Our Performance

 

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Both R&D and production processes use organic solvents to under take chemical reactions. These materials are often collectively known as Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs. We currently use around 5,000 tonnes of organic solvent each year.

 

Environmental Perspective

Control of VOCs is important because they have the potential to be lost relatively easily to the atmosphere and have a variety of complex environmental impacts depending on the specific material. These include lowering air quality by the formation of smog, contribution to global warming and destruction of the ozone layer.

Our Green Chemistry Programme is helping to identify opportunities for the reduction of the total volume and use of solvents with reduced environmental impact. Our current focus has been the use of Dichloromethane. In 2007 we reduced our use of this solvent in our laboratories by 30%, building on a 30% reduction the previous year. We aim to make a further 10% reduction during 2008.

 

Management

Management of VOCs is primarily focused on solvent recovery and release prevention. In 2007, we directly recovered or recycled around 34% of our process solvents. In addition, we recovered energy from around 35% on site and sent a further 21% for use as an industrial support fuel used by the Cement industry.

VOC Waste Management 2007 (tonnes)

 

Performance

The potential for the release of VOCs is driven by the amount and type of solvents used and especially within our manufacturing operations, where the largest quantities are used. Through the use of solvent recovery technologies we aim to minimise the amount of VOCs lost from our facilities.

Releases of Volatile Organic Compounds (tonnes)

 

In November 2007 we commissioned additional solvent abatement technology, known as a Thermal Oxidiser. This £15 million has now begun to reduce solvent releases to air and ensure compliance with the Solvent Emissions Directive.