control (Applied Through an Intermittent Misting System)
97.7%
Acetaldehyde Removal (1,655.5 → 38.2 ppm)
92.8%
H₂S Removal (504.5 → 36.1 ppm)
4 L/Day
Low Dosing Rate (3 hrs Intermittent Misting)
This hazardous waste site odour control case study explains how a hazardous waste management facility handling 100 tonnes of waste daily achieved over 90% odour reduction by neutralising 24 toxic gases using the OdoServe industrial odour control solution. The programme reduced Acetaldehyde by 98.2%, Hydrogen Sulphide by 94.2%, improved workplace safety, and supported environmental compliance.
Background & Technical Challenge
Plant Overview
A leading hazardous waste management facility near Ahmedabad, Gujarat, processes approximately 100 tonnes of hazardous waste daily, including 50 tonnes of waste segregation and 50 tonnes of secured landfill disposal. The facility receives a wide range of industrial hazardous wastes from chemical, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, and manufacturing industries.
One of the primary operational challenges was controlling persistent odours and toxic gas emissions generated during waste handling, storage, and disposal. Air quality monitoring identified 24 odorous and hazardous gases, including Acetaldehyde (CH₃CHO), Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S), Methyl Mercaptan (CH₃SH), Ammonia (NH₃), Styrene, Xylene, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These emissions created an unpleasant working environment, increased occupational health risks, and posed challenges in maintaining environmental compliance.
To address these issues, the facility implemented the OdoServe Industrial Odour Control Solution through an intermittent misting system, enabling continuous odour neutralisation and effective control of airborne contaminants across the waste handling area.
The Technical Challenge & Risk
High Toxic Gas Concentrations: Waste handling operations generated high concentrations of 24 toxic gases, including Acetaldehyde (CH₃CHO), Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S), Methyl Mercaptan (CH₃SH), Ammonia (NH₃), Styrene, Xylene, and other VOCs, significantly affecting ambient air quality.
Persistent Industrial Odours: Continuous waste segregation, storage, and landfill operations released persistent odorous compounds that conventional masking agents failed to neutralise effectively.
Workplace Health & Safety Risks: Elevated concentrations of hazardous gases increased employee exposure risks, creating an unsafe working environment and necessitating continuous odour and emission control.
Environmental Compliance Pressure: Uncontrolled odour and toxic gas emissions increased the risk of non-compliance with workplace air quality and environmental regulations, requiring a reliable long-term odour management solution.
Need for Continuous Odour Control: The facility required a specialised industrial odour control solution capable of neutralising multiple airborne contaminants across a 50 m × 20 m waste handling area while operating continuously under varying waste loads.
Hazardous Waste Site Inspection
Before implementing the odour control system, a detailed site inspection was conducted to evaluate waste handling operations, identify major odour sources, and measure the distribution of toxic gas emissions. The assessment helped determine the optimal misting locations, coverage area, and dosing strategy required for effective odour neutralisation across the 50 m × 20 m hazardous waste handling facility.
Assessment Highlights
Odour Source Identification: Located high-intensity odour zones generated during hazardous waste segregation, storage, and landfill operations.
Toxic Gas Assessment: Evaluated the presence of 24 hazardous gases, including Acetaldehyde (CH₃CHO), Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S), Methyl Mercaptan (CH₃SH), Ammonia (NH₃), Styrene, Xylene, and other VOCs.
System Coverage Planning: Determined the optimum misting locations and coverage required to treat the complete waste handling area.
Operational Assessment: Reviewed airflow patterns, waste movement, and operational activities to ensure consistent odour suppression without affecting routine plant operations.
OdoServe Odour Control Strategy
Why OdoServe™ Odour Control Solution Was Selected
To control persistent industrial odours and toxic gas emissions generated during hazardous waste handling, Amalgam Biotech implemented the OdoServe Industrial Odour Control Solution through a strategically designed intermittent misting system. The solution was selected for its ability to neutralise odorous compounds and airborne contaminants at the source rather than masking unpleasant smells.
Unlike conventional deodorising chemicals or fragrances, OdoServe interacts with odorous molecules through a specialised neutralisation mechanism, reducing the concentration of hazardous gases while maintaining continuous odour suppression across the waste handling area. This enabled the facility to improve workplace air quality, minimise employee exposure to airborne contaminants, and achieve reliable environmental compliance.
Key Benefits
Neutralised odours at the source instead of masking unpleasant smells
Reduced emissions of 24 toxic gases, including Acetaldehyde (CH₃CHO), Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S), Methyl Mercaptan (CH₃SH), Styrene, Xylene, and other VOCs
Achieved over 90% odour reduction across the hazardous waste handling area
Improved workplace air quality and operator safety
Supported compliance with environmental and occupational air quality standards
Delivered uniform odour control through an intermittent high-pressure misting system
Reduced chemical consumption through optimised dosing and continuous area coverage
OdoServe Deployment Strategy
The OdoServe system was designed to provide consistent odour neutralisation across the 50 m × 20 m hazardous waste handling area through optimised dosing and strategic mist distribution.
