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OAR Box 1384 

Prepped by Charmelle Mathews 

Document Number: 

57) ll-E-17 

Docket Number: 

A-94-52 

Printed 7/2/2008 8:42.05 AM Sheet 57of 264 
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CONTACT REPORT 

Promt Madeleine Strum, us EPA, OAQPS, Emissions Standards 

Division, Coatings and Consumer Products Group 

Da to (a) of Contact i October 31, 1994 and November 4, 1994 

Contact! Mr. Anders Munters 

Company/Agency t Ahlquist & Hunters Technologies, Xnc. (AMX) 

telephone Kumber* 813 540 000$ 

CONTACT SUMMARY! 

The conversation regarded technical difficulties perceived by 

some members of the regulatory community and industry with the 

use of biofiltration technology to control of styrene emissions 

for the reinforced composite plastics industry. These 

difficulties are: l) plugging of the bio-filter bed (due to 

styrene), 2) drying of the bio-filter, and 3) bio-filters 

becoming inactive due to non-continuous emissions, such as when 

the plant is not spraying due to the intermittent nature of 

production. 

With regard to 1), Mr. Munters pointed out that a reinforced 

composite plastic manufacturer (Fiberform AB, in Kristinehamn, 

Sweden) has been operating for five years using the biofiltration 

technology. The system has been maintaining an 85% destruction 

efficiency, which is what their system was designed for. Mr. 

Munters explained why the problem may be present in some 

situations, such as the absence of a particulate filter before 

the bio-filter. He noted that other manufacturers of bio-filters 

sometimes add carbon to the filter, which can get plugged up, as 

styrene will polymerize on tbe carbon and collect there. Mr. 

Munters added that this problem could also occur if the system 

contained a carbon prefliter. Sometimes carbon ia used as a 

prefilter in order to reduce the size of the bio-filter. This 

was not done for Fiberfornn AB (nor would it be done for any oth.<sr 

styrene emission source), due to the possibility that the styrene 

would polymerize on the carbon. (Mr. Munters indicated that AWT 

is working with carbon manufacturers who are working to develop 

carbon which would inhibit the polymerization of the styrene.) 

He also speculated that this problem may be inherent to the open 

bio-filter systems where it IB more difficult to provide stable 

conditions for the microorganisms to consume the volatile organic 

conr-pounds (VOCs) -- AMT's technology utilizes a closed biofilter system. 

With regard to 2), Mr. Munters noted that the AMT technology 

incorporates an innovative watering system to assist in 

maintaining the correct humidification conditions for the 

microorganisms. Sometimes humidification of the inlet VOC stream 

j,,i ? ••-•-• - -• 

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NCW-85~1994 16*35 FROM 0ft3FS.ESD.CP3/I5B RT TO 88134892645 P. 03 

is necessary, however, in addition to the moisture provided by 

watering system. 

With regard to 3), Mr. Hunters noted that the Flberfona plant in 

Sweden does not have a continuous emission source. They operate 

8'hour shifts and close on the weekend. They also have a 2-week 

shut down perioud every year. Mt, Munters said that, in general, 

after a 4-week shut down, it would take about a day to for normal 

resumption of the bio-filter performance. 

SIGNED 

DATE: tf/*7/o($ 

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