Virotec Global Solutions is pleased to announce the results of trials held in the United Kingdom by Newcastle-based Graphite Resources Limited (www.graphiteresources.com). “Graphite Resources measured the effects of Virotec’s ElectroBind™ reagent to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in industrial gas emissions. The independent trials demonstrated that ElectroBind™  was effective in reducing the level of VOCs in gas emissions from 730 parts per million down to 140 parts per million, an 81% reduction.”

Dr Lee Fergusson, Virotec’s Chief Executive Officer, stated “this is the first time ElectroBind™  has been used to measure VOC reduction in industrial gas or vapour. We know that our technology reduces mercury, hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide in industrial emissions, and reduces arsenic and selenium in flue gas desulfurisation scrubbing systems in power plants, but this is the first time we have proof that ElectroBind™  significantly reduces VOCs. We believe that with further modification of the scrubbing system used in the trial we will achieve VOC reduction levels of greater than 95%, which is good news for both industry and the environment.”

Volatile organic compounds are organic chemical compounds which exist at specific vapor pressures and which can affect the environment and human health. VOCs are numerous, varied, and ubiquitous. Although VOCs include both man-made and naturally occurring chemical compounds, it is the anthropogenic or man-made VOCs that are of the greatest concern and which are the most tightly regulated. Volatile organic compounds are typically not acutely toxic, but have chronic effects.

Emissions of VOCs, such as benzene from oil refineries and chemical plants, pose a long-term health risk to workers and local communities. In situations where large amounts of flammable liquids and gases are contained under pressure, fugitive emissions also increase the risk of fire and explosion. Volatile organic compounds include aliphatic hydrocarbons, ethyl acetate, glycol ethers, and acetone.  Many building materials, such as paints, adhesives, wall boards, and ceiling tiles, slowly emit formaldehyde, which irritates the mucous membranes.

Some of the health effects caused by exposure to VOCs include eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, loss of coordination and nausea, and damage to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. Some VOCs cause cancer in animals and some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans. The ability of VOCs to cause adverse health effects varies greatly from those that are highly toxic to those with no known health effects.

“We intend to conduct more sophisticated laboratory trials and full-scale field trials of ElectroBind™  at oil refineries and chemical plants to develop this application further,” stated Dr Fergusson. “As industrialised countries generate and discharge large volumes of VOCs (for example almost 1.0 million tonnes in Canada and more than half a million tonnes in Japan and South Korea are generated each year), developing a cost-effective method for significantly reducing VOCs is a major development for Virotec, which the company intends to fully exploit.”