Volatile organic compounds control technics

The increasing amounts of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOC), such as 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE), released in the environment, together with their suspected toxicity and carcinogenic properties, have prompted researchers world-wide to find clean effective methods of destruction [1]. The abatement of chlorinated volatile organic compounds by catalytic combustion has been widely utilised in several technical processes. The lower temperatures required for catalytic combustion result in a lower fuel demand and can therefore be more cost effective than a thermal oxidation process [2]. In addition, the catalytic process also exerts more control over the reaction products and is less likely to produce toxic by-products, like dioxins, which may be generated by thermal combustion [3]. 

The air pollution control equipment marketplace offers many competing technologies for controlhng emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It is important to note that over half of the HAPs are considered VOCs. Thus, controlhng VOCs whl hmit HAP emissions. If any technology was economically and technically superior under ah conditions, it would be the only one on the market. In fact, each technology used to control VOCs is superior under some set of conditions. 

Johnson, E. and Madden, A. (1990) Efficient Water Removal for GC-MS Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds with Tek-mar s Moisture Control Module. Finnigan MAT Technical Report No. 616, Tekmar Company. 

Summers, J. C., Frost, A. C and Sawyer, J. E., 1989, Volatile Organic Compounds Emission Control by Catalysts, presented at the STAPPA/ALAPCO Technical Briefing, New Orleans, LA, October, reprint provided by Allied Signal, Inc. 

The CAA also mandated EPA to set the U.S. National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). These standards regulate air emissions of 189 listed hazardous air pollutants. The standards were set based on the best 12% of controlled facilities in each industry. A similarly high technical standard was set by EPA in the Maximum Available Control Technology rules (MACT) that have been applied to emissions of volatile organics (1995) and sulfur and other inorganic compounds (2002) from oil refineries. 

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