New process allows smog pollutant to be reused in manufacturing

California-based American Purification, which manufactures air and water purification systems, alternative fuel cleaning, and chemical recovery systems, announced the development of its system known as Polyad on 22 September. The system uses adsorption technology in combination with a unique microwave regeneration process to recover VOCs for recycling and reuse, preventing their release and cleaning the air.

Although VOCs are not listed as one of the six criteria pollutants listed under the Clean Air Act, they have been targeted for reduction by the Environmental Protection Agency. This is because of their key role in the formation of ground-level ozone (O3), one of the criteria pollutants contributing to smog formation.

“In the past, best practice technologies were not that efficient. They were very expensive, difficult to use, and in many cases, dangerous to operate,” said American Purification’s president, Phil Hodge. “With the use of high efficiency adsorbents and the American Purification patented microwave based regeneration, the process is simple, inexpensive and safe to operate, and actually recovers valuable product in pure form.”