Industry
VOC Control Materials for the Printing Industry
Emission problems, pollutants, operating conditions and recommended materials for the printing sector.
Typical emission problems
- Solvent VOCs from ink drying
- Mixed aromatics, esters, ketones and alcohols
- Moderate temperature exhaust
Main pollutants
- Benzene, toluene, xylene
- Esters
- Ketones
- Alcohols
Operating conditions
Printing exhaust carries mixed solvent VOCs at moderate concentration. Catalytic oxidation and adsorption-concentration routes both apply depending on flow and concentration.
Recommended material selection
- Pt / Pt-Pd VOC catalysts for catalytic oxidation
- ZSM-5 adsorption concentration for low-concentration, high-flow exhaust
- Honeycomb activated carbon as an alternative adsorbent
Engineering considerations
Printing exhaust is a classic high-flow, low-concentration VOC stream: large volumes of air carrying solvents at a few hundred milligrams per cubic meter. Treating the entire flow by direct oxidation is fuel-expensive, which is why adsorption concentration — carbon or zeolite — combined with a small oxidizer is the standard architecture.
The solvent mix matters. Ethanol and ethyl acetate desorb easily; high boilers accumulate and foul adsorbents. Humidity from drying sections displaces VOC on hydrophilic adsorbents, favoring hydrophobic zeolites in humid lines.
Where the plant runs continuously and the stream is clean, catalytic oxidation with regenerative heat recovery (RCO) delivers the lowest operating cost; intermittent lines lean toward adsorption or quick-light-off catalytic units.
Tell us about your stream
Gas flow, concentration, temperature, humidity, SO₂ and dust — we will recommend the right catalyst or adsorbent system.