Applied Mathematics and Nonlinear Sciences 8(1) (2023) 2063–2074

Applied Mathematics and Nonlinear Sciences

https://www.sciendo.com

A review of the treatment techniques of VOC

Min Gao1 , Mingming Mao1†, Junrui Shi1 , Yongqi Liu1 , Qiang Chen1 , Jia Li1
1Shandong University of Technology, School of Transportation and Vehicle Engineering, Zibo, Shandong
255000, China

Submission Info
Communicated by Juan Luis García Guirao
Received July 20th 2021
Accepted August 6th 2021
Available online April 15th 2022

Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are important sources of environmental pollution. Several commonly used techniques
for the treatment of VOC are reviewed. Recovery techniques can be classified into absorption, adsorption, condensation
and membrane separation. Destruction techniques include biodegradation, photocatalysis, low-temperature plasma and
combustion. The basic principle, applicable conditions, advantages and disadvantages of the above technologies are dis-
cussed. By contrast, the rotational regenerative combustion method has a broad prospect. Suggestions on the improvement
of rotary regenerative combustion technology are presented. The treatment of VOC requires comprehensive consideration
of the advantages and disadvantages of various technologies.

Keywords: volatile organic compounds, absorption, adsorption, catalytic oxidation, rotary regenerative oxidation

1 Introduction

In general, volatile organic compounds (VOC) refer to a class of organic compounds with boiling points in
the range of 50–260◦ C [1]. They mainly include benzene, alkanes, hydrocarbons, esters etc. VOC are widely
distributed and can be found ubiquitously across several industries. The main sources of VOC emissions are in-
dustrial sources, such as petroleum refining, chemical production, medical and pharmaceutical, food processing,
paint production, paper and ink printing industries. Among these, the petrochemical industry accounts for the
largest proportion of organic emissions.
VOC are complex and often have a foul odour. Most VOC are flammable and explosive. High volatility is
their remarkable characteristic. These compounds are major precursors for the production of PM2.5. Owing to
the action of VOC, there is an increase in the rate of destruction of the ozone layer. The ecological environment
is affected in some way. The emission of VOC can even lead to climate change and acid rain [2]. The presence
of VOC also poses a threat to humans, animals and plants. They can not only come into direct contact with
† Corresponding author.
Email address: shandongmao@163.com

ISSN 2444-8656 doi:10.2478/amns.2021.2.00131

Open Access. © 2021 Gao et al., published by Sciendo.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution alone 4.0 License.
2064 Gao et al. Applied Mathematics and Nonlinear Sciences 8(2023) 2063–2074

the skin or mucous membranes but also adhere to the surface of the body in many ways. Long-term exposure
to them can result in chronic diseases, cancer and other life-threatening conditions. The existence of all these
effects makes them an important target for environmental pollution control.
The serious impact of air pollution on human health is a long-term concern [3]. The management of VOC
has become a focus of global attention. Countries, organisations, industries and relevant researchers are taking
action. China has promulgated a series of laws and regulations regarding the emission of VOC. In 2017, the
‘Thirteenth Five-Year’ VOC Pollution Prevention and Control Work Plan was released. ‘Determination of VOC
Release in Coatings’ was released in August 2019 and is scheduled to be implemented on 1 July 2020. In
December 2019, the China Environmental Testing Centre formulated the ‘Technical Regulations for Continuous
and Automatic Monitoring Quality Control of Volatile Organic Compounds in Ambient Air of the National
Ambient Air Testing Network (Trial)’. From the above actions, it can be observed that the current situation
concerning the deleterious health consequences and environmental degradation caused by VOC is serious, thus
prompting regulatory bodies to impose increasingly stringent emission standards.
With the advancement of technology and the improvement of research, the knowledge of volatile organic ex-
haust gases has been greatly broadened and the level of understanding of them has been further deepened. Man-
agement of VOC is a hotly studied topic due to the widespread cognisation. People have developed a variety of
treatment technologies. They can be separated into two categories: recovery technology and destruction technol-
ogy. Recovery technologies can be classified into absorption, adsorption, condensation, membrane separation
etc. Destruction technologies mainly embrace combustion, photocatalysis, biodegradation, low-temperature
plasma etc. The combustion method can be subdivided into direct combustion, catalytic combustion, porous
media combustion and regenerative combustion. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. The ap-
plication depends on temperature, composition and concentration of VOC, emission volume flow rate, space
limitations, economic value and operating costs [4].
In this paper, the research progress of the several technologies mentioned above is reviewed. The basic
principles, advantages and disadvantages of various processes are briefly introduced. In addition, the rotary
regenerative oxidation technology is highlighted. Finally, the future direction of development is put forward.