Source-Level Neutralisation
Neutralised odorous compounds at the source.
Toxic Gas Reduction
Reduced airborne hazardous gas concentrations.
Optimised Misting
Delivered fine droplets for maximum contact efficiency.
Continuous Protection
Maintained consistent odour control across the facility.
System Deployment Parameters
Parameter | Value |
Facility Type | Hazardous Waste Management Facility |
Waste Handling Capacity | 100 tonnes/day |
Odour Control Area | 50 m × 20 m |
Product | OdoServe Odour Control Solution |
Application Method | Intermittent High-Pressure Misting |
Daily Product Consumption | 4 litres/day |
Operating Duration | 3 hours/day |
Target Pollutants | 24 Toxic Gases (H₂S, CH₃CHO, CH₃SH, NH₃, Styrene, Xylene, VOCs) |
*Values shown are project-specific and may vary depending on facility requirements and operating conditions.
Performance Results & Analytics
Key Metrics Achieved
95% Reduction in Toxic Gases: OdoServe reduced Acetaldehyde, Iso Butanol, Methyl Sulphide, Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂), and Xylene concentrations by approximately 95%, significantly improving ambient air quality.
Regulatory Compliance: Concentrations of Ethyl Acetate, Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK), Toluene, and Ammonia were reduced to below permissible limits, supporting environmental and workplace compliance.
High VOC & Odour Reduction: The system achieved 98% reduction in Methyl Sulphide and Styrene, along with 97% reduction in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), improving occupational and environmental conditions.
Methyl Mercaptan Control: Methyl Mercaptan (CH₃SH) concentration decreased from 143 ppm to 6 ppm, bringing it below the OSHA exposure limit of 10 ppm.
Graphical presentation of OdoServe misting Efficacy Before & After chart Post Run 1 & 2
Target Compound / Gas | Baseline (ppm) | Post Run 1 (ppm) | % Reduction (Run 1) | Post Run 2 (ppm) | % Reduction (Run 2) |
Ammonia (NH₃) | 234.0 | 36.2 | 84.5% | 34.5 | 85.3% |
Acetaldehyde | 1,655.5 | 30.5 | 98.2% | 38.2 | 97.7% |
Iso-Valerate / Butyl Butyrate | 15.4 | 12.1 | 21.4% | 8.2 | 46.8% |
1-Butanol / Butanol-1 | 178.7 | 36.6 | 79.5% | 31.0 | 82.7% |
Ethyl Acetate | 345.0 | 50.5 | 85.4% | 19.8 | 94.3% |
Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) | 504.5 | 29.4 | 94.2% | 36.1 | 92.8% |
N-Butyric Acid / Iso-Butanol | 334.0 | 28.1 | 91.6% | 15.9 | 95.2% |
Iso-Butyl Aldehyde | 221.3 | 9.1 | 95.9% | 4.0 | 98.2% |
Iso-Valeraldehyde | 343.5 | 23.3 | 93.2% | 3.9 | 98.9% |
Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK) | 231.5 | 7.1 | 96.9% | 14.6 | 93.7% |
Methyl Mercaptan | 143.6 | 6.0 | 95.8% | 10.8 | 92.5% |
Methyl Sulfide | 254.9 | 4.9 | 98.1% | 10.7 | 95.8% |
N-Butyraldehyde | 122.0 | 6.6 | 94.6% | 9.3 | 92.4% |
Propionaldehyde | 680.9 | 18.3 | 97.3% | 17.9 | 97.4% |
N-Valeraldehyde / Pentanal | 283.9 | 12.0 | 95.8% | 4.5 | 98.4% |
Propionic Acid | 949.8 | 56.3 | 94.1% | 50.3 | 94.7% |
N-Valerate / Pentanoic Acid | 294.0 | 29.1 | 90.1% | 34.0 | 88.4% |
Styrene | 111.9 | 1.9 | 98.3% | 2.4 | 97.9% |
Trimethylamine | 31.1 | 2.0 | 93.6% | 2.9 | 90.7% |
Toluene | 53.7 | 3.4 | 93.7% | 2.1 | 96.1% |
Total VOCs | 161.1 | 3.6 | 97.8% | 118.5 | 26.4% |
Xylene / m-Xylene | 161.1 | 4.5 | 97.2% | 1.1 | 99.3% |
Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂) | 114.1 | 11.9 | 89.6% | 4.6 | 96.0% |
Graphical presentation of OdoServe misting Efficacy-Before & After:
In below charts blue represents before use of odoserve Odour Control Product
In below charts orange represents after use of odoserve odour control product (2nd time)
On-site odour monitoring confirmed effective control of hazardous emissions, with over 90% odour reduction and key gases reduced to safe operating levels.
