Assessment of the strategies for reducing VOCs emission from polyurea-formaldehyde resin synthetic fiber leather industry in Taiwan

This study provides a novel attempt to assess the effectiveness of control strategies for reducing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emission from polyurea-formaldehyde resin synthetic fiber leather (PU) industry. Dimethyl formamide (DMF), major content of solvents, accounts for roughly 2500 tonnes/year to avoid excessive viscosity of polyurea-formaldehyde and to increase facility in working. The other solvent contents, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and toluene, are used as carrier of DMF. Emission of these VOCs from solvent causes serious odor problems. It is important to know the VOCs pollution sources and emission characteristics before treating the VOCs in PU industry. In this study, 80 stacks in five factories were tested to evaluate emission characteristics at each VOCs source. After examining the VOCs concentrations in the flue gases and contents in the PU, the DMF emission rate before treatment and from fugitive source is 2300 and 80 tonnes/year, respectively. To reduce VOCs emission rate, it is important to assess reducing solvent content in painting and increasing control efficiency of treatment equipment. In this study, the zeolite rotator is recommended to be used as effective control equipment.