Polymers & composites

Polymers and composites are used across many industries. They include polyurethane (PU) foam for insulation and resin-based polymers such as fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) for moulded items, such as boat hulls and pipes. Polymer, composite, and resin manufacturing emit VOCs and solvents, such as styrene, which must be reduced on environmental grounds. There are also tight controls for specific VOCs emitted during polymer and composite manufacturing, such as monochlorobenzene (MCB). As legislation is becoming ever stricter, it’s vital for your company to put solutions in place that future-proof your business. Desotec’s mobile and sustainable filters can reduce VOC concentration to extremely low levels, ensuring business continuity and protecting our environment. 

Specific VOCs emitted during polymer and composite manufacturing also require treatment to ensure air stays fresh and healthy. Styrene is known for its strong odour, even at very low concentrations. Factories located near residential areas must take prompt odour control action to stay on the right side of their local communities and environmental authorities. At higher doses, styrene also poses a health risk to site workers and those living nearby. Other hazardous compounds found in polymers and composites include isocyanates in PU foam, chlorides in polyvinyl chloride (PVC), methylene chloride, which is a probable carcinogen, and various substances of very high concern (SVHCs). Desotec’s mobile and sustainable filtration solutions reduce these molecules to extremely low levels, protecting human health and ensuring your company meets its obligations under occupational health legislations.

Composite and polymer manufacturing may also produce wastewater that requires purification to protect our waterways. This water could contain traces of metal or carbon particulates, inks, dyes, solvents, microplastics, glass fibres, and chlorinated cleaning products. Desotec’s water filters can work as standalone treatments or in combination with other technologies to reduce adsorbable organic halides (AOX) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). After treatment, water may be discharged to standard wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), avoiding the need for costly specialist disposal. Alternatively, companies may reuse it in their industrial processes (e.g., cooling, washing, etc.), driving down costs while boosting sustainability.