Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

APC Technologies offers five technologies for control of VOCs: Thermal Oxidizers and Catalytic Oxidizers, Carbon Adsorption Systems, Gas Scrubbers, and Ultra High-Efficiency Filter (UHF™) systems.

A variety of factors should be considered when selecting a technology, including regulatory requirements, VOC loading of the gas stream, and lifecycle cost of each system. APC has no bias toward any technology and is pleased to propose multiple technologies.

APC’s ThermPure Thermal Oxidizers provide the highest achievable control efficiencies – 99% plus – through high-temperature conversion of the hydrocarbons to CO₂ and H₂0.  APC offers primary and secondary heat exchangers to maximize the energy efficiency of the thermal oxidizer. 

APC’s CP Catalytic Oxidizers use high-efficiency catalysts to achieve 95%-99% destruction of the VOCs at lower operating temperatures.  APC applies a unique pre-filter to extend catalyst life and typically guarantees catalyst life at a minimum of 3 years. Depending on hydrocarbon loading and heat content of the gas stream, APC’s catalytic oxidizers may require little or no natural gas to sustain required temperatures, through use of high-efficiency heat exchangers. 

APC’s CarbonPure Activated Carbon Adsorption systems utilize activated carbon and other adsorption media to provide high-efficiency VOC removal – up to and in excess of 99%.  These systems are particularly suited for air streams with lower concentrations of VOCs.  CarbonPure adsorption systems come in both once-through and regenerative types. 

For regenerative systems where solvent recovery is desired, the saturated carbon bed can be regenerated with steam.  Solvent recovery can provide savings that exceed the operating costs of the system, providing a return on investment.  When solvent recovery is not appropriate or feasible, the activated carbon can be regenerated by hot flue gas.  Since there is a high solvent concentration in the regeneration air, no additional fuel is typically required for the oxidation process.  This approach can reduce system operating costs by as much as 80% when compared to direct thermal incineration. 

For certain applications where the VOCs can be condensed out of gas phase, APC’s Ultra High-Efficiency Filter (UHF™) system can provide 95% to 99% VOC control, typically at lower capital, operating and maintenance costs.  The UHF™ system offers simultaneous high-efficiency removal of the VOCs and any solid-phase particulate matter, without any plugging problems at all, and offers simple operation and extremely low maintenance costs, with no process downtime required for filter replacement.

APC’s GP Packed Tower Scrubbers can provide high VOC control efficiency for applications where the VOCs are highly soluble.  GP packed tower scrubbers maximize absorption of VOCs through use of high-efficiency packing, effective scrubbing liquids, and space-efficient design.  GP scrubbers offer temperature- and corrosion-resistant construction, with vertical, horizontal, and multi-stage units available. 

VOC control applications include: adhesives, asphalt plants, bakeries, coating operations, chemical plants, food processing, furniture manufacture, foundries, groundwater stripping, landfill gas treatment, painting operations, plastics, polymers and resin manufacture, printing, pulp and paper manufacture, rendering, pharmaceuticals, sealant, smoke houses, textile finishing, wastewater treatment, and wood products manufacture.

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