2 Recovery technology

2.1 Absorption

Absorption methods can usually be classified into physical absorption and chemical absorption methods. It is
well known that different types of gases show distinct solubility in the same absorbent. The physical absorption
method takes advantage of this fact to selectively absorb harmful gases, thereby purifying the exhaust gas. The
chemical method uses the chemical reaction between the waste gas and the absorbent to absorb the waste gas.
Comparatively, the physical absorption method is more extensive.
The physical absorption method requires a number of factors to be taken into consideration, such as the type
of absorbent and the choice of absorption device. There are three main types of general absorbents: oil-based
absorbents (e.g. non-polar mineral oils such as diesel, oil wash etc.), water complex absorbents (e.g. water-oil
wash, water-alkali etc.) and high boiling point organic solvents (e.g. phthalates, adipates etc.) [5, 6]. Some
special adsorbents are also being investigated. Briefly, the choice of absorbent should be considered in terms of
safety, effectiveness, cost and environmentally friendly performance. Common absorption devices include plate
columns, packed columns and spray towers.
Absorption is a more mature technology, which has the advantages of simple operation, low investment and
low maintenance costs. It is suitable for the treatment of high concentration of organic exhaust gas at room
temperature. The method still faces many problems in the selection and development of absorbent and the
optimisation of absorption equipment, which needs to be further explored.
 A review of the treatment techniques of VOC 2065

2.2 Adsorption

Adsorption can adsorb VOC gas molecules selectively, using the inherent characteristics of the adsorbents
to purify and treat the waste gas containing VOC. Depending on the characteristics of adsorbent regeneration, it
can be classified into two types: regenerated adsorption and non-regenerated adsorption; in terms of adsorption
principles, these two types cover physical adsorption and chemical adsorption, respectively. The former is
mainly deployed in treatment with organic waste gas, while the latter is mostly used for wastewater treatment.
Based on the process conditions, adsorption methods can be categorised into temperature swing adsorption
(TSA); pressure swing adsorption (PSA); temperature and PSA; and electric swing adsorption [7].
The choice of the adsorbent is crucial to the adsorption effect. The adsorbent usually selects materials
with large specific surface areas, high selectivity, loose structure and long service life, which are beneficial
in terms of enhancing the adsorption effect. Most of the commonly used adsorbents are porous materials,
such as activated carbon, zeolite molecular sieves, metal–organic framework materials, alumina and resins [8,
9]. Currently, activated carbon is the most effective adsorbent in organic waste gas treatment [1], which is
attributed to its advantages such as strong adsorption capacity, large surface area and easy access. However, it has
little effect in environments with high humidity or high temperature, and even some safety hazards. Molecular
sieves also have certain advantages in exhaust gas treatment, such as good stability, high adsorption activity
and hydrophobicity. It is a porous crystalline aluminosilicate material with pore structures [10]. Its adsorption
process is mostly physical.
The adsorption method is simple and has a good purification effect. However, there are shortcomings such
as adsorbent poisoning and secondary pollution. This method is effective for low concentration and high flow
rate organic exhaust gas but is not suitable for high temperature, high humidity and high concentration exhaust
gas cleaning.

2.3 Condensation

Condensation is one of the simplest methods of exhaust gas treatment. Condensation converts VOC to liquid
at lower temperatures or higher pressures, thereby recovering large amounts of VOC [11]. The saturated vapour
pressure is related to the type of gas and the temperature at which it is applied. Industries usually use lower
system temperature or higher system pressure to separate and purify organic exhaust gas.
Cooling units and refrigerants are critical to the treatment of exhaust gases by condensation. Currently,
condensation is mainly divided into surface condensation and contact condensation – and the corresponding
condensing units are surface condensers and contact condensers. Refrigerant is an industrial substance used for
heat exchange. Refrigerants are usually selected from working fluids having high refrigeration efficiency, high
thermal conductivity and high exothermic coefficient.
Condensation is simple when treating high concentrations and high boiling point organic exhaust gas. The-
oretically, it is highly effective. If the method is used alone to treat components with low freezing points and
low concentration, the system pressure needs to be significantly increased or the system temperature needs to be
drastically reduced. The great change in the operating environment is a challenge to the equipment. The method
has a high cost and consumes a lot of energy. Therefore, the condensation method is commonly used to treat
high concentrations of valuable VOC [11].

2.4 Membrane separation

Research on membranes has been performed since the 18th century and has been gradually applied in the
industrial field since the 1960s of the last century. With the development of science and technology as well as
the continuous improvement of the research level, membrane separation technology has been applied more and
more widely. It has made significant contributions to wastewater treatment, food processing, pharmaceutical
production and petrochemical refining.
2066 Gao et al. Applied Mathematics and Nonlinear Sciences 8(2023) 2063–2074

The membrane has selective permeability. Under the push of external force, membrane separation technol-
ogy can separate and purify organic waste gas. It is well known that the diffusion rate in the same solvent is
related to the type of gas; membrane separation technology mainly makes use of this feature and the inherent
characteristics of membranes to realise the needed purification. Exhaust gas emission standards are met and
then discharged. There are various types of membranes. Generally, based on the separation mechanism and
application scope, they can be grouped into microfiltration membranes, ultrafiltration membranes, nanofiltration
membranes, reverse osmosis membranes, pervaporation membranes and ion exchange membranes [12].
Corresponding to the classification of membranes, relatively mature membrane separation technologies in-
clude microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis and electrodialysis. The driving force of
microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis is the pressure difference. Driven by pressure,
the solvent is facilitated to flow smoothly. Electrodialysis is driven by a voltage differential and allows only ions
to pass through.
Membrane separation technology is a relatively advanced treatment technology. It possesses the significant
advantages of simple operation, high efficiency and wide application range. It is energy efficient because no
thermal driving force is required to separate the mixture [13, 14]. However, the cost of the membrane is high.
The membrane separation method has poor stability and can cause membrane contamination problems. The
technology is appropriate for treating VOC with low flow rates and high concentrations.

