LOW-TEMPERATURE CATALYTIC-OXIDATION OF VOCS - PILOT-PLANT STUDIES

Low temperature catalytic oxidation was studied at pilot plant scale t o destroy benzene-toluene-xylenes (BTX) from air after air stripping o f contaminated groundwater. This technique successfully handled wide v ariations of benzene concentrations between 5-111 mg Nm(3). It consist ently oxidised benzene at 265 degrees C to concentrations below the te chnical target of 5 mg Nm(-3). Costs studies indicate that the treatme nt costs with low temperature catalytic oxidation are lower than those with the alternative technology of adsorption on activated carbon for air flowrates above 1,000 Nm(3) h(-1).