VOC is the abbreviation for volatile organic compounds (volatile organic compounds). This means that these substances evaporate at low temperatures. The point at which a substance is considered a VOC depends on national definitions.
FAQ
- What are VOCs?
- Where are VOCs released?
Most of the VOCs released by humans are now attributable to the use of solvents.
- These substances are used in a variety of ways, e.g:
- in coating technology,
- in the textile industry
- in the printing industry
- in the production of adhesives
- for cleaning purposes
- When must measures to reduce VOC emissions be implemented?
This depends crucially on the annual consumption of solvents and the industry in which you operate. Below an industry-specific lower limit, there is no legal obligation. However, if this limit is exceeded, emission reduction measures must be taken.
- What options are there for reducing VOC emissions?
First and foremost, VOC emitters should try to minimize the use of organic solvents. In coating technology, for example, more and more water-based paints are being used that contain no or only very small quantities of VOCs.
Although considerable progress has been made in recent years, it is often not possible to make decisive adjustments to production processes. In such cases, downstream purification processes must be used to clean the contaminated material flows (waste water, exhaust air) as far as possible before they leave the production facility.
- Which exhaust air purification process is best suited to a particular application?
There is no general answer to this question. Several criteria must be taken into account when selecting the cleaning process:
- VOC concentration of the exhaust air
- Exhaust air volume flow
- VOC clean air concentration to be achieved after cleaning
- Composition of the VOC mixture in the exhaust air
- Space available on site
- Possibility of feeding in excess heat
- Possible interest in reusing the solvents (if expensive to purchase)
These aspects must be considered and examined separately for each application. The aim must be to find a balanced solution between the benefits for the environment on the one hand and the economic costs for the industrial company on the other.
- Why was the SimaSolvent® developed even though various other exhaust air purification processes are already available?
As a company that is committed to both environmental protection and energy optimization, exhaust air purification is an area where there is still a lot of potential for energy savings. As there is no direct benefit for the operators of a purification plant, it is a competitive disadvantage for companies in the EU compared to areas with less stringent legislation. The aim of the development was therefore to significantly reduce the energy requirement and thus minimize this disadvantage. The SimaSolvent® has laid the foundation for this.