Hydrocarbons are organic compounds composed primarily of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Many of these compounds are volatile and can easily vaporize into the atmosphere at room temperature and atmospheric pressure and are referred to as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs comprise many of the substances we use every day such as gasoline, paints and lacquers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials, and glues and adhesives, and the manufacture or processing of these substances can emit VOCs. At the industrial scale, many common VOCs are used in a variety of processes such as the manufacturing of Purified Terepthalic Acid (PTA), which is used to make plastic bottles. Some common examples of VOCs used in industry include benzene, toluene, xylene, and tetrachloroethylene. VOCs are also emitted from combustion processes.
VOCs that are emitted indoors from paints and adhesives are a particular concern because several are known to be carcinogenic. VOCs that are emitted outdoors from large industrial processes, are a concern not only for the potential to be carcinogenic, but also because of their ability to create photochemical smog in the atmosphere.
Johnson Matthey offers several catalyst solutions to help eliminate these compounds by oxidizing them to carbon dioxide and water. These catalysts can be either precious metal-based, such as our Oxidation Catalysts (2-way) or base-metal catalysts such as our SINOx® mixed oxide catalyst pellets and honeycombs and base-metal PTA emission control catalyst.
