ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT
Portable Sanitation Association International News
BIWEEKLY EDITION JULY 8, 2020
Page 13
A Worldly Perspective on Deodorizers and Odor Control…continued from page 12
Manitu Traders, Colombia
Juan Acosta, CEO of Manitu Traders, has experience with both chemical
manufacturing and portable restroom manufacturing. He believes there are
three fundamental factors our industry needs to consider for solving the
problem of bad odors during hot seasons:
1. Heat and humidity. According to Juan, "A huge part of the Latin American
market [is made up of] tropical countries, so the seasons are not an issue.
However, there are lots of different climate [variations] that tropical cities
face, and you have to add the humidity as an essential factor [to work
around]."
2. Impact of pH on deodorizer efficacy. Juan says, "The water pH varies from
one site to another and this is another essential [consideration]. We in the
industry have to consider solving this…issue. Depending on the pH of the water we use for the toilet, the
efficiency of the chemical products and factors will vary."
3. Composition of the fecal matter. "The diet of the people using the toilets will also have a huge impact on the
odors of the wastes and the efficiency of the cleaning products. The Mediterranean diet is different from the
Indian, the Chinese, and the American," Juan observes. While it is likely the diets of people most operators
serve won't vary much within their geographical region, this is an interesting observation when you are
providing units for special events such as a Tex-Mex festival or a chili cook off.
Juan Acosta—Manitu Traders,
Columbia
Continued on page 21
