Removal of BTEX Compounds From Waste Gases; Destruction and Recovery Techniques

The tendency for BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes) to spread into all compartments of the environment together with their influence on both ecosystem and human health means that the emission of thesecompounds into the air is becoming the matter of worldwide concern. The legal regulations introduced by the European Union governing the assessment and management of air quality obliges member states to systematically reduce BTEX emissions into the atmosphere, and hence to monitor and then remove these compounds from contaminated gaseous media. Recent years have witnessed the ongoing search for new and improved techniques for removing BTEX compounds from waste gases. The authors describe the destruction techniques commonly used for treating waste gases, focusing on the ever more popular biological methods (with their modifications) and the well-established techniques utilizing oxidation. They focused on discussing both advantages and drawbacks of presented techniques. Attention is also drawn to innovative energy-conserving approaches (plasma methods) that are considered future trends in the contaminated air purification technology.