Efficiency and cross-media effects of VOC treatment techniques

Further information can be found in the CWW BREF, LVOC BREF, and the ESB BREF. 

Application of thermal and catalytic incineration techniques will increase energy consumption and CO2 emissions. 

Generally applicable. However, these techniques are not applied when chlorinated organic compounds are present in the stream. Chlorinated compounds are already removed from waste gases with stripping or condensation techniques during previous process steps. 

Thermal oxidisers are used to reduce emissions from almost all VOC sources, including reactor vents, distillation vents, solvent operations and operations performed in ovens, dryers and kilns. They can handle minor fluctuations in flow, but excess fluctuations require the use of a flare. Their fuel consumption can be high, when low-loaded waste gases are fed, so thermal units are best suited for smaller process applications with moderate to high VOC loadings. 

Catalytic oxidation is used to reduce emissions from a variety of stationary sources. The main emission source is VOC from solvent evaporation, and catalytic oxidation is widely used by many industry sectors in this category. 

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Table 12.4 Efficiency and cross-media effects of VOC treatment techniques...

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