3 Destruction technology

3.1 Biodegradation

Biodegradation is a new technology. Research on the use of this technology to treat VOC began as early as
the mid-to-late 20th century. By taking advantage of the unique physiological functions and characteristics of
living organisms, harmful substances in VOC are degraded into inorganic substances such as water and carbon
dioxide, thereby purifying exhaust gases.
Biological methods can be divided into four types: biofiltration, bio-trickling filtration, bio-scrubber and
membrane bioreactors [15].
The main equipment of the biological filtration method is the biological filter tower. It is based on the
principle that pre-treated exhaust gases can be transported to a biological bed containing packing materials,
where the organic exhaust gases would be broken down into harmless substances.
The biological drip filter method is equipped with a biological drip filter tower, where organic waste gases
are purified after contact with a moist biofilm. The organic waste gases enter the tower from the bottom for
purification and eventually release from the top. Metabolic wastes are eliminated with the waste liquid [16].
The important equipment of the biological scrubbing method is a biological scrubbing tower, which is
sprayed with a circulating scrubbing solution to absorb the organic waste gases. After absorption, organic
waste gas is introduced into the regeneration tank. Then the activated sludge degrades it [17], resulting in the
purification of organic waste gas.
Membrane bioreactor is a new process that combines membrane separation technology with biological meth-
ods. It is composed of three parts mainly: a bioreactor, a membrane module and a control system [18].
The biodegradation has simple equipment. Its operation as well as the management cost is low. There will
be no secondary pollution during the treatment. However, this technology is greatly influenced by temperature
and humidity. The biodegradation method has a high removal efficiency when treating low concentrations of
VOC.

3.2 Photocatalysis

Photochemical water-cracking reactions were discovered in the early 1970s, after which photocatalysis was
widely used in water treatment and degradation of VOC [19]. The basic principle is that the photocatalyst
 A review of the treatment techniques of VOC 2067

produces electron-hole pairs under the action of light. By using the strong oxidation of electron holes, VOC will
be oxidised into carbon dioxide and water, and other substances. Thus, the purpose of eliminating pollutants
can be achieved. The method also includes processes such as adsorption, chemical degradation and desorption
of products or intermediates of VOC [20]. Catalytic efficiency is related to the type of catalyst. Commonly
used photocatalysts include TiO2 , ZnO, WO3 , ZnS and CdS [20]. Among these, the most extensively studied
catalytic material is TiO2 , which is non-toxic and has the advantages of simple preparation, stability, low cost
and strong ability to degrade VOC pollutants [21]. TiO2 is capable of being not only used alone but also making
the modified TiO2 photocatalysts. Both of these can be utilised for the purification of VOC.
Photocatalysis is a new treatment method with high efficiency in the treatment of low concentration organic
waste gases. The reaction conditions are mild. It has good green environmental performance and low energy
consumption. The operation and management costs are also low. However, there are problems such as catalyst
deactivation. Therefore, in order to enhance the photocatalytic efficiency or activate the photocatalyst, it is
usually necessary to develop new catalytic materials [22].

3.3 Low-temperature plasma

In 1928, the concept of plasma was first proposed to describe a collection of charged particles [23, 24].
It is also the fourth state of matter. Depending upon thermodynamic equilibrium, plasma can be divided into
thermodynamic equilibrium and non-thermodynamic equilibrium [25]. Non-thermodynamic equilibrium plasma
is also called low-temperature plasma. Low-temperature plasma has been increasingly studied and applied in the
treatment of organic waste gas. Low-temperature plasma technology is a method that uses high-energy electrons
to cause inelastic collisions with gas molecules or atoms to cause free radicals, and the free radicals react with
organic gas molecules to degrade VOC [26]. The main generation mechanism of low-temperature plasma is
discharge, including corona discharge [27], dielectric barrier discharge [28, 29] and glow discharge [30].
The low-temperature plasma method applies to processing large flows of low concentrations of organic
waste gas. It is a simple energy-efficient treatment method. In addition, low operating and maintenance costs
are another advantage. However, the generation of by-products, safety and severe condition controls are the
issues to be considered when applying this method.

