Removing VOCs from air emissions in the chemical industry

At its plant in Germany, a multinational company develops chemicals and additives for clients in sectors as varied as feed and food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. 

It handles a range of chemicals depending on the order, including many hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Concentrations tend to be quite high, with peaks up to 1 - 5 g/m³. Flow rates on the other hand are fairly low, from around 50 - 2 000 m³/h, depending on which production line is in use 

Technologies such as biofilters or Regenerative Thermal Oxidisers (RTOs) cannot handle such fluctuations. In any case, such installations are much larger than activated carbon filters, and this plant has limited space. 

The company installed DESOTEC filters several years ago, but had not kept up a monitoring and exchange schedule. Furthermore, production had increased and changed, but the filter configuration had remained the same. 

In spring 2020, DESOTEC’s German sales manager got in contact to suggest re-examining the set-up to ensure it still met the company’s needs. The client readily agreed, as it was keen to strengthen its environmental commitments and lower VOC emissions at the plant. 

Furthermore, the company expects its permitted emissions limit to be reduced from 50 mg/m³ to 25 mg/m³ when Germany’s air pollution control regulations, known as ‘TA Luft’, are revised in late 2021. 

So far, the filters are working perfectly, and no emissions are detectable. 

The company has committed to a schedule of filter exchanges, and is carrying out regular emissions monitoring. It is confident it will be able to comply with the new TA Luft regulations. 

We have been able to repair the old filter units and modified them to our current standards. These are now as good as new and have returned to our fleet. 

As this case proves, It is always important to have transparent communication and accurate data so that our engineers can design an optimal system. 

Companies must also re-examine their business from time to time to see if their requirements have changed. As DESOTEC’s filters are supplied on a rental basis, it is simple to upgrade them. 

Activated carbon is the most flexible air pollution treatment available, capable of handling continuous and discontinuous production, and variable flow rates, concentrations and components. This makes it cost-effective in the long run. 

Exchanging filters is quick and easy. DESOTEC handles all spent carbon, transporting the waste safely away from the customer’s site in closed filter units. It is treated at our state-of-the-art facilities in Belgium, where all components that were adsorbed onto the carbon are completely destroyed. The carbon is then reactivated for reuse, closing the loop and boosting sustainability. Only harmless water vapour is seen exiting the chimney.