Emission control

Citation

(1999), "Emission control", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 28 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.1999.12928bab.005

Emission control

Emission control

Keywords Emissions, VDI

The new guideline VDI 2587 Part 2 of the Association of German Engineers VDI is a description of the means of emission control with regard to gravure and flexographic printing plants for packaging stock such as paper, cardboard, films, metal foils, corrugated cardboard and combinations thereof. Drying of the print is effected with hot or warm air or by UV radiation.

Owing to the large number of types of printing stock, sophisticated printing ink systems and machine designs, there is a variety of waste gas cleaning processes which are normally adapted to the individual application and cannot be chosen as equally suitable options. A particular problem in the assessment of emission relevance is imposed by the increasing number of heat recovery systems. That is why the competent working group did not confine their assessment to the enumeration of observable emission limit values of defined harmful substances or groups of substances. On the contrary, an attempt is made to initiate an integral approach and help consider the environmental pros and cons of each combination of processes.

This approach was demanded particularly by the authorities. Experience will show whether the specification of criteria for overall considerations lead to objective decisions in practice regarding the technology involved in these printing plants.

The guideline VDI 3456 describes the possibilities for reducing emissions of organic solvents in the painting and repair of private cars and commercial vehicles. They are concerned in particular with small and middle sized installations. Based on the processes in general use in 1992, up to 75 per cent reduction of organic solvents can be achieved with the technologies described.

The guideline applies to the repair of private cars, commercial vehicles, buses and motorcycles, as well as to the conversion and construction of coachwork on cars and commercial vehicles, and to the construction of workshops in which air or force dried (not more than 80°C object temperature) coatings are applied, and which do not require authorisation under existing (German) regulations. If required, however, they can also be utilised for installations requiring authorisation. In addition to the emission control technologies in the guidelines, the fields of application of technical processes are described. For example, a typical process flow is described, including the different paint types, the application process, the equipment used and processes for the abatement of emissions, rounded off with suitable measurement and calculation methods.

This guideline will provide assistance in the process of regulatory development, above all in the field of European rule making. They do not only demonstrate the state-of-the-art in this sector, but also identify the limits to reduction processes that are inherent in the structure of the sector. At the time being the guideline is available only in German. An English version will be published approximately six months later.