Why is a TROBOLO odourless?

How do odours arise in WCs, dry and chemical toilets?

Unpleasant odours, as they are known from dry toilets without a separation system, chemical toilets, but also from conventional toilets, are mainly caused by a simple, but momentous circumstance: It is well known that these toilet variants do not separate urine and faeces (excrement), which is less advantageous than it may initially appear.

One of the reasons for this lies in the catalytic effect that the mixing of solid and liquid excrements has on the formation of odours. This is because mixing them inevitably results in a particularly high moisture content, which is extremely beneficial to the formation of unpleasant odours. In addition, an unpleasant by-product, ammonia, is formed during the rotting and decomposition processes of the mixed excreta; this is responsible for the majority of unpleasant odours.

Conventional dry toilets without a separation system accept this odour formation as it were and offer few options to prevent it. Although chemical toilets prevent the formation of unpleasant odours, this is only achieved by using aggressive chemicals that are added to the mixed excreta. These chemical substances (including glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde and quaternary ammonium compounds) then prevent the natural, bacterial decomposition process, which stops the formation of odours, but transforms the toilet contents into a kind of chemical “combat mixture”.

This is not only extremely harmful to the environment, but is also anything but harmless to humans if you come into direct contact with these substances. Moreover, for this very reason, the contents of chemical toilets can only be emptied at specially equipped disposal stations, which requires enormous effort. As a result, chemical toilets successfully prevent the formation of odours; however, the way in which this result is achieved is not only questionable from an environmental point of view, but also poses considerable challenges for both the user of the chemical toilet and the municipal waste water industry when disposing of the chemical substances.

The TROBOLO dry toilets - toilets without smell

When using our TROBOLO dry toilets, however, you do not have to put up with any annoying odours! All our toilets have different features that prevent odours in an uncomplicated and environmentally friendly way. All TROBOLO toilets have in common the well thought-out TROBOLO separation system, which already reduces the formation of odours to a large extent. Depending on the type of toilet, a natural or electrical exhaust air system supports the complete absence of odours in our dry toilets. How exactly this works is explained in the following sections.

1. The TROBOLO separation system

The TROBOLO separation system separates urine from faeces and directs it into a separate liquids container. As this prevents solid and liquid excretions from mixing, any formation of odours is also prevented as described above. Unpleasant odours are thus reduced to a minimum by this separation process.

Any residual odours, which can be caused by solids in particular, are bound in our models lacking an electrical exhaust air system by adding compostable and ecological litter. This is added to the faeces after every “Number Two”, binds the remaining moisture and thus also any lingering odours.

In contrast to a composting toilet, where all urine, which makes up 90% of human excreta, has to be bound along with solids due to mixing with them, the TROBOLO with our TROBOLO Separation System only adds litter to solids and therefore requires much less of it.

2. The natural exhaust air system of TROBOLO dry toilets

Thanks to our TROBOLO separation system and the use of litter, formation of unpleasant odours is already decisively and effectively prevented. The TROBOLO KersaBœm, our model for outdoor use, also has an exhaust air system that makes use of the natural chimney effect. This physical effect ensures that warm air rises and a slight suction is created inside the exhaust duct. Thanks to these vertically directed air currents, moisture and residual odours are conducted out of the dry toilet via the exhaust air pipe, which additionally promotes odour neutralisation.

Due to the natural functioning of this exhaust air system, no electrical energy is required, which not only saves you additional costs, but also ensures maximum freedom in the choice of location for your TROBOLO KersaBœm.

Electrical exhaust system (left), Natural Electrical exhaust system (right)

3. The electrical exhaust air system of the TROBOLO dry toilets

Another way of consistently eliminating the formation of odours is to install an electrical exhaust air system, as used in our TROBOLO TeraBlœm. This transports residual odours and any moisture that occurs to the outside via an exhaust air pipe. The exhaust air duct is installed either vertically at a height of about two metres, so that surrounding areas are not disturbed by odours, or horizontally directly through the outer wall, provided that there are no public areas directly behind it.

Inside the TROBOLO TeraBlœm, the electrical exhaust air system provides a permanent, slight negative pressure, so that any residual odours that may arise cannot enter the surrounding room, even during use. The efficient exhaust air system thus not only prevents 100% of residual odours from escaping from the dry toilet and thus makes the use of litter superfluous, but is also more comfortable than a conventional toilet in terms of odour elimination.

In addition, the power consumption of only 2 watts is extremely economical and generates annual electricity costs of less than 4 euros if the TROBOLO is used throughout. Our electrical exhaust air system thus offers you efficient and complete odour elimination at minimal running costs.