Automotive industry

Vehicles are complex pieces of machinery, so treatment is required throughout their value chain. Air emissions are likely to contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and solvents. Common emission sources include: rubber used to make hoses and tyres, plastics and composites used for bodywork, paints, and coatings. Desotec filters bring VOCs down to permitted levels, protecting the environment and allowing production to continue. Our filters also handle nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are released by the combustion of hydrocarbons. 

Many VOCs and solvents are odorous. These include styrene from acrylates in paints and coatings, and hydrocarbon fumes from bitumen in sealants. Odour treatment is essential to protect workers’ health and prevent neighbours' complaints.  

Our filters also remove VOCs (terpenes, siloxanes) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) from biogas to protect the equipment used in its upgrading to biofuels for the transport industry.  

Wastewater from cleaning and rinsing processes has high chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels. Specific compounds might include: non-ionic surfactants from lubricants used to make rubber, oils, metal particulates, and chlorinated cleaning products. Desotec’s activated carbon filters reduce contaminants level so that water can be safely discharged to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) rather than to costly specialist disposal facilities. Alternatively, your company might reuse the treated water, bringing down costs and boosting sustainability.  

As Europe strives to meet its net-zero carbon targets by 2050, EU and national legislations are set to become ever tighter. Permitted VOC and COD levels are likely to drop, therefore original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), their Tier 1 & 2 suppliers as well as scrap & shredding facilities will have to adapt. With Desotec’s modular filtration solutions, you can future-proof your firm. 

Emissions standards are also expected to become stricter for scrap and shredding facilities. Scrap vehicles are shredded and separated into constituent materials for recycling, such as metals from bodywork and rubber from tyres. This process releases VOC emissions, which are simple to treat with Desotec activated carbon filters. Often, our filters are used in combination with other technologies to reduce dust.  

Shredded parts may be rinsed, leading to wastewater that contains traces of chemicals, hydrocarbons from oils, and metal particulates. If scrap metal is stored in the open air, rainwater run-off may also contain these components. Desotec activated carbon filtration removes these compounds, reducing COD to a level that allows the safe discharge or reuse of the water.  

Tyre recycling also poses particular challenges, as the rubber releases hydrocarbons and H₂S. Our filters treat these compounds successfully, protecting the health of your workers and keeping the air odour-free in your neighbourhood.  

Desotec filters also treat wastewater from spills or cleaning processes. This contains solvent residues as well as cleaning products (often chlorinated). Contaminants include AOX and other organic compounds measured as COD. These must be removed to protect natural waterways, aquatic life, and our drinking water.

Standard wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) cannot handle high levels of AOX and COD, so companies need to find effective pre-treatment options before discharge or industrial reuse. Desotec has the answers your firm needs: sustainable and effective activated carbon filtration solutions.