United States Air and Energy Engineering

Environmental Protection Research Laboratory

Agency Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

Research and Development EPA/600/SR-95/064 May 1995

Technology Evaluation Report:

Support for MACT

Determination for Degreasing

Project Summary

The project was conducted by the

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA) to provide technical data to support Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) rule-making efforts. It

quantifies emissions from innovative

alternative vapor degreasing systems,

permitting comparisons of emissions

to conventional vapor degreasing systems. Tests were performed at two locations, primarily using gravimetric

analysis.

This Project Summary was developed

by EPA’s Air and Energy Engineering

Research Laboratory, Research Triangle

Park, NC, to announce key findings of

the research project that is fully documented in a separate report of the same

title (see Project Report ordering information at back).

Background

The U.S. EPA must establish an emissions standard with limits reflecting MACT

for each major source category emitting

hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). These

standards would be developed as National

Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air

Pollutants. New developments in vapor

degreaser design have the potential for

totally eliminating HAP emissions during

surface cleaning. A number of companies

have advertised systems that are claimed

to be representative of MACT—that is,

very low-emitting, well-controlled vapor

degreasing systems. These systems use

vapor confinement techniques other than

traditional freeboard extensions, freeboard chillers, and automatic covers.

MACT-capable systems are advantageous

to existing industries, since they can make

possible the continued use of traditional

vapor degreasing solvents or new but similar compounds while significantly reducing emissions.

Project Objective

The primary objective of this project was

to collect quantitative emissions data from

low-emitting vapor degreasing systems.

The criteria for the systems tested included

available sizes, solvents that can be used

in the degreaser operating parameters,

and available features that can be used

by a wide range of industries. The emissions data are to be used as background

information for the MACT legislation being

developed by EPA’s Office of Air Quality

Planning and Standards.

Approach

Two vapor degreasing systems were

selected as representative of the generic

designs of the MACT systems. The selected systems were tested using gravimetric analysis. The tests were conducted

at the vendor’s test facility. Emissions rates

were determined by observing weight loss

from the system during testing. The testing was conducted during both operating

and non-operating test periods.

Results

Results of the gravimetric analysis

showed that emission levels using MACT

technology are less than 0.5 lb/day (0.23

kg/day), or 0.06 lb/hr (0.027 kg/hr), for

both systems. Based on an emissions rate

of 1.6 lb/hr (0.73 kg/hr), the MACT vapor

degreasing systems indicate a 96% improvement over conventional vapor

degreasers. Thus, the test results indicate

that the use of the defined MACT systems

of the type tested will significantly reduce

solvent emissions during degreasing.

D.R. Cornstubble, K.R. Monroe, E.A. Hill, and J.B. Flanagan
2

D.R. Cornstubble, K.R. Monroe, E.A. Hill, and J.B. Flanagan are with Research

Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.

Charles H. Darvin is the EPA Project Officer (see below).

The complete report, entitled “Technology Evaluation Report: Support for MACT

Determination for Degreasing,” (Order No. PB95-215992; Cost: $19.50, subject

to change) will be available only from

National Technical Information Service

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161

Telephone: 703-487-4650

The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at

Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

United States

Environmental Protection Agency

Center for Environmental Research Information

Cincinnati, OH 45268

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use

$300

EPA/600/SR-95/064

BULK RATE

POSTAGE & FEES PAID

EPA

PERMIT No. G-35