3.4 Combustion

The combustion method is also known as the thermal oxidation method. It means that under certain con-
ditions, the combustible organic exhaust gases are burned (or oxidised) into CO2 , H2 O and other harmless
substances, achieving the purpose of purifying exhaust gases. The combustion method can be further sorted into
direct combustion, catalytic combustion, porous media combustion, regenerative combustion and so on.
3.4.1 Direct combustion
Direct combustion is the direct combustion of combustible organic waste gases as chemical fuels. This
method is suitable for the treatment of organic exhaust gases with a high concentration of combustible gas com-
ponents or high calorific value. The combustion temperature is usually set at around 1100◦ C. It has demanding
combustion conditions. For the exhaust gases to be fully combusted, the highly concentrated exhaust gases
must be completely mixed with air in advance; otherwise, harmful substances such as dioxins will be generated.
This method is relatively easy and does not need much investment in the initial stage. It has strict equipment
requirements and operating conditions. Besides, there are safety hazards and waste of heat energy.
3.4.2 Catalytic combustion
Catalytic combustion is a typical type of gas–solid catalytic reaction. The role of the catalyst is to reduce the
activation energy and increase the reaction rate. Catalytic combustion is a process in which the combustible com-
ponents of the exhaust gas are oxidised at low temperatures to substances such as CO2 and H2 O, accompanied
by the release of large amounts of heat, under the action of a catalyst.
2068 Gao et al. Applied Mathematics and Nonlinear Sciences 8(2023) 2063–2074

The performance of the catalyst affects the catalytic effect. Catalysts can be classified into three major
groups: noble metal catalysts, non-noble metal catalysts and complex oxide catalysts. The common noble metal
catalysts include Au, Pb, Pt etc. Noble metal catalysts have the advantages of high activity, high deactivation
resistance and high regeneration capacity [31]. However, the application of noble metal catalysts is restricted
by their high cost, low oxidation stability and poor resistance to sulphur and chlorine [11]. Non-noble metal
catalysts can be loaded or non-loaded metal oxides [32, 33]. Common catalysts are Co, Ni, Cu, Mn etc. They
have the advantages of better activity, recyclability, low price and easy availability, which makes them an ideal
alternative to precious metal catalysts. Composite metal catalysts are usually made of a combination of two or
more oxides, which can improve the performance of the catalyst and further improve the removal efficiency of
VOC.
The catalytic combustion method has superior purification efficiency and good safety performance. How-
ever, the catalyst is prone to poisoning and surface coking. The catalytic combustion method applies to a wide
range of concentrations and achieves low or zero emission of CO and NOx [34, 35]. This method still needs
further research in the development of new novel combustion catalysts.
3.4.3 Porous media combustion
Porous Medium Combustion (PMC) technology is a new type of gas combustion technology. The porous
medium has the characteristics of large heat capacity and strong thermal conductivity etc. The VOC enter the
porous medium and the heat generated is transferred in the form of heat conduction, convection and radiation,
which preheats the upstream gas and recovers the waste heat of the high-temperature flue gas [36]. This com-
bustion technique achieves heat reflux, resulting in a more uniform temperature inside the porous medium.
Porous media material plays a remarkable role in the purification of exhaust gas combustion. It is not only
an important component for carrying VOC exhaust combustion but also an indispensable medium for the heat
reflow process. Therefore, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the thermodynamic properties, flow
properties and heat transfer properties of porous media materials when they are selected [6]. The structure of
porous media generally consists of stacked particles, straight-hole grid, foam, and fiber grid type. And cordierite,
mullite and SiC are the commonly used porous media materials.
The technology is effective when treating organic exhaust gas with low calorific value and high flow rate.
It has the advantages of compact structure, low investment cost, stable combustion and high removal efficiency.
However, due to the heat storage properties of the porous material, it may cause heat accumulation and even
damage the equipment.
3.4.4 Regenerative combustion
The regenerative combustion method is used to store the heat generated by combustion in a regenerative
body after the combustible components of the organic exhaust gases are burned. The stored heat is used to
preheat the exhaust gases entering the next cycle, which results in the recycling of heat.
The core device of the regenerative combustion method is the regenerative oxidiser. Regenerative Environ-
mental Equipment Company, Inc. (REECO) (Research-Cottrell) first introduced Regenerative Thermal Oxidiser
(RTO) systems to the market in the early 1870s. The early units achieved a heat recovery efficiency of 80–
85% [37]. Later, the RTO system was introduced into the country. As the research progressed, its structure was
continuously improved and optimised, and the heat recovery could reach >95%. Nowadays, RTO systems are
increasingly being widely used in industrial organic waste gas treatment.
The regenerative thermal and the regenerative catalytic combustion methods are the two main technologies
available in the regenerative method. The basic principle of the regenerative thermal combustion method is that
the exhaust gases flow through the regenerative body and burn in the combustion chamber and then flow again
through the regenerative body, transferring most of the heat to the regenerative body. This energy is used to
preheat the exhaust gases to be treated. The regenerative catalytic combustion method is an improvement over
the original regenerative thermal combustion method. A catalyst is added to the regenerative bed layer. The
gas flowing through is catalysed by the catalyst, which reduces the activation energy and allows combustion
 A review of the treatment techniques of VOC 2069

