Alternative Treatment Technologies

Electron Beam Technology –Zapit Technology, Inc.

Zapit Technology, Inc. of Santa Clara developed a gas phase VOC destruction system, using electron-beam technology. A beam of electrons is passed through the window of the reaction chamber where electrons react with the vapor stream. This non-thermal oxidation process is used to reduce VOC’s by breaking down the complex organic molecules into carbon dioxide, water, and acid gases such as HCl (hydrochloric acid). The acid gases are neutralized through a caustic scrubber and are passed through a vapor-phase carbon canister before being vented to the atmosphere. Demonstrations of the technology show that in order to achieve high destruction efficiencies a more energetic electron beam had to be used. When more energy was used, the formation of NOx increased. The scrubber was not efficient in reducing NO_x. No full-scale installations of the technology have been reported. However, Zapit Technology, Inc. reports that the system is reliable, but the lifetime of the reaction chamber window is still undetermined. Additional information about the study can be found in Electron Beam Report. Zapit Technology subsequently sold its patent to Advanced Oxidation Technologies, Inc., Santa Clara, CA.