Document 3N7bZ7Z3ZezBKrgV6mXB6X0gO

ESCAMBIA PLANT IMC. INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM To: E. A. Frimeau Dots: 14 November 1974 From: D. H. Francke Re; VCl Recovery by Absorption with Activated Carbon Copies: J. T. Barr G. J. Mantell W. C. Wilde Attached are some preliminary costs of systems to recover VC1 vapors by carbon absorption and steam desorption. These costs are based on the use of Calgon's PCB 4x10 activated carbon to remove VC1 from an air stream consisting of the blend tank vent, the vent condenser, and the two reactor purge blowers. VC1 concentrations were based on material balance data. This type of system appears to have some promise as a method of VC1 removal and recovery to aid in our reduction of VCl emissions. One series of tests made by Calgon for a customer indicated that no loss of adsorptivity was experienced throughout 100 adsorption/desorption cycles. Based on the calculated costs, a breakeven situation between operating costs and VCl savings becomes available at about 200 cycles per carbon bed before recharging the carbon. An actual savings of up. to $14-$15M/year is possible if the carbon can be used for up to 500 cycles. To determine the feasibility of such a system along with the actual number of cycles this carbon can be put through we need to run a small carbon bed (about one ft^) through a series of cycles using a small side stream of one of the vents mentioned above. This test could tell us the removal efficiency, the actual adsorption capacity of the carbon, and the actual steam usage for desorption. If run for an adequate time period (about one month), data on the number of cycles would be obtained. This system could be set up at the Escambia PVC Plant using one of the new Bendix Chromatographs to aid in analysis. DHF:aw attachment D. H. Francke AP00034673 Preliminary Costs of a Carbon Adsorption System for VC1 Recovery BASIS: * 1. Calgon's PCB 4 x 10 Activated Carbon $. 905/pound ^0=12.63 lb/ft3) 2. Combined air flow of 4300 CFM @~600 ppm VC1 (data from Matrl Balance) * 3, Capacity of the PCB 4x10" 5% VC1 by weight * 4. Maximum bed linear velocity = 75 ft/min. * 5. Steam required for regeneration * 10 pounds steam/pound VC1 recovered 6. 3 bed systems 1 bed adsorbing, 1 bed desorbing, 1 bed cooling *this data provided by Calgon Representative, B. D. Weils Number of Cycles Operating Costs ($/hour) AB Operating Cost ($/year) 100 3,12626 2. 85626 27,386 25, 021 200 .15625 .02126 1, 369 186 300 (. 83374) (. 92374) (7, 304) (8, 092) 500 (1. 62574) {1. 67974) (14, 241) (14, 715) Breakeven Point: A * 211 cycles/bed B * 202 cycles/bed A= 1 hour adsorption, 1 hour desorption, 1 hour cooling Bs 2 hour adsorption, 2 hour desorption, 2 hour cooling AP00034674 CMR ll/U/74 * <UiP o Vinyl's Troubles Multiplying From Plant to Planning Boanti Uniroyal Inc.'s PainesvllJe, Ohio, polyvinyl chloride plant was struck-by some 300 members of the United Rubber Workers Union last week, in whgt is believed to be the first such job action to arise from the discovery of the carcinogenicity of vinyl chloride. The issues in the strike are work practices and a demand for higher pay. In other developments relating to the troubled resin industry, B.F. Goodrich announced that it would spend $42 million In f the next three years to make its plants safe 1 for-workers handling vinyl chloride prod ucts? But that this sum still would not ena ble it to reach compliance with the new per manent Occupational Safety fc Health Ad ministration standard. On Tuesday, Society of the Plastics Industry petitioned OSHA to delay the standard. PAINESVILLE IS8UES From Painesville, Uniroyal industrial relations manager for the struck plant, Robert Douglas, said that the issues In volved union demands for eating facilities separate frOifc theworkplace, special clean ing facilities and time off to use them, as well a* a wage hike of 75 cents an hour to > compensate for the hazards of VCM to the workers. Mr. Roberts said the eating facility and clean-up issues were both part of the tem porary standard on VCM products issued earlier by OSHA. Since OSHA itself dropped the provisions on grounds they had no validity when it wrote the permanent standards, according to Mr. Douglas, Uniroyal resisted the workers demands - pre ferring to put its money into the technical changes mandated by thenisnr-nfteSfp^r The hourly workers went- out last Mon day. By midweek, according to Uniroyal, there had been at least one meeting be tween strikers and management; there was no progress and the plant was being picket ed. ;V- T.l,,. - - In Akron, meanwhile,..F-Goodrich ex plained that its'-gtt'tniilioa investment In VCM safety measures is keyed to reducing VCM gas levels*t six plants and does -not cover expansions, Including an expansion at Louisville. Ky.- The company claims it is unable to say what the cost of meeting the new standards would be. AP00034675