at a lower temperature. The systems for both treatments are similar and consist primarily of a regenerative
chamber, combustion chamber and transfer valve. The heat storage system can be categorised into a single-
chamber system, double-chamber system and multi-chamber system depending upon the number of different
regenerative chambers. Among these, the dual-chamber and multi-chamber systems are more widely studied
and applied.
The regenerative thermal combustion method is suitable for the treatment of organic exhaust gases with low
air concentrations. It saves fuel and also achieves heat recovery, while greatly reducing operating costs. It has
a high combustion temperature, which easily generates secondary pollutants such as nitrogen oxides at high
temperatures. The regenerative catalytic combustion rule concentrates on the advantages of both regenerative
and catalytic combustion technologies. Its combustion temperature is lower and the heat loss is greatly reduced.
At the same time, the purification efficiency is still very high. The ability to deal with a wide range of exhaust
gas concentrations is a significant advantage. However, some factors need to be taken into consideration, such
as the type, cost and life of the catalyst.
The traditional regenerative burner has been improved through continuous research and is widely used in
exhaust gas treatment. However, there are still many shortcomings, such as large volume, unstable temperature
field and instability of continuous operation processes. In order to make the regenerative combustion method
more stable and effective in the treatment of exhaust gases, a new type of regenerative combustion device has
been developed based on the original equipment. The new apparatus is known as the rotary RTO. This method
has advantages such as high exhaust gas treatment efficiency and a large treatment flow rate. However, we have
less production equipment, which attributes to the complex equipment manufacturing process and other factors.
At present, the main focus is on the technical analysis and research of this equipment.

4 Rotational regenerative combustion

4.1 Structure

The components of the RTO burner include a regenerative body, combustion chamber, rotary valve, fan,
control system etc. The regenerative body is the core of the RTO system and plays a key role in storing and
releasing heat. Spherical and honeycomb are the main varieties widely used in the domestic and international
industries [38]. Ceramic honeycomb regenerative bodies are widely used in RTO systems due to their advan-
tages such as high thermal conductivity, high-temperature resistance and corrosion resistance. The combustion
chamber is the main place where the combustible components of the organic exhaust gases are burned and pu-
rified. The exhaust gases preheated by the regenerative body are combusted and decomposed after entering the
combustion chamber to produce carbon dioxide and water. The rotary valve is set up to help direct the gas
distribution. It is also gas-tight, which greatly reduces the possibility of gas leakage.
According to the different airflow switching methods, rotary RTOs can be broadly classified into rotary valve
type and multi-valve switching type [39]. Based on the sealing method of the rotary valve, there are three types:
gas seal, mechanical flexible seal and the combination of the two. In terms of different purging media, it can be
divided into two types: air purge and purge gas purge.

4.2 Principle

The regenerative body is preheated to 700–1000◦ C. The rotary valve is driven by the fan. Under the guid-
ance of the fan and the rotary valve, the VOC flow through the regenerative body and absorb the stored heat.
When the gas reaches a certain temperature, it is sent to the combustion chamber for combustion, generating
carbon dioxide and water. Meanwhile, it releases a large amount of reaction heat. The purified gas carries a
large amount of heat. Heat transfer occurs when it flows through the regenerative body. Most of the heat is
transferred to the regenerative body by heat conduction and radiation. The temperature of the purified exhaust
gas drops significantly. Finally, it is discharged from the bottom outlet. At the same time, the temperature of the
2070 Gao et al. Applied Mathematics and Nonlinear Sciences 8(2023) 2063–2074

1 – Burner; 2 – Regenerative body; 3 – Regenerative chamber; 4 – Rotary valve; 5 – Exhaust gas introduction
fan; 6 – Oxidation chamber; 7 – Over-temperature discharge piping; 8 – Temperature sensor; 9 – Purge fan;
10 – Purge valve
Fig. 1 Schematic diagram of the rotary RTO process [39]. RTO, regenerative thermal oxidiser

regenerative body increases, storing a large amount of heat. The task of the stored heat is to preheat the organic
waste gas that has just entered. In this way, the continuous and efficient treatment of the organic waste gas is
realised.
The rotating thermal storage oxidation technology has three advantages: First, multiple valves are simplified
into one valve, which greatly simplifies the complexity of the device and reduces the flow resistance of gas.
Therefore, the intake, exhaust and scavenging process is smoother. Second, the oxidation of the intake air and
the exothermic heat of the exhaust occur simultaneously in the oxidation bed. The heat transfer intensity and
efficiency are higher. The heat exchange area is saved and the structure is more compact. Third, the device can
rely on the oxidative heat release of the fuel to realise self heating to maintain operation, which greatly saves
energy.

4.3 Related research

As a new technology for the treatment of VOC, many scholars and research departments have seen the huge
potential for development, and have initiated a series of research and development.
Chen and Wei [40] introduced the governance technology of VOC in flexible packaging printing enterprises
in recent years. The novel rotary combustion method was introduced in the novel VOC end treatment method,
showing the structural principle of the method and the process route. A technical comparison between the
traditional and new VOC terminal management technologies was also carried out. It was found that the new
governance technology has high heat efficiency, low energy consumption and much lower operating costs. A
detailed introduction of rotating RTO was carried out by Li et al. [39]. The significant advantages of rotary
RTO were emphasised based on the comparison of RTO types and performance. And the rotary RTO were
classified and introduced based on five aspects. Guo et al. [41] introduced the working principle and the main
performance index of the rotary RTO. It showed that the thermal efficiency of the rotary RTO reaches 97%.
It achieved the secondary recycling of heat energy while reducing heat loss in operation. Iloeje et al. [42]
proposed an accurate simplified model of the rotating reactor, which greatly reduced the computational cost.
And the optimal combination between the variables was determined to meet the needs of reactor design. Cheng
et al. [43] proposed a rotating reactor for NOx reduction, using a fixed bed reactor to simulate the dynamic
adsorption-reduction process of the reactor. Compared with the conventional fixed bed reactor, it had a high
removal efficiency of NOx in an oxygen-rich environment. And it was adapted to a wide temperature range. A
 A review of the treatment techniques of VOC 2071

