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VOC Emission Control in Waste Gas

 

 

What are VOC's (volatile organic compounds)?

 

VOC Definition (according to EU-VOC-guideline 1999/13/EG):

 

  • All organic compounds which show a vapour pressure at 20 ˚C of 0.01 kPa (=0.1 mbar) or more

Or

  • Show a related vapour pressure under the actual conditions of application, e.g. higher temperature.

 

The aim of the EU-VOC-guideline is to minimize the VOC Emissions, due to their toxicity and climate changing character. The control of VOC emissions is becoming increasingly important due to changes in VOC regulations to combat climate change.

 

Examples of VOC's:

 

MEK                        (Methylethylketone)

PM                           (Methoxypropanol)

BTX                         (Benzene, Toluene, Xylen)

PMA                         (MPA, Methoxypropylacetate)

DPM                        (Dipropylenglycolmonomethylether)

MDG                        (Methyldiglycol)

 

 

VOC Emission Elimination - Stage Waste Gas Scrubber

 

 

Stage waste gas scrubber in

compact construction.

Performance: 3000 Nm3/h

Our process for VOC emission control / waste gas purification:

 

Waste gas purification by Enviolet® UV Oxidation (Advanced Oxidation Process)

It is a combined process of wet-chemical and absorptive scrubbing. The VOC’s are transferred into the aqueous phase and immediately partial oxidized, hence their solubility in water will increase. Practically any organic contaminant that is reactive with hydroxyl radical can potentially be treated. A wide variety of organics are accessible to UV/advanced oxidation like hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons and esters used as industrial cleaners. As nearly all chlorinated hydrocarbons are not biodegradable, UV oxidation is the most effective way to destroy such components. The advanced oxidation of the VOC leads to higher oxidation products and partial to CO2. Oxidized products and by-products are now biodegradable and no more toxic. The sorption achieved in the scrubbers is higher than 98-99%. The mineralization to CO2 + H2O is between 20 to 60%.
The grade of mineralization can be chosen.

 

The Enviolet® – UV –Oxidation applies the highest process reliability due to well developed and experienced technology and process control.

 

It is stable in performance and not sensitive against contaminants like catalyst-poisons, heavy metals, etc.

 

The optimized process leads to lowest possible running costs as the ratio of price/performance of the investment is the best.

 

Enviolet® Technology is in the application process for becoming declared as the BVT (best available technology).

 

VOC Waste Gas Cleaning Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP)

 

VOC Emission Control by Waste Gas Cleaning using Advanced Oxidation Process

 

Industries, VOC Emissions / Chemicals Removed, and Applications:

 

Aerospace

PCE, TCE, MEK, Specialty Chemicals

Adhesive, Painting, milling, Machined parts cleaning & Degreasing

Composite Fabrication

Styrene, Acetone

Boat building, Bath Fixtures, Spas, Aerospace

Electronics, Computers

Specialty Chemicals, Acetone, MEK,

Chip, Disc, Recording Media, other manufacturing

Finishing / Paint VOC

Xylene, Toluene, Acetone, MEK, IPA, Methylene Chloride

Paint Booth Spraying, Stripping, Other

Grain Processing

Hexane, Ethanol

Grain mills, Fuel production, Alcohol, Oil extraction

Packaging

PCE, TCE, Acetone, IPA, MEK

Adhesives use, Painting

Pharmaceutical

Methylene Chloride, IPA

Pill Coating, Extraction

Photography, Film Processing

Methylene Chloride

Film washing

Printing

Thinners, Solvents

All Printing Applications

Remediation

PCE, TCE, BTEX, others

Off-gas from air strippers, spargers, Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE)

Wood Products

Formaldehyde, Methanol

Press Vent VOC control

 

36 kW Enviolet®-UV-unit for oxidative waste gas purification with max. 2700 Nm³/h

 

Enviolet UV Unit for Oxidative Waste Gas Purification

 

Enviolet® UV-Oxidation versus other waste gas control

 

VOC Treatment technology

Residuals / byproducts

Disadvantages

VOC Absorption

Waste water, chemical sludges

Limited to soluble compounds, liquid absorbent may be transferred to the exit gas

VOC Condensation

Compound not destroyed, has to be hauled off site, may require hazardous waste handling.

Limited to lo range of compounds at high concentrations. High energy consumption.

VOC Adsorption

(TSA, PSA)

Spent adsorbent such as activated carbon which has to be hauled off site, may require hazardous waste handling.

Limited to low concentrations, not suitable for high humidity air streams. Sometimes high energy consumption.

VOC Thermal oxidizers /

VOC catalytic oxidizers

Forming of HCl, products from incomplete combustion

Not suitable for low concentrations, H2S Can damage catalyst. High energy consumption.

VOC Biofiltration /

VOC bio trickling filter

Leachate disposal, packing media disposal every 2-5 years

Moderate biodegradable emissions, large footprint, not used for chlorinated solvents.

 

43 Brunel Close, Drayton Fields Industrial Estate, Daventry, Northants, NN11 8RB, UK

Tel: + 44 (0) 1327 876600     Fax: + 44 (0) 1327 705131     Email: mail@kurion.co.uk

 

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This page was last reviewed 27/01/09