letters Adsorption of solvent vapors
DEARSIR: After reading your article in the November 1971 issue of Encironinental Science & Tec/znologj. on “Solvent vapors under fire,” (p 1086), we were quite disappointed that nothing was mentioned about carbon adsorption for controlling hydrocarbon emissions from industrial processes. Our company has been manufacturing carbon adsorption equipment for recovery and reuse of solvents for over 20 years and has more than 10,000 units installed throughout the world. We are experienced with recovering chlorinated solvents and many others used in industrial finishing and processing. We have units installed in dry-cleaning plants, metal degreasing, all the way to printing operations. Most of these solvents can be recycled and reused as they come from our system. The Environmental Protection Agency has made very clear that control of existing solvents is more desirable than substituting the “less reactive”
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or “nonreactive solvents” mentioned in your article, because there is evidence that no solvent is nonreactive. They have stated this in the Federal Register, Volume 36, No. 158, dated August 14, 1971, under Title 42, Chapter 4, Appendix B, Section 4.0, Control of Organic Compound Emissions. Under Section 4.6 they state that reduction of at least 85% can be accomplished by: (A) Incineration and (B) Carbon adsorption. We believe your article could have had a more positive approach to the problem of solvent control if carbon adsorption had been mentioned. Dennis M. Larson Vic Manufucturing Co. Minneupolis, Minn. 55413
AI Guber of Calgon Corp. hus ulso Fvritten us to niuke the same point-Ed. Haste and waste
DEARSIR: Dr. Abel Wolman (Viewpoint, October 1971, ES&T, p 981) quoted Publilius Syrus to the effect that haste (on the part of “vociferous groups”) makes waste (in environmental improvement). His quotation could not be more
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Robert F. Mueller Prince George’s (Mcrrj*/anrl) Enrironnient Coalition Lunliani, Md. 20801
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apropos to the sewage crisis in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. However, it should be clarified that not all the haste is attributable to vociferous groups. Much waste indeed has originated from such public agencies as the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (wssc) of Maryland, which has until recently always hastened to approve sewer hookups regardless of the quality of treatment available. This policy has resulted in heavy overloading of all sewage treatment plants in the area and the well-known situation on the Potomac River. The situation has become so bad that our citizen group recently took legal action against this agency. I think it is pertinent to mention that Dr. Wolman has been the chief consultant of wssc and that he has consistently favored large-volume over high-quality treatment. Consequently, citizens have been forced to attribute a certain amount of haste to his own actions.
1) 2) 3) 4) 5)
a) 26.4ppm b) 0.28 ppm c) 0.6 ppm d) 0.0004 ppm e) 8.9 ppm
Hg Mn TOG
so,
AI
ANSWERS FOR DELAWARE RIVER WATER: 1) d, 2) b, 3) e, 4) a, 5) c. ANSWERS FOR YOUR WATER SUPPLY: O N REQUEST
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