rotary regenerative catalytic combustion reactor (RRCCR) was proposed by Sang et al. [35]. The results of their
study showed that both the inlet velocity and concentration had a large effect on the performance of this reactor.
The reactor performance was found to be more sensitive to the increase in velocity and a decrease in methane
concentration. Sun et al. [44] simulated the effect of reaction conditions such as oxygen concentration in the
adsorption zone and adsorption to the reduction time ratio on the performance of the rotary reactor during CO
reduction of NOx . SO2 and H2 O in the flue gas were found to have a severe influence on the NO adsorption-
reduction dynamic process.

4.4 Improvement

In the current rotating RTO system, the temperature field in the regenerative body is stable, and continuous
gas input is achieved. However, most rotary reversing valves have a complex structure, and large flow losses
may occur during gas transport. The friction of the plane seal is high, and the high energy consumption of the
drive motor is a problem [45]. These problems can shorten the service life of rotary reversing valves and lead to
unstable system operation. Therefore, Mao et al. [46] invented a new type of rotary directional valve for a rotary
heat storage combustion device. An inlet air distribution plate, an exhausting return air distribution plate and a
sweep air distribution plate were correspondingly installed at the top, middle and bottom of the rotary shaft in
the valve. Each air distribution plate and the cylinder body were surrounded to form the intake chamber, exhaust
chamber and air scavenging chamber. The simple structure of the reversing valve and the reasonable distribution
of the three air distribution plates made the process of the air intake, exhaust and sweeping smoother; thus, the
flow loss was minimised and the jamming situation could be avoided. The operation was stable and the energy
consumption was low.
Current rotating regenerative combustion units are mostly constructed with a separate regenerative chamber
and combustion chamber. The combustion chamber needs to rely on an igniter to ignite the inlet air that has
been preheated to a high temperature (about 800◦ C), which makes it difficult for the combustion process to
maintain self heating and requires the utilisation of an external heat source. Also, the regenerative body is bulky
for a simple heat transfer process in the heat storage body. To remedy the above shortcomings, Mao et al. [45]
developed a coal mine spent air rotary heat storage catalytic oxidation device with a combined oxidation bed.
The oxidation bed consisted of a catalytic bed body and a regenerative body. There was a heater in the top air
collection chamber. After the spent air entered the system, the inlet preheating combustion and exhaust heat
storage occurred simultaneously in the combined oxidation bed. This design greatly improves heat transfer
efficiency and makes the structure more compact. Under the combined effect of the low-temperature catalytic
oxidation of the catalytic oxidation bed and the high heat accumulation and strong thermal feedback of the
honeycomb ceramic oxidation bed, the device can achieve self heating to maintain operation and save energy.

5 Summary

1. Among the recovery methods, the absorption method has mature technology and low investment, and
can deal with high flow rate and medium and high concentration of room temperature waste gas. The
adsorption method has a good purification effect, but secondary pollution, adsorbent poisoning and other
problems may occur. It can deal with low concentration and a large flow of waste gas. The condensation
method is simple to operate, but consumes large amounts of energy and has high operating costs. This
method is often used for a high concentration of organic waste gases with high utilisation value. The
membrane separation method is highly efficient, widely applicable and can be recycled, but it will produce
membrane pollution.

2. In non-recovery technologies, the biodegradation method has low operation and management costs. The
main drawback is that the purification effect is highly influenced by temperature and humidity. The
reaction conditions of the photocatalytic method are mild. It consumes less energy. The challenges faced
2072 Gao et al. Applied Mathematics and Nonlinear Sciences 8(2023) 2063–2074

are catalyst deactivation and surface coking. The low-temperature plasma method is energy efficient. It
needs to take by-product generation and security issues into account. The combustion method is a very
efficient method for waste gas treatment. Among these, direct combustion is more expensive. It has safety
concerns and wastes heat energy. In practice, direct combustion of organic exhaust gases is rarely used.
Catalytic combustion and regenerative catalytic combustion both have lower combustion temperatures. In
contrast, regenerative catalytic combustion is more energy saving. Their common limitation is catalyst
poisoning. The porous media combustion method is compact and stable but may suffer from heat build
up.
3. The most promising among the thermal storage combustion methods is the rotary thermal storage com-
bustion method. Due to the compactness of its equipment, it has a small footprint. The equipment has
good airtightness and allows for a continuous input of exhaust gases. The existence of the external insu-
lation layer of the device greatly reduces heat loss. The high heat recovery rate allows for essential self
sufficiency in heat, saving fuel and improving the high energy utilisation rate. The purification effect of
this method, which is up to >99%, is also not inferior to other methods.
4. Improvement ideas are proposed for the performance of the rotary regenerative combustion device. Most
of the rotary regenerative combustion devices have complex rotary reversing valve structures, and the
friction of flat seals are large; so, the performance of the device can be improved by simplifying the
rotary reversing valve structure and reducing the sealing friction. There were two main problems with the
previous device. One of the problems was the bulky volume caused by the separation of the regenerative
chamber and the combustion chamber. The second problem was that the combustion process is difficult
to maintain by self heating. In order to solve these issues, the heat accumulator combustion design can
be considered for incorporation in the same heat accumulator. This results in a more compact structure, a
smaller device, self-heating maintenance and improved combustion stability.
5. In summary, due to the wide variety of sources and chemical properties of VOC, the choice of VOC
treatment technology should comprehensively consider many factors, such as the nature of the exhaust
gases, the emission concentration, flow rate and the applicable conditions of the technology. The right
choice contributes to the dual benefits of efficient treatment of exhaust gases and the maximisation of
social benefits.

