MICROBIAL OXIDATION, A FUEL-STINGY ALTERNATIVE TO THERMAL OXIDATION

摘要

Natural gas prices have doubled in the last year and, according to Alan Greenspan, Chair of the Federal Reserve Board, higher prices will persist for the next several years. As a result, the cost of fuel to operate a 50,000 cfm thermal oxidizer can easily exceed half a million dollars annually. Microbial oxidizers (bio-oxidizers) offer both a financially attractive and environmentally beneficial alternative. That microbial oxidizers are currently designed for slightly less destruction efficiency than thermal oxidizers is of little consequence to the coatings industry, which has little or no need for the ultra-high efficiency of a thermal oxidizer. The format of VOC and HAP regulations for the coatings industry makes it uniquely positioned to install biological oxidizers when compliant coatings are unable to provide the requisite film properties.