We conducted research on the removal performance of various odor substances using a deodorizing agent, hypochlorite ion (OCl-), in odor emission sites where various odor-causing substances occur simultaneously. In experiments treating odor gases containing mixtures of aldehydes (acetaldehyde, n-butyl aldehyde, iso-valeraldehyde, propionaldehyde), sulfur compounds (hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulfide), and nitrogen compounds (ammonia and trimethyl amine), it was demonstrated that the introduced odor substances could be simultaneously removed when electrolyzed water was used. The overall removal efficiency was found to be significantly higher than when water alone was used. Particularly, it showed simultaneous effectiveness against acidic, neutral, and alkaline odor substances such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. Considering the positive aspects with regard to chemical safety, the use of salt instead of chemicals, and the continuous regeneration of the oxidizing agent, this environmentally friendly deodorization technology is expected to contribute to securing excellent odor removal capabilities and wide-ranging deodorization applications.

In this study, various conditions and phenomena that occur in the process of removing odorous VOCs by using electrolyzed oxidant were examined. The formation of hypochlorous acid, which is an oxidant produced by electrolysis, was investigated and the properties of the oxidizing agent used to decompose toluene, xylene, and cyclohexane were investigated. As a result, it was found that the production rate and the final concentration of the oxidizing agent increased with the current density. It was found that the degree of removal varies depending on the property of each pollutant. Interestingly, in the batch experiments in which the pH of the produced oxidant was controlled, it was found that the degree of elimination varied depending on the pH of the substance. These results suggest that the difference in the concentration and distribution of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hypochlorite (OCl−) due to the pH change leads to the difference in oxidizing power on the oxidation characteristics of each substance. Styrene and terpineol showed better degradation characteristics than toluene and xylene in odorous VOC removal experiments by spraying electrolytic oxidant using a lab-scale continuous reactor. In conclusion, the removal of odorous VOCs by the electrolytic oxidant can have various applications in that it can oxidize pollutants of various spectra.