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Techno Bits The EU Solvents Emissions DirectiveThe 1999 EU Solvents Emissions Directive (SED) will force companies to tighten up on volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions. VOCs are compounds, containing carbon, which evaporate into the atmosphere. Examples of VOCs are benzene, toluene, isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and methyl ethyl keytone (MEK). Solvents with a vapour pressure below 10 Pascal (0.1 mbar) are not classified as VOCs. In the atmosphere, VOCs are harmful to human health, sometimes carcinogenic or mutagenic and they are also environmentally harmful - VOCs react in the atmosphere with sunlight to form low level ozone. The SED will apply to processes and industrial sectors which use relatively large quantities of VOCs, and which directly or indirectly emit these to atmosphere. Emission limit values that will come into force for a given facility depend on the industry sector and the amount of VOCs that are used. For example, for heated web offset printing, using 15 - 25 tonnes/year of solvent, the emission limit in waste gases will be 100 mg/m³. The specific sectors to be covered are listed below:
Summary:
As an alternative to meeting the Directive's emission limits, operators can achieve equivalent reductions by using a "reduction scheme" involving a switch to low-VOC products. Operators choosing this approach must notify the regulator by October 2005. Existing installations using substances which are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction must be substituted "in the shorted possible time". Operators must submit a substitution timetable by March 2003. The Council Directive 1999/13/EC of 11 March 1999 on the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain activities and installations is intended to harmonise European regulations relating to solvent usage; its full implementation is planned by 2007. The aim is to prevent or limit the direct and in particular the indirect health effects (ozone) from solvent emissions; the goal is to reduce VOC emissions by 70% by 2007, based on the 1990 level. The Directive defines products as VOCs based on vapour pressure. Solvents with a vapour pressure below 10 Pascal (0.1 mbar) are not classified as VOCs. Solvent emissions directive (SED) The aim of the SED is to reduce transboundary air pollution, caused by the secondary photochemical oxidation products of volatile organic compound emissions, thereby protecting human health and the environment from adverse effects. The main oxidation product of concern is ozone. This is a strong oxidising agent and is formed at low level by a complex reaction between nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight. Scope The SED will apply to processes and industrial sectors which use relatively large quantities of VOCs, and which directly or indirectly emit these to atmosphere. As such, the SED aims to reduce VOC emissions from EC Member States by 57% by 2007, based on 1990 emission levels. The specific sectors to be covered are listed below:
The EC Parliament guidelines state that materials with a vapour pressure less than 0.01kPa (Kilo Pascals) at 20°C are not classified as Volatile Organic Compounds. Volatile Organic Compounds are quite simply solvents derived from petroleum or other sources which evaporate into the atmosphere. V.O.C's can react with emissions from cars and diesel engines to cause air pollution problems in some areas. V.O.C. regulations have been applied in the USA for several years. The test method used to measure V.O.C.'s in the United States is the US EPA's approved Method 24. In Europe the method is to measure or calculate the vapour pressure at 20°C. V.O.C.'s are expressed in grams per litre or percentage by weight.
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