Catalytic Products International (CPI) recently installed an electrically heated Catalytic Oxidizer at a Midwest medical products manufacturing company for the abatement of Ethylene Oxide (EtO) emissions.
Ethylene Oxide (EtO), a volatile organic compound (VOC), is a flammable, colorless gas used as an agent to sterilize equipment and plastic devices that cannot be sterilized by steam, such as healthcare devices and instruments. Catalytic Oxidizers are one of the most widely accepted control technologies available to control VOC emissions from the EtO sterilization processes.
The new 400 SCFM, electrically heated, Catalytic Oxidizer will control five (5) small, batch style ethylene oxide (EtO)-based laboratory sterilizers. The Catalytic Oxidizer system will destroy the VOC emissions at a minimum +99% VOC destruction rate efficiency at variable and very cyclic EtO emission loadings.
Catalytic Oxidizer treatment of VOCs and other air pollutants works by reacting the harmful air pollutants over a specially designed catalyst where VOCs are converted to CO2, water vapor (H2O), and usable heat.
The CPI Catalytic Oxidizer utilizes a high velocity mixing chamber at the heater, which forces turbulence to occur, providing excellent mixing of the air stream. By designing for the highest mixing, the VECTOR system can deliver the highest temperature uniformity before the catalyst bed. Temperature uniformity ensures that 100% of the catalyst is efficiently oxidizing the VOCs.
A specially developed catalyst is used to complete the oxidation of the Ethylene Oxide (EtO). In this application CPI utilized a pourable bead catalyst contained in catalyst trays. The catalyst selected offers poison resistant features, the highest destruction rates at the lowest operating temperatures, ease of installation and maintenance, and zero chance for bypass of VOCs.
The combination of the high velocity mixing chamber and the split bed catalyst trays are the cornerstone of the VECTOR’s ability to efficiently oxidize VOCs, even throughout the wide range of operational requirements presented by the customer. Mixing, temperature uniformity, and air flow uniformity all add up to long lasting performance. No other manufacturer of Catalytic Oxidizers can incorporate the advantages of temperature uniformity before the catalyst bed, pourable catalyst, split-bed catalyst trays, and controlled thermal expansion in a user-friendly system.
CPI provided engineering, design and supply of the Catalytic Oxidizer. Recognizing the highly explosive nature of Ethylene Oxide (EtO), CPI also incorporated two electric heaters to heat the EtO waste gas stream to the correct catalyst inlet temperature.
In addition, the installation of the Catalytic Oxidizer included damper and ductwork design, startup, commissioning and operator training. CPI completed a good portion of the installation activities before the new unit arrived on site and delivered the Catalytic Oxidizer fully skid mounted, pre-piped and prewired. This approach guaranteed that entire system was installed correctly, and the facility was back up and operational with minimal downtime.
Founded in 1969, Catalytic Products International (CPI) has extensive experience installing Catalytic Oxidizers (CatOx) at multiple U.S. and global ethylene oxide sterilization facilities for the abatement of Ethylene Oxide (EtO) emissions.
Today, CPI is a leader in enabling clean production through the implementation of air pollution control systems for VOC, HAP, and Odor related issues. CPI partners with its customers as a trusted resource in resolving the most complex air pollution and energy conservation problems. Our equipment is also at work meeting energy conservation strategies and minimizing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
