Letter 19523

Paint detackification odor

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My solvent borne paint detackification systems always smells so bad due to bacteria. My chemical rep says this is normal but employees complain. Is there a better way to do this?

Ed Petermann
- Cambridge, Ontario, Canada

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There are several ways of eliminating the solvent/bacterial smell from solvent borne paint pits. The easiest method is a combination of biocides that knock down the bacterial concentration to a manageable level. The response from you supplier is not accurate but does take some effort.

Ian Bain
- Kitchener, ON

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- Make sure to have good paint kill and good sludge removal through detackifier & flocculent. Keep water clean and clear (Turbidity < 100 NTU and suspended solids < 100 ppm).

- Mechanically, should routinely aerate the system to minimize sludge stagnancy that tends to increase the anaerobic bacteria growth; aerate to reduce the concentration of hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell). Be sure to have good ventilation. High frequency of aeration helps to reduce the usage of biocides.

- One of the biocides such as 35% hydrogen peroxide, or 1.5% Kathon or chlorine could be used to kill the bugs. Handle biocides with care (MSDS reference).

- Do bacteria culture through dip slide.
- If bacteria count > 10^6, shock (add) 1,000 ppm (or 0.1% of system volume)of the biocide above to the pit water.

- Maintain the bacteria level < 10^3. Weekly maintenance dose is 100 ppm (or 0.01% of system volume) of biocide.

- Please note that the cost of using biocide usage sometimes is more than the cost of detackification chemicals. But it is worth it in terms of safety & health.

Nang Bui, Detackification Chemist
- Michigan

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There are now bacterial additives to eliminate the odours associated with paint pits.

Ian Bain
- Kitchener, ON, Canada

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You need to survey the biological growth in the system first. there would be most probably SRB (one the most popular anaerobic Bacteria)that cause odor Problems.

The best control is to prevent and inhibit the microbiological growth in the make up water , paint additive , environment and specially usage a nonoxidizing biocide such as Nalco 7330.

MSOTAFA JAHANIAN
- Dubai , D , UAE

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The is a better way to deal with the smell then using dangerous biocides!

Atotech has our Kleeraid Paint Detackification system which uses aerobic microbes to consume a lot of you paint waste. These prevent the anaerobic bacteria from growing.

The net results are no smell, up to 65% less sludge, and cleaner water (and therefore longer life).

Our microbes also provide a stable pH to the water eliminating the need to add sodium hydroxide for adjustments.

This process is now used extensively throughout the world.

You should contact your local Atotech rep for more details.

Matthew Morey
Atotech - Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

July 17, 2008

Bad smell in the paint shop booth may be a normal thing, but there are ways to eliminate the unpleasant odour. Atotech KleerAid [Ed. note: Atotech is a supporting advertiser of finishing.com] has range of products to deal with the problems like this and more. It is will not only remove bad smell but it also detackify the paint from water effectively.

Shahab Shakeel
- Noida, India

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