Hungry bugs eat up VOC problems
15 Jan 2000
Bacteria could form the cornerstone of processes to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), according to West Midlands-based amino resins producer BIP. Helped by a European Union grant, the company has developed an emissions reduction system which it now intends to offer to similar small-to-medium sized firms.
BIP's operations, which involve the manufacture of amino resin moulding powders, release a mixture of VOCs.
The system the company has developed uses cultures of naturally-occurring, harmless microorganisms to digest the VOCs. The bioreactor chamber contains a synthetic, high surface area support medium, seeded with bacterial monocultures. BIPclaims that this system reduces emissions of formaldehyde and methanol by as much as 95 per cent. The system is clean and notably much cheaper than other VOCreducing apparatus, such as incinerators. Some 15000 companies in Europe are potential users, BIPclaims.
