Document 91rYaOJEKbqg5ORO8mm0z6mXq

inter office memo TENNECO CHEMICALS, INC. To From Subject J. K. Jacob AT Piscataway P. J. Patel At Flemington Activated Carbon VCM Emissions Evaluation Date March 22, 19 77 copt to See Copy List At your request, the performance of the activated carbon in meeting 10 parts per million (ppm), as well as a possible 5 ppm EPA's vinyl chloride requirement was evaluated. From the attached data, the following observations can be made: (1) In the three separate pilot plant studies, 544 carbon column vent gas samples were analyzed by gas chromatograph for vinyl chloride content. 2.6% were above 10 ppm and 9.74% were above 5 ppm. The average vinyl chloride level in the study was 3.0 ppm. (2) In the four separate studies conducted on the Pasadena carbon adsorber, it was found that 7.2% of the samples anal yzed by gas chromatography contained vinyl chloride above 10 ppm. However, 43.5% were above 5 ppm. The average VCM value was determined to be 4.65 ppm. It is felt that,in order to evaluate and draw definitive conclusions with regard to whether the Pasadena activated carbon adsorber is capa ble of consistently meeting EPA's vinyl chloride standards,equipment modifications are required. It is necessary to eliminate possible vinyl chloride contamination from the slurry tank by-pass stream. In order to correct this problem, the carbon adsorber vent should be sep arated from the combined slurry tank/carbon adsorber system. It is also suggested that the automatic gas chromatograph be reconnected for continuous vinyl chloride emission monitoring. The Pilot Plant data currently represents the best capabilities of car bon adsorption under controlled and consistent conditions. Even under these conditions, less than 10 ppm and less than 5 ppm exit gas concen trations are not achieved 100% of the time. The key to the acceptabil ity of our existing process is the frequency of excursions above 5 or 10 ppm allowed by EPA. The carbon adsorption process as it now exists does not provide readings below 10 ppm 100% of the time. PJP/cet Copy to: D. Coldiron W. F. Gabel R. Harmond Dr. R. T. Gottesman Dr. W. J. Klingebiel Dr. P. A. Lobo R. S. Miller S. R. Madan S. Richter M. K. Rosen J. Sands tedt G. I. Rozand C. G. Thompson F. R. Richardson R. Young COLOR!TE 006477 Description Flemington Pilot Plant* (Table A2) Flemington Pilot Plant* (Table A3 Flemington Pilot Plant* (Table A4) ACTIVATED CARBON ADSORBER EVALUATION VCM EMISSIONS (GAS CHROMATOGRAPH ANALYSIS) Total Number of GC VCM Analysis 307 Vinyl Chloride Emissions (Readings)% above lOppm 5ppm lppm 3.6 11.0 41.96 (VCM) Mean 3.61 58 0.00 0.00 28.8 0.87 179 1.6 10.6 74.6 2. 72 Std. Deviation 2.66 0.97 3.56 Variance 7.07 0.94 12.65 Pasadena Jan.Trial ** Table IIa) Pasadena Jan.Trial** (Table lib) Pasadena Jan.Trial** (Table III (i) Pasadena Jan.Trial** Table III(j) 16 6.25 56.3 100.0 5.93 2.32 5.4 19 5.26 36.84 100.0 4.81 2.82 7.97 13 7. 7 76.9 84.6 3.6 3.14 r 9.89 21 9.5 19.0 81.0 4.19 4.84 23-46 * Refer to Research Report No.0906-3 Pilot Plant Investigation of the Adsorption of Vinyl Chlorice on Activated Carbon, October 8, 1975. ** Refer to Evaluation of Tenneco Chemicals' Commercial Carbon Adsorbers at Pasadena.Texas, January 23, 19 77, COLORITE 006478 P. A. Mango