CONTACT
REPORT
Refractory
Products
Manufacturing
NESHAP
RTI
Project
No.
08550.001.010
From:
Richard
Marinshaw,
Center
for
Environmental
Engineering
Date
of
Contact:
December
2,
2002
Contacted
by:
Telephone
Company/
Agency:
MEGTEC
Systems
Post
Office
Box
5030
DePere,
Wisconsin
54115­
5030
Telephone
Number:
(
920)
337­
1747
Person
Contacted:
Ms.
Deborah
Devroy,
Chemist,
Engineering
Services
CONTACT
SUMMARY:

Ms.
Devroy
was
contacted
for
information
on
checking
the
activity
level
of
catalytic
oxidizer
catalysts.
Ms.
Devroy
explained
that
MEGTEC
Systems
(
MEGTEC)
offers
catalytic
testing
services
that
entail
separate
checks
of
catalyst
activity,
surface
area,
and
contamination.
The
activity
check
uses
a
flame
ionization
detector
to
measure
the
ability
of
the
catalyst
to
convert
hydrocarbons
to
carbon
dioxide
and
water.
The
check
is
performed
at
four
different
temperatures,
and
the
percentage
reduction
is
calculated
for
each
temperature.
The
percentage
reductions
then
are
compared
to
the
reductions
that
would
be
achieved
using
a
fresh
sample
of
catalyst.
The
surface
area
check
uses
a
standard
test
(
the
Brainier,
Emmet,
and
Teller
Test)
to
measure
the
surface
area
of
the
catalyst
coating.
The
contamination
check
uses
X­
ray
emission
spectroscopy
or
inductively
coupled
plasma
analysis
to
determine
the
presence
of
contaminants
that
can
poison
the
catalyst.
The
cost
for
performing
all
three
checks
is
in
the
range
of
$
700
to
$
800.
The
cost
for
the
activity
check
alone
ranges
from
$
500
to
$
600.

The
catalyst
checks
are
performed
on
a
sample
of
the
catalyst,
which
the
facility
typically
removes
from
the
bed
and
ships
to
MEGTEC
for
analysis.
If
the
catalyst
bed
is
the
bead
or
pellet
type,
the
facility
removes
a
small
number
of
beads/
pellets.
For
monolithic
bed
catalysts,
a
1­
inch
core
sample
of
catalyst
is
drilled
out
and
shipped
to
MEGTEC.
In
such
cases,
MEGTEC
provides
a
ceramic
plug
or
stainless
steel
sheet
for
plugging
or
patching
the
core
hole.

If
the
catalyst
checks
indicate
the
catalyst
is
in
good
condition,
no
further
action
is
needed.
If
the
checks
indicate
that
the
catalyst
is
in
poor
condition,
MEGTEC
generally
recommends
replacing
the
catalyst.
If
the
checks
indicate
the
catalyst
is
in
marginal
to
moderately
good
condition,
MEGTEC
generally
recommends
conducting
a
stack
test
to
determine
if
the
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performance
of
the
catalytic
oxidizer
is
acceptable
(
i.
e.,
the
source
is
meeting
the
applicable
emission
limit).
If
the
stack
test
indicates
that
the
performance
of
the
oxidizer
is
unacceptable,
the
options
depend
on
the
type
of
bed.
If
the
oxidizer
has
a
bead
or
pellet
type
of
bed,
the
catalyst
must
be
replaced.
If
the
oxidizer
has
a
monolithic
bed,
the
bed
can
be
washed
to
remove
surface
contaminants.
However,
washing
can
only
be
performed
once
or
twice.
If
washing
the
bed
does
not
provide
the
needed
improvement
in
performance,
the
catalyst
must
be
replaced.
