Activated Carbon Industrial Odor Control Systems
Unwanted odors in commercial and industrial settings are rarely just a comfort issue. They often signal the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), acid gases, or other airborne contaminants that can affect the health of workers, visitors, and surrounding communities.
Riley Equipment Company has been helping facilities address these challenges since 1985 with activated carbon odor control systems designed for real-world conditions.
How Activated Carbon Controls Odors
Activated carbon works through adsorption, a process where gas molecules are attracted to and held on the carbon's surface. The activation process creates an extensive network of micro-pores and macro-pores that dramatically increases the surface area of each carbon particle. This pore structure gives the carbon a large capacity to trap odor-causing compounds, VOCs, and harmful gases as air passes through.
Both coconut shell and coal-based activated carbons are used in industrial air treatment, and each offers distinct strengths:
- Virgin activated carbon from coconut shell is a renewable material that performs well across a range of common contaminants.
- Coal-based carbon is often selected for environments with heavier gas loads. Impregnated carbons take this a step further by adding chemical agents that target specific gases, such as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
Our team will help you choose the right media for your application and contaminant profile.
Odor Control Equipment
Riley Equipment supplies a full range of activated carbon odor control systems, from compact drop-in filters for HVAC units to engineered scrubber systems for heavy industrial environments. Every unit we sell is made in America.
Refillable Modules
Refillable modules offer a cost-effective solution for HVAC and ventilation systems. Available in plastic, powder-coated steel, and stainless steel, these modules can be filled with any of our carbon or specialty media and refilled when spent, reducing long-term waste and cost.
Typical Applications to remove harmful gases and odors:
- HVAC and Ventilation Systems
- Museums
- Airports
- Morgues
- Animal Shelters
- Pulp and Paper Mills
- Laboratories
- Data Centers
- Cigarettes and Cigars Lounges
- Hospitals
- Commercial Buildings
- Paint Shops
Activated Carbon Impregnated Polyester Rolls
Activated carbon impregnated polyester rolls offer uniform air permeability and consistent adsorption performance at a low pressure drop. They work well in healthcare facilities, print shops, greenhouses, and other environments where ongoing odor control is needed without major equipment modifications.
Typical Applications:
- Odor Control
- HVAC and Ventilation Systems
- Hospital Air Purification Systems
- Health Care Facilities
- Paint Fume Odors
- Print shops and Dye Factories
- Pet and Animal Odors
- Aquarium Filtration Filters
- Greenhouse Systems Filtration and Odors
- Restaurants, Bars, Clubs and Lounges
- Exercise, Dance and Gym Facilities
- Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs
RECO Carbon Impregnated Pleated Air Filters
RECO's USA made carbon impregnated pleated air filters provide two-stage filtration that removes both odors and particulates. Rated at MERV 8 efficiency, these filters are interchangeable with standard HVAC air filters and available in 1", 2", and 4" depths.
They can last up to three months under normal conditions and are a practical option for offices, schools, hospitals, and restaurants.
- Filter Max Temperature: 180 °F continuous service and peaks at 225 °F
- Max. Humidity: Resistant to 100% R.H.
- Flammability: Class 2, U.L. 900
There are several benefits of our carbon impregnated pleated air filters including:
- Interchangeable with HVAC air filters
- Carbon Impregnated disposable pleated air filter
- Two stage filtration technology to remove odors, VOC’s, particulates and dust
- Available in 1”, 2” or 4” Depth
- Merv 8 efficiency rating
Deep Bed Scrubbers
Deep bed scrubbers are used in environments with high contaminant concentrations. These units maximize contact time between the air stream and up to 36 inches of chemisorbant media, and they can be configured with multiple media types to address complex gas mixtures.
Industries such as chemical processing, petroleum refining, and fertilizer production rely on deep bed scrubbers for consistent VOC and odor removal.
Side Access Units
Side access units handle both particulate and gaseous contaminants in a modular format designed for retrofit flexibility. The R-12 and R-18 models can be configured with multiple banks of media to target specific gases, making them a practical choice for protecting sensitive electronics and control rooms in corrosive settings.
Recirculation Units
Recirculation units provide self-contained particulate and gaseous filtration for spaces like data centers, telecom facilities, and server rooms. These systems remove contaminants generated by in-room sources and those introduced from outside air, keeping equipment within the manufacturer's warranty guidelines.
RD-200 Drum Filter Vessels
RD-200 drum filter vessels are designed for applications such as wastewater vents, sewer vents, lift stations, and storage tank vents. Each 55-gallon drum contains 220 lbs of activated carbon media and can absorb 10 to 15% of its carbon mass in contaminants.
RD-200 Drum Filter Vessels
RD-200 drum filter vessels are designed for applications such as wastewater vents, sewer vents, lift stations, and storage tank vents. Each 55-gallon drum contains 220 lbs of activated carbon media and can absorb 10 to 15% of its carbon mass in contaminants.
Odor Control Applications
There are several applications that could utilize activated carbon to remove an odor. These applications include:
- Cooking & Food Odors
- Pet Odors
- Vet Clinics
- Animal Shelters
- New Paint fumes
- Stain fumes
- Carpet & Hardwood Odors
- Bathroom Musky Odors
- Exercise
- Dance & Gym Facilities
- Restaurants and Bars
- Clubs
- Cigar Lounges
- Greenhouse
- System Filtration Odors
- Print Shops & Dye Factories
- Health Care Facilities
- Geriatric Health
- Care Facilities
- Bowling Alleys
- Airports
- Convention Centers
- Museums
- Morgues
- Pulp & Paper Mills
- Laboratories
- HVAC & Ventilation Systems
- Loading Dock Fumes
- Roofing Fumes
- Schools
- Commercial Buildings
- Hospitals
- Chemical Plants
- Industrial Facilities
- Solid Waste Treatment Facilities
- Sewage Treatment Plants
Whether the concern is cooking fumes in a restaurant kitchen, fuel exhaust at an airport terminal, or H₂S at a wastewater plant, we can match the right equipment and media to your situation.
Odor Control & Filtration Services and Support
Riley Equipment's service teams provide on-site media change-outs, filter replacement, preventive maintenance, and media life analysis. We monitor your system's performance and help you plan replacements proactively so there's no gap in protection. As a family-owned company, we prioritize responsive communication and long-term partnerships with every customer.
Request a quote today or call us at 1.800.593.2443.
