Solvent Recovery and Strategies to Re-Use Recovered solvents
Poster Presentation
Prepared by N. Turrà
BÜCHI Labortechnik AG, Meierseggstrasse 40, Postfach, Flawil, CH-9230, Switzerland
Contact Information: Turra.N@buchi.com; 410713946363
ABSTRACT
During the last decades, huge amounts of solvents have been released into the atmosphere. This air pollution seriously affects the environment, and as a consequence, our health. Lately, the environmental protection agencies (EPA) started a solvent “Emissions Reduction Program”. Laboratories in the environmental sector are strictly controlled. High solvent emissions and non-compliance with the regulations will lead to severe monetary fines.
The BUCHI Syncore® Analyst, a parallel vortex evaporator equipped with a Solvent Vapor Recovery system with integrated control (SVR-N) has been shown to be the perfect solution for an automated fast and efficient concentration of up to 12 extracted samples with high analyte and solvent recoveries (> 95 %).
After being recovered, there are several options for the distilled and collected solvents. Due to its high calorific value and the low price the disposal of recovered hydrocarbon solvents as cement kiln fuel is an attractive disposal route. Other processes making use of the heat derived from burning recovered solvents are the generation of steam in specially equipped boilers, the firing of lime kilns, and the drying of road stone in coating plants. Used chlorinated solvents could be sold to, e.g., glue manufacturers who do not need high purity solvents.
The further use of the recovered solvents is thus dependent on their nature and properties. Definitely, the recovered and collected solvents can be used as cheap cleaning solvents, especially when the analyte recoveries were shown to be high, and/or can be upgraded to higher purity for re-use by re-distillation using an industrial evaporator. Any recycling solution will help to save money and, most importantly, to protect the environment.
Poster Presentation
Prepared by N. Turrà
BÜCHI Labortechnik AG, Meierseggstrasse 40, Postfach, Flawil, CH-9230, Switzerland
Contact Information: Turra.N@buchi.com; 410713946363
ABSTRACT
During the last decades, huge amounts of solvents have been released into the atmosphere. This air pollution seriously affects the environment, and as a consequence, our health. Lately, the environmental protection agencies (EPA) started a solvent “Emissions Reduction Program”. Laboratories in the environmental sector are strictly controlled. High solvent emissions and non-compliance with the regulations will lead to severe monetary fines.
The BUCHI Syncore® Analyst, a parallel vortex evaporator equipped with a Solvent Vapor Recovery system with integrated control (SVR-N) has been shown to be the perfect solution for an automated fast and efficient concentration of up to 12 extracted samples with high analyte and solvent recoveries (> 95 %).
After being recovered, there are several options for the distilled and collected solvents. Due to its high calorific value and the low price the disposal of recovered hydrocarbon solvents as cement kiln fuel is an attractive disposal route. Other processes making use of the heat derived from burning recovered solvents are the generation of steam in specially equipped boilers, the firing of lime kilns, and the drying of road stone in coating plants. Used chlorinated solvents could be sold to, e.g., glue manufacturers who do not need high purity solvents.
The further use of the recovered solvents is thus dependent on their nature and properties. Definitely, the recovered and collected solvents can be used as cheap cleaning solvents, especially when the analyte recoveries were shown to be high, and/or can be upgraded to higher purity for re-use by re-distillation using an industrial evaporator. Any recycling solution will help to save money and, most importantly, to protect the environment.
