Pervaporation of volatile organic compounds [1996]

3 Pages·1996·0.57 MB·English

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CA2 ON
LV 545 PROJECT PROFILE Ontario
Pervaporation of
Volatile Organic Compounds
"Zenon '5 highly successjul demonstration
ofpervaporation technology at Sara/Air
Station North Island in San Diego,
California is an important milestone in
the commercialization plan. These excel-
lent results ui/I be widely distributed by
the (IS Environmental Protection Agency
and we ezpect a considerable response
from industry and other government
agencies that are facing similar problems
with volatile compounds."
AR Canning
Manager
Process Engineering
Zenon Environmental Inc.
Burlington, Ontario Figure 1 — Schematic of Process Train
THE COMPANY VOC contamination occurs at vari- RESULTS
Zenon Environmental Inc. is an ous degrees of concentration. Testing Zenon's pervaporation technology
advanced technology company which shows that activated carbon and air was demonstrated under the U.S.
offers a comprehensive range of envi- stripping are cost effective and elf i- Environmental Protection Agency's
ronmental services and systems to cient methods for removing VOCs at SITE program at a former waste dis-
industries, consultants and govern- low levels of concentration. The need posal site on the Naval Air Station
ments. The company specializes in now is for a technology that removes North Island near San Diego,
providing innovative and cost effective VOC's at high levels of concentration California. The groundwater at the
in groundwater, leachate and effluent.
solutions to complex problems. site was contaminated with
Zenon employs more than 200 trichloroethene (TCE) and other
TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION
people in Canada, the United States organics. About two to 11 U.S. gallons/
and Europe. The company's head Pervaporation is a new membrane minute of groundwater containing con-
office in Burlington, Ontario covers process for removing VOCs from centrations of TCE ranging from 33 to
more than 45,000 square feet and wastewater, leachate and contaminated 240 milligrams per litre flowed through
includes a pilot plant for testing and a groundwater. The membrane is made the pervaporation unit. At those rates,
full-scale manufacturing facilities. of a dense, organophilic polymer, such the unit removed an average of
as silicone rubber It allows the VOCs 98 per cent of the TCE.
THE CHALLENGE to pass through but only a little water
Volatile organic compounds In the pervaporation process, one TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES
side of this dense, polymeric mem-
(VOCs) are toxic and, in some cases, Zenon will continue to market its
brane is exposed to the water contain-
carcinogenic. About halt of the priority pervaporation technology by taking
pollutants named by the U.S. Enviro- ing the VOCs, while the other side is on more demonstration and full-scale
nmental Protection Agency are VOCs. exposed to a vacuum. The membrane groundwater remediation work.
absorbs the VOCs and some water,
They are found in leachate, waste- These will generate more opportunities
drawing them both through to the other
water and contaminated groundwater for selling other pérvaporation systems.
as well as at abandoned industrial side where the vacuum draws them oft. Zenon hopes to be given the chance to
A this point, the permeate, or the
sites. VOCs are emitted in large quan- return to the naval station near San
now highly concentrated VOCs and
tities with estimates .ranging from live Diego to begin futl scale groundwater
water mixture, usually separates into
million to 1.6 million metric tons per remediation
year from waste treatment, storage water and VOC's. Thrs means that it
is possible to recover the VOC's for
and disposal facilities. This is a clear 7
indication that conventional tech nob- uses in other industries, such as the /1?
solvent industry.
gies for treating waste water do not
36
destroy, remove and contain VOCs.
Environment and Energy
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PARTNERSHIP IN POLLUTION FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. MINISTRY OF F\%IRON%IENT
PREVENTION AND RESOURCE PLEASE CONTACT AND ENERGY SER%'tCES
CONSER%ATION Phil Canning For information on Ministry of
The demonstration of this technology Manager, Environment and Energy assistance
was partially funded by the Ontario Process Engineering to industry, please contact the Industry
Ministry ol Environment and Energy Zenon Environmental Inc. Conservation Branch at
and Environment Canada under the 845 Harrington Court [phone]. Fax [phone]
Development and Demonstration of Burlington, Ontario
Site Remediation Technologies L7N 3P3
(DESRT) program. Tel. [phone]
Industrial companies located in Fax [phone]
Ontario may seek ministry/industry
George Cadete
services which will help them:
Industry Conservation Branch
reduce, reuse and recyde solid waste; Ministry of Environment and Energy
56 Wellesley St. W.
tz remediate historic pollution; 14th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
* destroy hazardous contaminants;
M7A2B7
* reduce or eliminate liquid effluent Tel. [phone]
and gaseous emissions; Fax [phone]
*
use energy and water more efficiently.
Equipment and services supply
companies can benefit from the
information provided on technologies
identified tor business development.
of this project profile does not In addition, The min.srry cannot be held liable for any injury or damage tc a , oerson
imply product endorsement. The ministry or property as a result of The implementation of any part of this report.
does not warrant the accuracy of its con- This project pro file was prepared and published as a public service S The Onlarin
tents and cannot guarantee or assume any Ministry of Environment and Energy Its purpose is to transfer informatc' Ontario
liability for the effectiveness or economic companies about new environmental technologies.
benefits of the technologies described in
Renseignements en français
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