Acknowledgements.
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [5187, 6107]; SDUT & City Integrated
Development Project of China (Grant No. 2018ZBXC084).

References

[1] Zhang L., Peng Y.X., Zhang, J., et al., 2016. Adsorptive and catalytic properties in the removal of volatile organic
compounds over zeolite-based materials. J. Chinese Journal of Catalysis. 37 (6), 800-809.
[2] Chung W. C., Mei D.H., Tu X., et al., 2019. Removal of VOCs from gas streams via plasma and catalysis. J. Catalysis
Reviews. 61(2), 270-331.
[3] Boyjoo Y., Sun H.Q., Liu J., et al., 2017. A review on photocatalysis for air treatment: From catalyst development to
reactor design. J. Chemical Engineering Journal. Part 2 310, 537-559.
[4] Ozturk B., Kuru C., Aykac H., et al., 2015. VOC separation using immobilized liquid membranes impregnated with
oils. J. Separation and Purification Technology. 153, 1-6.
[5] Wang Z.W., Chen M.G., Wang X.H., et al., 2018. Research status and progress of volatile organic compounds treatment
technology. J. Modern Chemical Industry. 38(7), 79-83.
[6] Meng F.F., Wang H.B., Liu Z.Y., et al., 2019. Analysis and prospect of treatment technology of industrial volatile
organic compounds. J. Environmental Protection of Chemical Industry. 39(4), 387-395.
[7] Xu W., Liu J.L., Sun K., 2016. Research progress of activated carbon adsorption in the treatment of volatile organic
compounds. J. Chemical Industry and Engineering Progress. 35(4), 1223-1229.
 A review of the treatment techniques of VOC 2073

