Malodor Removal Solutions by Evonik

Eco‑friendly, high‑performance odor control for home, vehicle, textile, and I&I cleaning

Consumers expect cleaning products that not only work, but also support wellbeing and deliver a reassuring “smell of clean” - free from lingering odors or unpleasant smells. Evonik’s TEGO Sorb® portfolio helps formulators meet these expectations with zinc ricinoleate–based technology that captures and permanently eliminates odor molecules. Our solutions are readily biodegradable, easy to use across a wide pH range, and fully compatible with fragrance systems.

How malodor forms and how to control it effectively

Malodor affects every environment - homes, textiles, kitchens, bathrooms, vehicles, carpets, pet areas, public spaces, workplaces, and industrial sites - making effective odor elimination essential across cleaning categories.

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Malodor can be controlled in four ways:

Mask: Uses fragrance to cover malodor or unpleasant smells - helpful shortterm, but odor molecules remain.
Kill: Uses biocides or oxidizers to target odorcausing microbes, but cannot remove existing airborne odors.
Capture: Cyclodextrins temporarily trap odor molecules, but the malodor can return.
Eliminate: Zinc ricinoleate chemically binds and irreversibly neutralizes bad odor molecules. This solution readily biodegradable, fragrance‑compatible, and delivers permanent odor reduction.

Evonik focuses on elimination, the most effective long‑term approach. Evonik’s TEGO Sorb® products provide permanent malodor elimination, enabling formulators to build high‑performance, eco‑friendly, and fragrance‑stable cleaning solutions for multiple market segments.

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Evonik’s TEGO Sorb® portfolio – Eco-friendly malodor eliminators enable permanent odor reduction

Evonik’s TEGO Sorb® products provide malodor elimination, enabling formulators to build highperformance, ecofriendly, and fragrancestable cleaning solutions for multiple market segments.

Why choose TEGO® Sorb:

Eco‑friendly: readily biodegradable; supports sustainable formulations
High performance: permanent chemical binding of malodor molecules
Fragrance‑compatible: does not disrupt perfume profiles
Formulation flexibility: solutions available for pH 3–10
Broad application use: household, laundry, textiles, automotive, Industrial & Institutional (I&I)

TEGO® Sorb B 80 – Acidic systems (pH 3–5)

TEGO Sorb® B 80 is a highly effective, watersoluble odor absorber concentrate based on zinc ricinoleate solubilized with benzalkonium chloride. It is particularly suited for household and sanitary applications.

Key Benefits:

Permanent malodor elimination via irreversible chemical binding
Highly concentrated (>30% active), preactivated, and easily dilutable
Compatible with most fragrances
Removes cigarette smoke, sweat, garbage, toilet, pet odors, kitchen odors, and other tough odors

Applications: Bins, toilet sanitizers, pet care, cat litter, kitchen/bathroom cleaners, floor and multipurpose cleaners, carpets, I&I cleaning, transportation, metal, and food & beverage cleaning.

TEGO Sorb® Conc. 50 – Broad pH range (pH 3–8)

TEGO Sorb® Conc. 50 is a waterfree, highly concentrated odor absorber designed for gels, liquids, surfactant systems, and highconcentration formats. It is excellent for textile and laundry applications.

Key Benefits:

Permanent malodor elimination
Coldprocessable and waterdispersible
Soluble in surfactant systems
Compatible with most fragrances
Highly concentrated for efficiency

Applications: Textile refreshers, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, upholstery cleaners, carpet care, vehicle cleaning, I&I cleaning.

TEGO Sorb® A 30 – Neutral to alkaline systems (pH 9–10)

TEGO Sorb® A 30 is a versatile absorber that reacts irreversibly with hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, thioethers, isovaleric acid, ammonia, and other odor molecules. It provides continuous odor protection and is readily biodegradable.

Key Benefits:

Permanent malodor reduction with reactivation via humidity
Waterdilutable and easy to formulate
Nontoxic, readily biodegradable
Compatible with most fragrances

Applications: Alkaline kitchen cleaners, household cleaning, air fresheners, vehicle care, cat litter, garbage control, sewage, paper industry, I&I cleaning.

Partner with Evonik to capture the stink!

Ready to create cleaning products that deliver true, long‑lasting freshness? Get in touch to explore how Evonik’s TEGO Sorb® solutions bring eco‑friendly, permanent malodor elimination to your formulations.

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FAQ: Malodor control and consumers

Malodor control plays a powerful role in how consumers perceive cleanliness and wellbeing. Cleaning is increasingly tied to personal safety, mental comfort, and a sense of protection. The “smell of clean” is strongly connected to the “feel of clean,” making odor removal a key indicator of whether a product has truly worked.

Beyond eliminating bad smells, consumers now look for deodorizing products that deliver added value, including:

Greater cleaning efficacy
Natural or plantderived ingredients
Sustainable, ecofriendly formulations
Gentle and safe performance for people and surfaces
Multipurpose use across the home or travel environments
Timesaving convenience and simplified routines

Scents are processed through the olfactory bulb, which directly connects to the brain’s emotional (amygdala) and memory (hippocampus) centers - making smell one of the most emotionally evocative senses. Research shows that up to 75 percent of daily emotional reactions are influenced by smell.