Volatile Organic Compound Emission Control Using a Fluidized Bed Adsorption System, 1996 Environmental Conference Proceedings

Control of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from composite wood manufacturing operations are under heightened attention. While regenerative thermal oxidation is a widely accepted treatment technology, it has high capitol and operating costs. A logical alternative technology is concentration of the VOCs prior to destruction. Other industries such as electronics, plastics manufacturers and painting are dealing with high air flow, low concentration emissions in this way. The VOCs are captured on polymeric adsorbents in a fluidized bed system then thermally desorbed at elevated concentrations for oxidation. Features of the system are high capture efficiencies, reduced capital costs and lower operating costs. The feasibility of the technology has been demonstrated on seven different emissions sources including particle board wood drying, particle board press vent emissions, OSB dryer emissions, and OSB press vent emissions. Results will be presented on the performance of the system in controlling dryer emissions and press vent emissions from particle board manufacturing operations at Temple-Inland.