The project NEXT AIR BIOTREAT is aimed at developing and improving the technologies used for natural and clean processes which are able to eliminate VOCs emissions (Volatile Organic Compounds) found in the atmosphere. Two technologies which are object of expansion are VOCUS® and BONCUS®, which were developed within the NEXT AIR BIOTREAT and which are estimated to contribute to the European Union’s challenge of tackling the VOC emissions.

It must be noted that VOC emissions affect the atmosphere, soils and waters added to putting in risk human health; they can provoke, for example, breathing illnesses or, as in some cases which have arisen, there may be some VOC cases which are toxic for reproduction.

The coordinator at the GI2AM research group of the ETSE-UV, Carmen Gabaldón, who is working for the NEXT AIR BIOTREAT stated for CORDIS that “Several EU flexography enterprises (Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Portugal) have decided to eliminate VOC using this smart and environmentally respectful technology in order to adjust to the EU directives on solvent emissions.  These enterprises also reduce their operational costs related to atmospheric pollution if it were compared to the cost of enterprises which still make use of regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTO) in order to destroy OVCs. Additionally, its environmental impact is lower.”

For that matter, the ETSE-UV is fully committed to the improvement of these technologies aiming at providing industries with solutions for OVC emissions. Hence, the ETSE-UV team has been working on this project for over four years, so we expect for the developments on this matter to continue.

More information:   http://cordis.europa.eu/news/rcn/123140_en.html