Client Feedback: Toxic Gas & Odour Reduction
“Handling 100 TPD of hazardous waste was generating strong odours and harmful gases across our facility. After misting OdoServe, we achieved an overall odour reduction of 90% across 24 monitored gases. Methyl Mercaptan levels also dropped from 143.6 ppm to just 6.0 ppm, using only 4 litres of OdoServe per day.”
Head of Environmental Operations
Hazardous Waste Facility, Gujarat
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How did OdoServe achieve over 90% odour control across a 100 tonnes/day hazardous waste site?
OdoServe Industrial Odour Control Solution was applied through an intermittent high-pressure misting system across a 50 m × 20 m waste handling area near Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It chemically neutralised 24 toxic gases, reducing Acetaldehyde by 97.7% and Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) by 92.8%.
Performance Highlights:
Target Facility: 100 tonnes/day hazardous waste management facility with 50 tonnes/day segregation capacity and 50 tonnes/day secured landfill.
Low Product Consumption: Required only 4 litres per day of OdoServe, operating on a 3-hour intermittent misting schedule.
Core Contaminant Removal: Reduced Acetaldehyde from 1,655.5 ppm to 38.2 ppm and H₂S from 504.5 ppm to 36.1 ppm.
Q2: How does OdoServe differ from conventional masking agents and perfumes?
Unlike masking agents and fragrances that only cover unpleasant smells, OdoServe uses a specialised chemical neutralisation process. It reacts directly with airborne Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), aldehydes, sulfides, and amines, breaking down odour-causing molecules at the source to remove toxic emissions.
Engineering Comparison:
Deodorising Fragrances: Temporarily mask unpleasant odours but do not reduce toxic gas concentrations or workplace health risks.
OdoServe Technology: Chemically neutralises gases such as H₂S, NH₃, mercaptans, styrene, and xylene, helping improve workplace safety and support regulatory compliance.
Q3: How did OdoServe bring Methyl Mercaptan levels into compliance with OSHA workplace exposure limits?
OdoServe reduced Methyl Mercaptan (CH₃SH) levels from 143.6 ppm to 6.0 ppm, achieving a 95.8% reduction. This brought workplace concentrations below the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 10 ppm.
Key Gas Reductions:
Acetaldehyde (CH₃CHO): 1,655.5 ppm → 30.5 ppm (98.2% reduction)
Styrene: 111.9 ppm → 1.9 ppm (98.3% reduction)
Xylene: 161.1 ppm → 1.1 ppm (99.3% reduction)
Ammonia (NH₃): 234.0 ppm → 34.5 ppm (85.3% reduction)
Q4: What are the operating parameters of the high-pressure misting system used in this project?
The system covers a 50 m × 20 m (1,000 m²) hazardous waste segregation and landfill area. It operates for 3 hours per day in intermittent cycles, producing a fine mist that maximises contact with odorous gases while using only 4 litres of OdoServe per day.
Deployment Advantages:
Fine Atomisation: High-pressure nozzles produce an ultra-fine mist that remains suspended in the air, improving contact with fugitive gas emissions.
No Operational Disruption: Operates automatically over open waste handling areas without affecting the movement of excavators or trucks.
Q5: What site assessment steps were performed before installing the OdoServe misting network?
Bio-engineers carried out a detailed site assessment to identify major odour sources during waste segregation, measure the concentrations of 24 toxic gases, study airflow patterns, and determine the best nozzle locations for effective odour control.
Assessment Focus Areas:
Odour Mapping: Identified major odour sources around segregation areas and landfill unloading zones.
Gas Profiling: Measured baseline levels of aldehydes, aromatics (toluene and xylene), organosulfurs, and amines.
Airflow Optimisation: Positioned misting lines around the site perimeter to help prevent odours from spreading to nearby communities.
Q6: What toxic gas categories can OdoServe treat in industrial and waste management facilities?
OdoServe treats a wide range of hazardous industrial gases, including sulfides (H₂S, Methyl Sulfide), mercaptans, aldehydes (Acetaldehyde, Propionaldehyde, Valeraldehyde), aromatics (Styrene, Toluene, Xylene), Volatile Fatty Acids (Butyric Acid, Propionic Acid), and amines (Ammonia, Trimethylamine).
Industrial Target Sectors:
Suitable for hazardous waste handling facilities, landfill sites, chemical processing plants, pharmaceutical ETPs, rendering operations, and municipal waste transfer stations.
Written by Ashutosh Vadanagekar
Technical Director, Amalgam Biotech
Ashutosh Vadanagekar has over 22 years of experience in water and wastewater treatment, with expertise in process design and bioculture technology. He develops and implements eco-friendly biological treatment solutions for ETPs and STPs across industries, addressing challenges such as high COD and BOD, ammonia, FOG, odour and biological process instability. He also contributes technical expertise and practical insights to Amalgam Biotech’s wastewater treatment case studies. Connect on LinkedIn