Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Efficient Regenerating Oxidizer for Destruction of Volatile Organic Compounds
EPA Contract Number: 68D03032Title: Efficient Regenerating Oxidizer for Destruction of Volatile Organic Compounds
Investigators: Dhooge, Patrick M.
Small Business: Nimitz Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: April 1, 2003 through September 1, 2003
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2003) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , SBIR - Air Pollution , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
The purpose of this Phase I research project was to determine the technical and commercial feasibility of an innovative, low-cost, low environmental impact, rugged, self-regenerating chemistry and system for destroying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air. To establish technical feasibility, candidate oxidation chemistries were prepared as coatings on candidate substrates and tested for their ability to reduce the organic concentrations in air streams carrying acetone, toluene, trichloroethylene, or methanol. Total organic content of the air stream was measured using a flame ionization detector (FID). An FID will detect all organic compounds that pass through it. By maintaining the chemistry at different set temperatures, sufficient reaction rate data were obtained to calculate the kinetic parameters of the VOC destruction. Activation energies and rate constants for the destruction of the VOCs were determined. The ability of the oxidation chemistry to self-regenerate was demonstrated by running a VOC-containing air stream through the chemistry for a period of time longer than it would take to exhaust the oxidation chemistry if it were not being regenerated. From the results of testing and known data from the literature, costs and benefits of the chemistry were estimated and compared to existing VOC removal methods to determine commercial feasibility of the technology.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The new oxidation chemistry was shown to destroy the VOCs tested at very low cost using modest temperatures and to be self-regenerating. The new chemistry destroyed acetone, toluene, trichloroethylene, and methanol at relatively low temperatures (50-225°C) with acceptably fast kinetics. The chemistry was demonstrated to be completely regenerating (i.e., no reduction of reaction rate was seen after sufficient time had passed to have completely exhausted the chemistry had it not been regenerating). It also was shown that carbon dioxide was produced, demonstrating complete oxidation. These results establish the technical feasibility of the innovation. Cost estimates show that it is by far the least expensive VOC removal/destruction technology. Estimation of cost for a system is about $4.70/lb of VOC removed, more than 10 times lower than the $50-70/lb of VOC for activated carbon and thermal systems. The innovation also generates much less waste than carbon adsorption beds, resulting in lower ultimate disposal costs, and uses much less fuel than thermal oxidizers, yielding much lower fuel costs and less fuel combustion emissions.
An independent commercialization study by Foresight Science & Technology concluded that if the technology is effective, it has a good possibility of commercial success because of its much lower cost and ease of use versus carbon beds or thermal oxidizers. Commercial applications of the innovation will include treating air emissions of VOCs from stationary sources including chemical, paper, and petroleum products manufacturing; coating; printing; cleaning; etc. The technology must be proved through more extensive testing. Foresight estimated that the total stationary source air pollution control equipment market is approximately $3.8 billion per year; however, this estimate includes treatment of inorganic pollutants such as NOx and SOx. A better total market estimate for Nimitz, Inc.'s technology is approximately $500 million per year. Foresight also estimated that total revenues 5 years after commercial introduction would be on the order of several million dollars.
Conclusions:
The Phase I project demonstrated the technical and economic feasibility of the innovation. The technology appears to be very attractive for commercial applications because it is estimated to cost only about one-tenth of the cost of current VOC removal systems. The new technology can remove a variety of VOCs from gaseous emissions. When fully deployed, the new technology will greatly reduce the volume of waste associated with activated carbon and energy use by thermal oxidizers. The innovation should be a highly successful commercial product. The primary potential application of the new chemistry will be in stationary source air emissions treatment systems. Potential stationary source users include gasoline-marketing operations, printing shops, surface coating shops, and many other manufacturing operations that emit VOCs. Potential indoor air treatment users include office buildings, hospitals and other care facilities, homes, and factories. The total market size is approximately $500 million per year.
Supplemental Keywords:
air pollution, chemistry, volatile organic compounds, VOC, flame ionization detector, oxidation, kinetics, acetone, toluene, trichloroethylene, methanol, thermal oxidizer, activated carbon, air emissions treatment systems, small business, SBIR., Scientific Discipline, Air, POLLUTANTS/TOXICS, Sustainable Industry/Business, Chemical Engineering, air toxics, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Environmental Chemistry, Air Pollutants, Chemicals, Ecological Risk Assessment, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Environmental Engineering, stationary sources, risk assessment, catalytic oxidation, oxidation, stratospheric ozone, air pollution control, regenerating oxidizer, VOCs, hazardous air pollutants, VOC removal, HAPS, Clean Air Act , emission controls, catalysts, kinetic models, chemical kinetics, combustion, hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), hydrocarbons, air emissions, pollution preventionThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.