In the industrial and institutional cleaning markets, odors are a major challenge, and you want to create effective solutions for your customers dealing with odor issues. This process can be daunting, however, as there are so many types of these unpleasant smells and a multitude of ways to approach treatment. At MDG, we’re passionate about providing you with the education and tools you need to understand your customers’ challenges and achieve success. Discover some common odor compounds and how MDG’s SporActiv® ingredients can help you formulate products that face odor problems head-on.
Common Odor Compounds: Where They Appear and How They Smell
While each cleaning situation is different, you can still expect to see similarities in the odors found across many locations and surfaces. These include:
Sulfur-Containing Compounds
- What: Hydrogen sulfide, dimethyl sulfide, and mercaptans are all examples of sulfur-containing compounds.
- Where: These odor compounds are typically found in places where organic material is breaking down, including bathrooms, septic systems, and drains.
- Smell: If your customer is dealing with odors caused by sulfur-containing compounds, they may smell rotten eggs or cabbage, skunk, or garlic.
Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs)
- What: VFAs encompass a wide variety of compounds, but some of the most common include lactic acid, isobutyric acid, and acetic acid.
- Where: Like sulfur-containing compounds, VFAs are also produced by decomposing organic material in septic systems, drains, and food stains.
- Smell: Since there are many different types of VFAs, they have quite a few smells associated with them. Your customers may experience sour or rancid odors when smelling VFAs; they may also liken the smell to that of body odor, vinegar, or rotten cheese.
Nitrogen-Containing Compounds
- What: Common nitrogen-containing compounds include substances like skatole, ammonia, and uric acid.
- Where: Odors from nitrogen-containing compounds are found mainly when dealing with waste, whether human or animal. They are present in bathrooms and stains from pet waste.
- Smell: These compounds can smell of urine, feces, or bad fish.
Tackling Odors the Microbial Way
An effective way to tackle the challenges presented by odor-causing compounds is leveraging Bacillus-based cleaning ingredients like SporActiv®. By using these compounds as food, the Bacillus bacteria in MDG’s ingredients promote both their own growth and that of other native beneficial bacteria, extending the reach of their positive effects. SporActiv® ingredients are formulated with strains of Bacillus that produce a wide variety of enzymes which are key to breaking down certain components of odor-causing compounds, helping to mitigate odor efficiently.
Work with MDG: Your Bacillus-Based Cleaning Partner
The industrial and institutional cleaning markets are broad, and your customers will face a variety of challenges when it comes to controlling odors. MDG’s Bacillus expertise and collaborative partnership options can help you create products that meet your customers’ needs and propel your business forward.
Interested in learning more? Contact us today to explore your options!
MDG is the Bacillus solution that helps you scale and streamline without sacrificing product effectiveness.
