Simulation study of adsorption-based VOC removal from industrial painting emissions

Abstract

The significance of reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions has increased with the advancement of regulatory compliances and increased public understanding of their health and environmental impacts. VOCs contribute to air pollution, photochemical smog formation, and pose occupational health risks, making their control a priority in industrial operations. The paint industry, consisting of both paint manufacturing plants and painting facilities, which uses solvent-based paints is one of the major contributors for VOC emissions from manmade sources[1] Although numerous efforts have been made to address this issue by replacing conventional solvent-based coatings with alternatives such as water-based and powder coatings, solvent-based systems remain indispensable in many industrial applications. This persistence is primarily due to their superior durability, faster drying times, and low cost[2]. Consequently, the unavoidable VOC emissions from solvent-based coating processes underscore the importance of studying potential VOC removal techniques.