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EVALUATION OF CONTAINMENT AND CONTROL OPTIONS FOR METHYL BROMIDE IN COMMODITY TREATMENT
Citation:
DeWolf, G. AND M. Harrison. EVALUATION OF CONTAINMENT AND CONTROL OPTIONS FOR METHYL BROMIDE IN COMMODITY TREATMENT. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-94/126 (NTIS PB94-195070), 1994.
Impact/Purpose:
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Description:
The report gives results of an investigation of means for methyl bromide (MeBr) recovery, reuse, and destruction to prevent atmospheric emissions if its limited use were still allowed. (NOTE: MeBr is an ozone-depleting chemical scheduled to be phased out by the Clean Air Act by the year 2001. For agricultural commodity fumigation, there is no ready substitute for MeBr.) Approximately 4-5 million lb/yr (1.8-2.3 million kg/yr) of MeBr is used for commodity/agricultural harvest fumigation. Commodity fumigation is carried out extensively at a few locations, mostly major seaports. Fumigation is conducted in chambers built for holding the commodity during fumigation and in temporary enclosures such as under tarpaulins and in vehicles. The emissions are vented to the atmosphere. Few control systems exist for MeBr emissions. Likewise, control system research and development has been limited. Vendors have proposed control technologies for MeBr control, recovery, and recycle, but few systems have been built. Conventional vapor control technologies such as activated carbon adsorption systems appear to be applicable to MeBr emissions. These systems must also provide for recovery. Control will probably be expensive due to the small volumes of recoverable material and the intermittent nature of fumigation operations.