[8] Chen C.Y., 2015. Catalytic elimination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) supported on Pt by zeolite molecular
sieve. D. Zhejiang University.
[9] Yuan Y., Cao G., Zhai X., 2019. Research progress of volatile organic compounds treatment process and catalyst. J.
Industrial Catalysis. 27(7), 11-18.
[10] Lv S.C., Ge Y.L., Zhao Q., et al., 2017. Synthesis of high silica molecular sieve and its application in the field of VOCs
adsorption and removal. J. Environmental Chemistry. 36(7), 1492-1505.
[11] Yang C.T., Miao G., Pi Y.H., et al., 2019. Abatement of various types of VOCs by adsorption/catalytic oxidation: A
review. J. Chemical Engineering Journal. 370, 1128-1153.
[12] Wang L., Meng Y.S., 2016. Current status and research progress of membrane separation technology. J. Modern Min-
ing. 32(11),239-240 +244.
[13] Park B.H., Kamcev J., Robeson M.L., et al., 2017. Maximizing the right stuff: The trade-off between membrane
permeability and selectivity. J. Science. 356(6343), 1138-1148.
[14] Ding Y., 2019. Volatile organic compound liquid recovery by the dead end gas separation membrane process: Theory
and process simulation. J. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research. 58(12), 5008-5017.
[15] Dhamodharan K., Varma V.S., Veluchamy C., et al., 2019. Emission of volatile organic compounds from composting:
A review on assessment, treatment and perspectives. J. Science of the Total Environment. 695, 133725.
[16] Liu C., Liao L., Peng J., et al., 2016. Research progress of biotreatment technology for volatile organic waste gas. J.
Environmental Engineering. 34(4), 95-99.
[17] Men H.P., Wang S., Li X., et al., 2016. Research on purification of volatile organic gases by biological method. J.
Heilongjiang Science and Technology Information. 16,44.
[18] Li G.Y., 2017. Progress in industrial application of membrane bioreactor. J. Shandong Chemical Industry. 46(4), 46-47.
[19] Zhang Z.X., Jiang Z., Shangguan W.F., 2016. Low-temperature catalysis for VOCs removal in technology and appli-
cation: A state-of-the-art review. J. Catalysis Today. 264, 270-278.
[20] Shayegan Z., Lee C.S., Haghighat F., 2018. TiO2 photocatalyst for removal of volatile organic compounds in gas phase
– A review. J. Chemical Engineering Journal. 334, 2408–2439.
[21] Zeng L., Lu Z., Li M.H., Zen D.W., Xie C.S., et al., 2016. A modular calcination method to prepare modified N-doped
TiO2 nanoparticle with high photocatalytic activity. J. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. 183, 308–316.
[22] Debono O., Gaudion V., Redon N., et al., 2018. Photocatalytic treatment of VOC industrial emissions: IPA removal
using a sensor-instrumented reactor. J. Chemical Engineering Journal. 353, 394–409.
[23] Tonks L., Langmuir I., 1929. A general theory of the plasma of an arc. J. Physical Review. 34 (6):876-922.
[24] Guo S.Q., 2017. Experimental study on the degradation of toluene by low-temperature plasma synergistic catalytic
technology. D. Beijing University of Technology.
[25] Yang Q., Yi H.H., Tang X.L., et al., 2017. Research progress in low temperature plasma treatment of toluene in
industrial waste gas. J. Safety and Environmental Engineering. 24(01): 77-83.
[26] Zhang S., Liang X., Yu X.Y., et al., 2019. The status quo of the degradation of VOCs by low-temperature plasma
synergistic catalytic technology. J. Environmental Protection and Circular Economy. 39(02): 22-26+70.
[27] Liu B.L., Li C.B., Huang Y.F., et al., 2018. Removal of styrene by corona discharge under nanosecond pulse power
supply. J. Techniques and Equipment for Environmental Pollution Control. 12(01):145-152.
[28] Mohsen A., Mehdi S., Mohammad H.E., et al., 2021. Dielectric barrier discharge plasma with photocatalysts as a
hybrid emerging technology for degradation of synthetic organic compounds in aqueous environments: A review. J.
Chemosphere. 263.
[29] Liu R.Q., Hua S., Bo L., et al., 2021. Simultaneous removal of toluene and styrene by non-thermal plasma-catalysis:
Effect of VOCs interaction and system configuration. J. Chemosphere. 263, 127893.
[30] Shi F., Wang H., 2018. Research progress of gas discharge plasma and its application. J. Vacuum and Cryogenics.
24(02): 80-85.
[31] Huang H.B., Xu Y., Feng Q.Y., et al., 2015. Low temperature catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds: A
review. J. Catalysis Science and Technology. 5(5). 2649-2669.
[32] Carabineiro S. A. C., Chen X., Konsolakis M., et al., 2015. Catalytic oxidation of toluene on Ce–Co and La–Co mixed
oxides synthesized by exotemplating and evaporation methods. J. Catalysis Today. 244, 161-171.
[33] Kamal M.S., Razzak S.A., Hossain M.M., 2016. Catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) - A review.
J. Atmospheric Environment. 140, 117-134.
[34] Zaza F., Luisetto I., Serra E., et al., 2016. Catalytic combustion of methane by perovskite-type oxide nanoparticles as
pollution prevention strategy. J. Renew Sustain Energy. 1749(1).020003.
[35] Sang Z.K., Bo Z.M., Lv X.J., et al., 2018. Numerical investigations of the influencing factors on a rotary regenerator-
type catalytic combustion reactor. J. Catalysts. 8(5). 173.
[36] Hu Y.J., Wang Z.Q., Cheng X.X., et al., 2018. Research progress on combustion treatment of volatile organic pollutants.
J. Chemical Industry Progress. 37(1). 319-329.
[37] Geng W.G., Zhang J.G., Yuan D.L., et al., 2018. Application study on three-bed regenerative thermal oxidizers to treat
volatile organic compounds. C. 2nd International Symposium on Resource Exploration and Environmental Science,
 2074 Gao et al. Applied Mathematics and Nonlinear Sciences 8(2023) 2063–2074

Ordos.
[38] Wang B., Ma R., Xue G.C., et al., 2017. Research progress on thermal oxidation technology of industrial organic waste
gas. J. Chemical Industry and Engineering Progress. 36(11), 4232-4242.
[39] Li J., Pan L.J., Li J.W., 2019. Technology of organic Waste gas (VOCs) rotary regenerative oxidation furnace. J. CFHI
Technology. 1, 59-62+30.
[40] Chen C.X., Wei F.J., 2018. Discussion on flexible packaging printing VOCs terminal treatment technology. J. Hunan
Packaging. 33(4). 92-96.
[41] Guo Y., Wang W., Li M.G., 2019. New VOCs governance technology - rotary RTO. J. Coating and Protection. 40(7),
40-45.
[42] Iloeje C.O., Zhao Z.L., Ghoniem A.F., 2017. A reduced fidelity model for the rotary chemical looping combustion
reactor. J. Applied Energy. 190, 725-739.
[43] Cheng X.X., Zhang X.Y., Zhang M., et al., 2017. A simulated rotary reactor for NOx reduction by carbon monoxide
over Fe/ZSM-5 catalysts. J. Chemical Engineering Journal. 307, 24-40.
[44] Sun P.L., Cheng X.X., Wang Z.Q., et al., 2019. NOx reduction by CO over ASC catalysts in a simulated rotary reactor:
Effect of reaction conditions. J. Journal of the Energy Institute. 92(3), 488-501.
[45] Shandong University of Science and Technology. Coal mine waste wind rotary heat storage catalytic oxidation device
with combined oxidation bed; China, CN201710556604.8.P. 2020-04-28.
[46] Shandong University of Technology. Rotary directional valve for regenerative combustion device; China,
CN201710557611.X.P. 2019-04-05.