Emission control method and system

Claim 1

A method for controlling gaseous emissions exhausted to the atmosphere from a process, comprising the steps of: (a) passing said gaseous emissions through a decomposition chamber having a predetermined volume; (b) exposing said gaseous emissions in said chamber to ultraviolet radiation of sufficient intensity by passage of said emissions through said ultraviolet radiation to decompose predetermined components of said emissions including vinyl chloride which is decomposed into at least hydrogen chloride, wherein said predetermined volume of said decomposition chamber affords adequate residence time for said gaseous emissions to decompose; (c) passing the decomposition products including hydrogen chloride from step (b) through an absorption medium wherein said products including at least said hydrogen chloride are absorbed; and (d) exhausting said gaseous emissions after step (c) to the atmosphere with an acceptable level of vinyl chloride contained therein.

Claim 2

A method for controlling gaseous emissions exhausted to the atmosphere from a process, comprising the steps of: (a) passing said gaseous emissions through a decomposition chamber having a predetermined volume; (b) exposing said gaseous emissions in said chamber to ultraviolet radiation of sufficient intensity by passage of said emissions through said ultraviolet radiation to decompose predetermined components of said emissions including vinyl chloride which is decomposed into at least hydrogen chloride, wherein said predetermined volume of said decomposition chamber affords adequate residence time for said gaseous emissions to decompose; (c) passing the decomposition products including hydrogen chloride from step (b) through an absorption medium wherein said products including at least said hydrogen chloride are absorbed; and (d) exhausting said gaseous emissions after step (c) to the atmosphere with an acceptable level of vinyl chloride contained therein.

Claim 10

A method for controlling gaseous emissions from a process prior to their being exhausted to the atmosphere, comprising the steps of: (a) passing said gaseous emissions through a decomposition chamber having a predetermined volume which affords a residence time of substantially 20 to 50 seconds for said emissions within said chamber; and (b) exposing said gaseous emissions in said chamber to ultraviolet radiation of sufficient intensity by passage of said emissions through said ultraviolet radiation for decomposing predetermined components of said emissions including vinyl chloride which is decomposed into at least hydrogen chloride during said period of residence within said chamber.

Claim 11

A method for controlling gaseous emissions from a process prior to their being exhausted to the atmosphere, comprising the steps of: (a) passing said gaseous emissions through a decomposition chamber having a predetermined volume which affords a residence time of substantially 20 to 50 seconds for said emissions within said chamber; and (b) exposing said gaseous emissions in said chamber to ultraviolet radiation of sufficient intensity by passage of said emissions through said ultraviolet radiation for decomposing predetermined components of said emissions including vinyl chloride which is decomposed into at least hydrogen chloride during said period of residence within said chamber.

Claim 12

An apparatus for controlling gaseous emissions, comprising: (a) means for transfering said emissions to a decomposition chamber of predetermined volume, said predetermined volume affording sufficient residence time within said chamber for enabling said gaseous emissions to decompose predetermined components thereof; (b) ultraviolet radiating means in said chamber for coaction with said emissions for decomposing said predetermined components in said emissions into decomposition products as they pass through ultraviolet radiation emitted from said ultraviolet radiating means; (c) absorption means for receiving the emissions including the decomposition products produced by said ultraviolet radiating means and absorbing said products; (d) means for exhausting said emissions after passage through said absorption means to the atmosphere; and (e) means including valve means responsive to the measured level of at least vinyl chloride for recycling said emissions from said exhausting means if said emissions exceed a predetermined level of contaminant.

Claim 13

An apparatus for controlling gaseous emissions, comprising: (a) means for transfering said emissions to a decomposition chamber of predetermined volume, said predetermined volume affording sufficient residence time within said chamber for enabling said gaseous emissions to decompose predetermined components thereof; (b) ultraviolet radiating means in said chamber for coaction with said emissions for decomposing said predetermined components in said emissions into decomposition products as they pass through ultraviolet radiation emitted from said ultraviolet radiating means; (c) absorption means for receiving the emissions including the decomposition products produced by said ultraviolet radiating means and absorbing said products; (d) means for exhausting said emissions after passage through said absorption means to the atmosphere; and (e) means including valve means responsive to the measured level of at least vinyl chloride for recycling said emissions from said exhausting means if said emissions exceed a predetermined level of contaminant.