A bacteria-filled filter is being perfected to prevent bad industrial smells from spreading over a whole town.
THE GIST
A biofilter laden with bacteria is designed to stop bad industrial smells at the source.
The bacteria can eat most of the compounds that produce the worst odors.
Several pig farming operations in Denmark are already using the filters.
Every so often there is an obnoxious smelling stretch of road where even rolled up windows can't help. Driving through becomes an exercise in breath-holding. Now a group of Danish researchers is working on perfecting a bacteria-filled filter to stop stench at the source.
"Some bacteria are specialized in transforming a single compound," said Jeppe Lund Nielsen, an associate professor of biotechnology, chemistry and environmental engineering at Aalborg University in Denmark.
Nielsen and his colleagues are studying the microbiology inside a specialized odor-treating filter to improve its effectiveness.
THE GIST
A biofilter laden with bacteria is designed to stop bad industrial smells at the source.
The bacteria can eat most of the compounds that produce the worst odors.
Several pig farming operations in Denmark are already using the filters.
Every so often there is an obnoxious smelling stretch of road where even rolled up windows can't help. Driving through becomes an exercise in breath-holding. Now a group of Danish researchers is working on perfecting a bacteria-filled filter to stop stench at the source.
"Some bacteria are specialized in transforming a single compound," said Jeppe Lund Nielsen, an associate professor of biotechnology, chemistry and environmental engineering at Aalborg University in Denmark.
Nielsen and his colleagues are studying the microbiology inside a specialized odor-treating filter to improve its effectiveness.
