The report describes the use of a pilot-scale catalytic incineration unit/solvent generation system to investigate the effectiveness of catalytic incineration as a way to destroy volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous/toxic air pollutants (HAPs). Objectives of the study were to: (1) investigate the effects of operating and design variables on the destruction efficiency of VOC/HAP mixtures, and (2) evaluate destruction efficiencies for specific compounds in different chemical classes. Study results verified that the following factors affect catalyst performance: inlet temperature, space velocity, catalyst geometry, compound type, compound inlet concentration, and mixture composition. Tests showed that destruction efficiencies exceeding 98 percent were possible (given sufficiently high inlet temperatures/low space velocities) for the following compounds/compound classes: alcohols, acetates, ketones, cellosolves/dioxane, aldehydes, aromatics, and ethylene/ethylene oxide. Destruction efficiencies of at least 97 percent were achieved for acrylonitrile and cresol. Chlorinated hydrocarbons were not effectively destroyed with the type of catalyst used in this study.

"April 1985." "EPA/600/2-85/041." "EPA contracts 68-02-3171, Task 88 and 68-02-3515, Task 28." Microfiche.