Treatment of volatile organic compounds from polyurethane and epoxy manufacture by a trickle-bed air biofilter

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of a trickle-be d air biofilter (TBAB) for the removal of volatile organic compound (VOC) p roduced during polyurethane (PU) and epoxy manufacture. The major VOCs emit ted are ethyl acetate (EA) for PU and EA and xylene for epoxy production. F or the treatment of VOCs emitted during PU production, the employed coal ca rbon appears to be efficient as a VOC concentration buffer in the biofiltra tion of waste gases. Based on the results of EA and total hydrocarbon (THC) removal, it was concluded that the TBAB is suitable for controlling VOC em ission during PU manufacture. For the treatment of VOCs emitted during epox y production, it was found that the performance of the TBAB is relatively p oor due to the lack of VOC sources. However, this problem could be easily s olved by mixing the VOCs emitted during PU and epoxy manufacture.