Exhaust air purification in the animal feed industry – effectively eliminating odors, grease mist, and VOCs
Customized solutions for extruders, dryers, mixing lines, and storage facilities with oxytec systems
The production of pet food and animal feed is associated with a variety of odorous and pollutant emissions: During the processing of animal and plant raw materials, extrusion, drying, grinding, dosing, and packaging, odors, fatty acids, aerosols, and VOCs enter the exhaust air. Particularly critical are organic odors, grease mist, protein decomposition products, and exposure to high humidity and temperatures.
oxytec offers exhaust air systems that are specifically tailored to the animal feed industry and are eligible for approval—energy-efficient, low-maintenance, and reliable.
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Typical emission sources in animal feed production
| Process | Typical emissions | Special features |
|---|---|---|
| Extrusion / expansion | Grease mist, water vapor, protein vapors | Hot, humid, strong odors, protein-containing components |
| Drying/cooling | Moisture, VOCs, odors, aerosols | Large air volumes, diffuse degassing, hygienically sensitive |
| Grinding / dosing / mixing | Dust, flavors, feed additives | Reactive dusts, finely distributed, potentially odor-carrying |
| Fat coating | Grease mist, VOCs, triglycerides, odors | Sticky, oxidatively active, can clog filters |
| Packaging & storage | Residual emissions from pellets, fats, flavorings | Slowly escaping, often underestimated, noticeable odor |
Why is exhaust air purification important in the animal feed industry?
- Odor emissions quickly lead to complaints—especially in the case of facilities located near residential areas.
- Protein- and fat-containing exhaust air is corrosive and biologically active
- Moisture and temperature promote deposits, contamination, and corrosion
- Approval authorities require specific measures in accordance with TA Luft, GIRL, BImSchG
- Without exhaust air purification, there is a risk of production stoppages, restrictions, or lawsuits
With Oxytec, you can reduce odor emissions by > 90 %, lower maintenance costs, and increase your process reliability.
Legal requirements
- TA Luft (2021): Emission limits for organic substances & odors
- GIRL (Odor Emission Guideline): Limit values for neighborhood protection
- BImSchG: Permit requirement above certain production volumes
- ATEX / Hygiene Regulation: for flammable fats or dust aerosols
Oxytec supports you with permits, emission certificates, and coordination with authorities.
Get advice now – for clean air in animal feed production
Would you like to operate your animal feed plant safely, efficiently, and odor-free?
oxytec systems for animal feed production
UV ozone technology
Decomposes organic molecules and odors through photochemical oxidation—leaving no residue, safely and efficiently.
Advantages:
- No open flames, no thermal post-combustion
- Compact, modular design
- Ideal for emissions containing grease and protein
- No encrustation, no odor transfer
Activated carbon filter (optional)
Adsorption of residual emissions – as a secondary stage for sensitive locations or combined systems.
Prefilter & droplet separator
Mechanical filter stages for separating grease, dust, and aerosols—individually tailored to your process air.
Typical applications in practice
Production of dry food for dogs, cats, and farm animals
Extruder systems with high performance and air throughput
Dryer exhaust air with high temperatures and humidity
Coating processes with liquid fats or flavors
Factory ventilation to control diffuse emissions
Your advantages with oxytec
Odor reduction >90% – measurable and permanent
No thermal combustion, no gas consumption
Ideal for air streams contaminated with grease and protein
Low maintenance, energy efficient, retrofittable
Hygienic, food-safe designs available
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Which emissions are particularly critical in animal feed production?
Typical emissions are:
- Grease mist and aerosols from extruders and coating
- Protein decomposition products with an intense odor
- VOCs from drying, storage, flavorings
- Moisture and heat from dryers
- Organic sulfur compounds, ketones, and amines
This mixture is not only odorous, but also sticky, corrosive, and filter-clogging.
How reliable is the UV ozone system when dealing with greasy, humid exhaust air?
Highly reliable – Oxytec’s Clean Air System is specially designed for air streams contaminated with grease, protein, and odors.
- Pre-filter stages separate coarse grease particles
- The UV ozone process breaks down VOCs, odors, and organic residues
- The systems are designed to run continuously under production conditions – even in high humidity
Can the systems be operated in hot dryer exhaust air?
Yes—the technology is permanently temperature-resistant up to approx. 80°C. Higher temperatures are pre-regulated by heat exchangers or bypass solutions as required.
This means that hot exhaust air from belt dryers, fluidized bed dryers, or drum dryers can also be treated reliably.
What needs to be considered with regard to exhaust air containing grease and protein? Do the systems become clogged?
No – our systems are made of:
-
corrosion-resistant materials (e.g., stainless steel)
-
easy-to-clean pre-separators
-
and, on request, automated filter monitoring.
A regular maintenance cycle (e.g., pre-filter cleaning every 4–6 weeks) is usually sufficient.
How high is energy consumption compared to thermal post-combustion?
UV ozone systems operate purely electrically, without gas or flames.
- Typical consumption: 0.5–1.5 kWh per 1000 m³ of air, depending on load
- No warm-up time, no standby mode
- Lower CO₂ emissions, making them more sustainable and eligible for subsidies
Compared to TNV, energy savings of up to 60% can be achieved.
How long do the UV lamps last and how much maintenance do they require?
UV lamps: 8,000–10,000 operating hours
Pre-filter: Cleaning depending on contamination, usually monthly
Activated carbon post-filters (optional): Replacement depending on load, 1–2 times per year
Maintenance can be carried out by your own technical staff or via an Oxytec maintenance contract with remote monitoring.
How much is the odor reduced in real-world operation?
In practice, Oxytec systems achieve a reduction in odor-causing substances of over 90%, as confirmed by:
- Olfactometric measurements (according to DIN EN 13725)
- VOC analyses according to TA Luft / VDI 3880
Odor reduction is also reliable for complex, high-fat recipes and flavorings.
Is the system ATEX-compliant?
If necessary, yes – many areas of animal feed production facilities are considered potentially explosive (e.g., fats, flavors, dusts).
Oxytec supplies:
- ATEX-compliant designs
- Ignition-source-free UV chambers
- Pressure relief or gas monitoring on request
We provide support with documentation for explosion protection zones.
Is the Oxytec solution eligible for approval under TA Luft and GIRL?
Yes – our systems are:
- emission-reducing according to TA Luft (2021)
- odor-effective according to GIRL
- Approval-compliant for BImSchG systems
Upon request, we provide all relevant documents for approval authorities, including measurement plans and technical evidence.
