Destruction of VOCS (Volatile Organic Compounds) by a Catalytic Paint Drying (Infrared) Device

摘要

The report gives results of tests of a device that catalytically oxidizes fuel to generate infrared (IR) radiation as a new technology for paint drying and curing. During its operation, the device (introduced by SUNKISS Thermoreactors, Inc.) also oxidizes some of the paint solvents that are evaporated in the oven, thus reducing overall emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere. The system used to test the SUNKISS device was constructed at the University of Central Florida (UCF). It consists of flow control and measuring devices, analytical equipment, and a 1 cu m chamber in which the SUNKISS device was mounted. Three paint solvents--hexane, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and toluene--were dispersed in air streams that flowed through the test chamber at various rates. The solvent destruction efficiency of the device was shown to be a strong function of the air residence time in the chamber, but was independent of VOC concentration. Hexane and MEK behaved similarly, while toluene was more reactive. Observed destruction efficiencies ranged from < 20% to > 50%.