Confidential Medical Supplies Company
Ethanol Vapour Scrubbing for Ostomy Bag Manufacturing in Lithuania
Project Overview
ERG Air Pollution Control supplied a packed tower wet scrubbing system for a confidential medical supplies manufacturer in Lithuania, designed to treat ethanol vapours extracted from an ostomy bag manufacturing process.
Delivered in 2021, the installation was designed to handle an air flow of 7,200 m³/hr, with a specified ethanol removal efficiency of 93%.
The project involved a packed tower scrubber and subcooler, supported by a skid-mounted pumping and heat exchange package, fans, ductwork, instrumentation and a control panel.
The scrubber vessel was manufactured from glass reinforced plastic (GRP), generally in accordance with BS EN 13121-3, and classified as Sound Engineering Practice (SEP) under the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED).
The project demonstrates ERG’s experience in providing engineered solvent vapour treatment systems for specialist medical product manufacturing applications.
The Challenge – Ethanol Emissions from Medical Product Manufacturing
Ethanol is used in a variety of industrial manufacturing processes, including applications involving medical products and specialist materials.
During production, ethanol vapours may be released into process ventilation systems, requiring appropriate treatment before discharge to atmosphere.
For this confidential medical supplies manufacturer, the documented application involved ethanol vapours extracted from an ostomy bag manufacturing process.
The treatment system was designed to process 7,200 m³/hr of extracted air and achieve 93% ethanol removal.
Ethanol is a volatile organic compound (VOC) and is fully miscible with water. Its removal through wet scrubbing depends on the operating conditions, including liquid temperature, gas concentration, liquid circulation and gas-liquid contact.
The project therefore required an engineered treatment arrangement incorporating both packed tower scrubbing and subcooling.
The original case study does not specify the inlet ethanol concentration, outlet concentration or operating temperature.
ERG’s Solution – Packed Tower Scrubbing with Subcooling
ERG supplied a packed tower scrubber incorporating a subcooler as the principal gas treatment equipment.
Packed tower scrubbers operate by bringing contaminated gas into contact with a circulating liquid across a bed of engineered packing material.
The packing provides an extended contact surface, allowing suitable gaseous contaminants to transfer into the liquid phase.
For ethanol vapour treatment, the efficiency of absorption is influenced by temperature and vapour-liquid equilibrium.
The inclusion of a subcooler provides a means of supporting temperature management within the scrubbing arrangement, an important consideration when treating volatile solvents.
The system was specified to achieve 93% ethanol removal at the documented design air flow of 7,200 m³/hr.
The original project literature does not include commissioning test data, so the 93% figure is presented as the specified treatment performance rather than independently verified operating results.
GRP Scrubber Construction
The scrubber vessel was manufactured from glass reinforced plastic (GRP), generally in accordance with BS EN 13121-3.
GRP is widely used in industrial wet scrubbing applications because it provides a combination of structural strength, relatively low weight and resistance to suitable chemical environments.
Material compatibility remains an important consideration when designing equipment for solvent-containing gas streams and circulating scrubbing liquids.
The original project case study identifies the equipment as PED Sound Engineering Practice (SEP).
The selection of GRP construction reflects the engineering requirements associated with industrial gas treatment equipment operating in a wet process environment.
Integrated Pumps, Heat Exchanger and Controls
The installation incorporated a skid-mounted package containing pumps, a heat exchanger and instrumentation.
These components support the operation of the wider scrubbing system by providing liquid circulation and temperature management.
The equipment scope also included fans and ductwork to support the movement of extracted process air through the treatment arrangement.
A control panel was supplied as part of the system.
The original case study photographs show the vertical packed tower scrubber, external ductwork, fan assembly and a compact skid-mounted package containing pumps, pipework and instrumentation.
The arrangement demonstrates how the principal scrubber vessel and supporting process equipment can be integrated into a complete industrial gas treatment installation.
Project Specifications
| Parameter | Project detail |
|---|---|
| Client | Confidential Medical Supplies Company |
| Site | Lithuania |
| Industry | Medical supplies manufacturing |
| Application | Ethanol vapour treatment from ostomy bag production |
| Target contaminant | Ethanol (VOC) |
| Design air flow | 7,200 m³/hr |
| Specified ethanol removal | 93% |
| Primary technology | Packed tower wet scrubber |
| Additional equipment | Subcooler |
| Scrubber construction | GRP |
| Vessel standard | Generally to BS EN 13121-3 |
| PED classification | Sound Engineering Practice (SEP) |
| Supporting equipment | Fans, ductwork, pumps, heat exchanger and instrumentation |
| Controls | Control panel |
| Year delivered | 2021 |
Solvent Vapour Treatment in Medical Supplies Manufacturing
Medical supplies manufacturing can involve processes that generate solvent-containing emissions requiring controlled extraction and treatment.
The appropriate air pollution control technology depends on the characteristics of the extracted gas stream, including solvent concentration, temperature, air flow and the required treatment efficiency.
Packed tower wet scrubbing can provide an effective treatment option for suitable water-soluble contaminants where the absorption conditions are favourable.
For volatile solvents such as ethanol, temperature management can be particularly important in achieving the intended treatment performance.
The Lithuanian installation provides an example of a packed tower scrubber and subcooler system designed specifically for ethanol vapour removal in a medical product manufacturing environment.
ERG’s Experience in Industrial Solvent Vapour Scrubbing
ERG Air Pollution Control designs and supplies engineered gas treatment systems for pharmaceutical, healthcare, chemical and other industrial manufacturing applications.
Its technology portfolio includes packed tower scrubbers, Venturi scrubbers and specialist wet gas treatment equipment.
The confidential medical supplies project demonstrates ERG’s capability in providing integrated solvent vapour treatment packages incorporating GRP construction, liquid circulation, heat exchange and process controls.
Delivered in 2021, the installation provides a reference for treating ethanol-containing process air at 7,200 m³/hr, with a specified removal efficiency of 93%.
For further information about ethanol vapour treatment, packed tower scrubbers or industrial VOC emission control systems, contact ERG Air Pollution Control.
