Industry
VOC Control Materials for Pharmaceutical Plants
Emission problems, pollutants, operating conditions and recommended materials for the pharmaceutical sector.
Typical emission problems
- Organic solvent exhaust from synthesis and drying
- Batch operation with concentration swings
- Complex solvent mixtures
Main pollutants
- Organic solvents (VOCs)
- Odors
Operating conditions
Pharmaceutical exhaust is characterized by batch variation and mixed solvents. Adsorption smooths load swings; oxidation suits continuous streams. Safety requirements often dictate the route.
Recommended material selection
- Zeolite adsorption concentration + catalytic oxidation
- Activated carbon (honeycomb / coconut-shell) for adsorption
- VOC catalysts for oxidation stage
Engineering considerations
Pharmaceutical vents mix solvents, process variability and strict compliance. Streams are often intermittent — batch reactors vent at different points of a cycle — so the treatment system must handle wide flow and concentration swings without losing destruction efficiency.
Solvent recovery is sometimes economically interesting in this industry; adsorption with regeneration can return solvent value while meeting emission limits. Where recovery is not justified, catalytic oxidation with strong light-off performance handles the intermittent duty.
Species-level analysis is essential: halogenated solvents require scrubbing or special oxidizer designs, and catalyst poisons from process aids must be identified before system selection.
Tell us about your stream
Gas flow, concentration, temperature, humidity, SO₂ and dust — we will recommend the right catalyst or adsorbent system.