Air Pollution Advice (5)

What's the Best Oxidizer for My VOC Control Project?

Feb 7, 2023, 9:09:00 AM

An oxidizer is not something that business owners address by saying, “Let’s do the right thing for the environment and install an oxidizer!” In fact, the scenario is more likely to be “We need to increase productivity (always a good thing!), but that will put us over our annual emissions limits. Do we know what we will need? Where do we start? Who can help us?”

Considerations Before Selecting an Oxidizer for VOC Control
Scenario 1: Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer
Scenario 2: Direct Fired Thermal Oxidizer
Scenario 3: Thermal Recuperative Oxidizer
Scenario 4: Catalytic Oxidizer

Topics: Air Pollution Control, Blog, Consultants

Flexographic Printer Installs RTO for VOC Control

Posted by Jan Carlson

Jan 18, 2023, 9:00:31 AM

Catalytic Products International (CPI) installed a 6,000 SCFM Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) at a Midwest USA flexographic printer for the abatement of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from a central impression press.

Topics: Air Pollution Control, Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer, News, Flexographic Printing, Blog

Controlling Fugitive VOC Emissions: EPA Method 204, Capture Hooding, PTE & TTE

Posted by Jan Carlson

Dec 1, 2022, 2:15:51 PM

This article was updated in July 2026 to reflect current EPA Method 204 guidance.

Fugitive VOC emissions are the uncontrolled release of gases to the atmosphere — vapors that never make it into a control device at all. A well-built thermal oxidizer, RTO, or catalytic oxidizer routinely destroys 95–99%+ of the VOCs that reach it, but that destruction rate only counts toward your permit if the emissions actually get there.

Overall control efficiency is: Overall Control (%) = Capture Efficiency (%) × Destruction Efficiency (%) ÷ 100

If your capture system is only 70% effective and your oxidizer destroys 98% of what reaches it, your overall compliance number is 68.6% — often not enough to satisfy a permit limit. This is why fugitive emissions are frequently the single largest source of uncontrolled VOCs at a facility, and why regulators require a documented, tested capture strategy before crediting your oxidizer's destruction rate at all.

Topics: Air Pollution Control, VOC Emissions, Blog, Emissions Capture, Consultants, Permanent Total Enclosure

Western USA Bakery Installs CPI CatOx for Oven Emissions

Posted by Jan Carlson

Nov 30, 2022, 10:06:55 AM

Catalytic Products International (CPI) installed a Catalytic Oxidizer (CatOx) at a Western USA bakery for the abatement of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). The primary source of emissions at a commercial bakery is the oven, which produces Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) such as ethanol and carbon dioxide from the release of compounds formed in the yeast fermentation process.

Topics: Air Pollution Control, Catalytic Oxidizer, News, Bakery, Blog, DRE Test

RTO Controls Emissions at Midstream Natural Gas Facility

Posted by Jan Carlson

Oct 26, 2022, 10:05:00 AM

Catalytic Products International (CPI) installed a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) at a Southwest midstream natural gas processing facility for the abatement of VOCs such as benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) and other compounds from two (2) Amine Hydration treaters.

Topics: Air Pollution Control, News, Blog, Natural Gas

SCR Controls NOx & CO Emissions from Calciner

Posted by Jan Carlson

Oct 5, 2022, 9:19:08 AM

Catalytic Products International (CPI) installed a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system with integrated catalytic oxidization to control volatile organic compounds (VOC), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), ammonia (NH₃) and nitrous oxide (NOx) emitted from a high-temperature calciner. The CPI CONCORD NR 4.2 system, was engineered for a 4,200 scfm exhaust stream and incorporates both catalytic oxidation and SCR-based NOx reduction in accordance with the applicable federal performance standards for calciners.

Topics: Air Pollution Control, Catalytic Oxidizer, News, Blog, SCR, NOx Abatement, Calciner Emissions, Particulate Control, Baghouse

CPI Rebuilds Recuperative Thermal Oxidizer

Posted by Jan Carlson

Aug 23, 2022, 9:30:00 AM

Catalytic Products International (CPI) rebuilt a QUADRANT SR- 8,500 SCFM Recuperative Thermal Oxidizer used for the control of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) at a Midwest USA resin-coating facility.

Topics: Air Pollution Control, Maintenance and Repairs, Thermal Oxidizer, Blog, Rebuild, Recuperative Thermal Oxidizer

CPI Installs RTO for Improved Sustainability

Posted by Jan Carlson

Jul 27, 2022, 8:47:29 AM

Catalytic Products International (CPI) installed a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) at a Midwest manufacturer of silicon rubber insulation products in order to improve sustainability and reduce the carbon footprint of their process coating operations.

Topics: Adhesives and Silicone, Air Pollution Control, Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer, Blog, Heat Recovery, Rebates, Recuperative Thermal Oxidizer, Sustainability

CPI Installs RTO at Metal Decorator

Posted by Jan Carlson

Jun 8, 2022, 9:08:42 AM

Catalytic Products International (CPI) recently completed the installation of a new Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) at a Midwest-based, two piece, polymer-coated steel can manufacturer for the abatement of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) generated in the metal decorating process. This new RTO is a duplicate on an existing RTO installed in 2017, as the facility continues to expand with new steel can processing and metal decorating lines.

Topics: Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer, News, Metal Decorating, Blog, Installation

CPI Installed RTO at EPS Foam Insulation Manufacturer

Posted by Jan Carlson

Apr 20, 2022, 8:39:19 AM

Catalytic Products International (CPI) installed a 6,000 SCFM Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) at a Midwest USA expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation manufacturer for the abatement of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

Topics: Air Pollution Control, Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer, Blog, Foam & Packaging Materials Case Study