VOC Removal
VOCs are hydrocarbons and related organic compounds characterised by high vapour pressure and low boiling points, causing them to volatilise readily at relatively low temperatures. Thousands of VOCs have been identified, including numerous naturally occurring compounds.
Common VOC emission groups include:
- Oil-derived compounds, including benzene and toluene.
- Solvents such as acetone, butyl acetate, xylene, butanol, and ethylbenzene.
- Alcohols, including methanol and ethanol.
- PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) compounds.
- Halogenated organic compounds containing chlorine, bromine, fluorine, or iodine, such as dichloromethane (DCM) and monochlorobenzene (MCB).
- Siloxanes and terpenes.
VOC emissions commonly originate from solvents used in coatings and cleaning products, as well as from fossil fuel-derived materials such as mineral oils, bitumen, and plastics.
Emission sources include:
- Chemical manufacturing processes.
- Reactive processes in plastics and composites manufacturing.
- Spraying and adhesive application.
- Food processing.
- Cleaning and maintenance activities.
- Chemical storage, loading, and transport.
- Waste management operations.
- Biogas upgrading.
- Soil remediation activities.
Activated carbon is an established adsorbent technology for abating volatile organic compound emissions to atmosphere. Its broad adsorption capacity across diverse organic species makes it well suited to cost-effective vapour-phase filtration. Jacobi's EcoSorb™ activated carbon range is engineered to remove BTEX compounds, along with aliphatic, aromatic, halogenated, and ketone-based contaminants. The range is available in granular, extruded, and powdered formats; the appropriate specification depends on process parameters such as contaminant profile, concentration, flow rate, humidity, contact time, and operating conditions. STM can support product selection and system specification to identify the most suitable treatment solution.
EcoSorb™ series grades include:
- C Series – highly microporous granular and extruded grades for efficient removal of low-molecular-weight organic compounds from air streams and for use as catalyst supports.
- GX Series – extruded pellet carbons for general air treatment applications.
- BX Series – high activity extruded pellet carbons designed for regenerable applications, including solvent recovery.
- HX Series – acid-washed extruded pellet carbons for sensitive vapour-phase applications requiring high product purity.
- XP Series and CB Series – finely ground powdered carbons for mercury and dioxin control in flue gas streams.
Jacobi Air & Gas Treatments
Visit jacobi.net ↗Breathing unclean air can pose dangerous health risks to the public and so it is vitally important that any industrial operations adhere to regulations related to their emissions to the atmosphere.
