Gulf Coast Environmental Systems

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PFAS as Emerging Contaminates: PFOA and PFOS

What are Perfluoroalkyl Substances?

PFOA & PFOSPerfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of man-made, highly fluorine chemicals, that are getting a lot of attention as emerging contaminants. Though there are nearly 4,800 different types of perfluoroalkyl substances, there are two that are commonly focused on because of their use in everyday household products: perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. Perfluorooctanoic acid, also known as PFOA or C8, is a chemical compound with the molecular formula of C8HF15O2. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, also known as PFOS, is a chemical compound with the molecular formula of C8HF17O3S. Both are considered stable chemicals, comprised of 8 carbons. The stability of these carbons and fluorine atoms make them extremely persistent in the environment, and difficult to abate.

Where are Perfluoroalkyl Substances like PFOA and PFOS found?

PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals widely used, across the globe. Their known for their ability to repel water and other sticky substances, making them ideal for a number of different applications. Common applications include:

  • As surface protection for items such as:
    • Non-stick cookware
    • Furniture
    • Carpeting and rugs
  • A component in the manufacturing of:
    • Food and beverage packaging
    • Personal hygiene goods like floss, waxes, and makeup
    • Automotive parts and fabrics
    • Consumer goods packaging
    • Outdoor clothing and gear
  • They are also commonly used in manufacturing facilities as:
    • Surfactants
    • Emulsifiers
    • Coatings
    • Wetting agents

[Read more…]

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2020 Pollution Control Outlook

We have all seen the industry outlook articles, claiming to name the upcoming industry leaders and trends for this year. You might notice these articles list completely irrelevant “trends” and a number of companies that paid to be called “up and coming,” Gulf Coast Environmental Systems has been recognized as an industry leader for nearly two-decades. We work in some of the most challenging environments on the planet, with some of the harshest pollutants. Because of this, we have a constant pulse on the pollution control field.

With 2020 upon us, we sat down with a few of our in-house experts and put together a list of trends and changes the industry should expect this year.

The most obvious issue facing nearly every industrial facility is the public focus on pollution and climate change. In 2019, we were presented with study after study proving a connection between pollution and serious human health risks, and even death. With 24-hour access to these studies, and widespread social media use, the general public is starting to raise their voice in protest, and demanding government action. This, in combination with increased urbanization in previously underdeveloped areas, the regulatory agencies of the world have started to demand more stringent destruction requirements.

Most of the trends we expect to see in 2020 are related to the pressure that these regulatory industries are facing, regarding specific applications and/or emissions. Below are the “hot topics” for 2020: [Read more…]

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Case Study – Odor Control in Rendering

Animal Rendering – Odor Control

  • Location: Texas
  • Industry: Natural Ingredients/Edible Fats and Oils
  • Project Type: Animal Rendering
  • Project Goal: Providing efficient pollution and odor control for a highly vaporous stream
  • Equipment Type: Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Gulf Coast Environmental Systems was contacted by a long-standing customer, to design and build a pollution control solution that would be able to handle the strong odors and heavy vapors produced by an animal processing application, in a Texas facility. This is the 4th system that Gulf Coast Environmental Systems has provided for this customer, supporting their odor control needs since 2004.

[Read more…]

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Is Pollution Control a New Source of Profit?

What if pollution control equipment was on the profit side of your budget sheet, instead of the expense side?expense to profit

Industrial air pollution gets a lot of slack in the media, because it has been directly linked to climate change. Regulatory agencies on nearly every continent have taken further steps to reduce the amount of emissions allowed by industrial processes, and the only method of reducing the pollutants in exhaust emissions is with industrial air pollution control equipment.

In many manufacturing processes, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are produced as a byproduct of production or processing. Industrial air pollution control equipment is used to process or abate those dangerous chemicals and compounds, so they do not end up in the air, soil, and/or water. This encompasses just about every manufacturing process you can think of; food, beverage, packaging, steel, natural gas, oil, cosmetics, automotive, paint, pharmacy, printing, et cetera. The price to install this equipment varies greatly, from tens of thousands of dollars, to millions of dollars, depending on the size of the process streams, and what types of VOCs and hazardous air pollutants the streams contain. This equipment is mandatory in most cases, and is the responsibility of the facility to purchase.

Because of the associated cost, pollution control equipment is often something facilities are not excited to purchase. But what if pollution control equipment was on the profit side of your budget sheet, instead of the expense side? There are a few ways pollution control equipment can help pay for itself, and sometimes even produce a profit for the facility.

Profit Sources:

  1. Methane Abatement
  2. Heat Recovery
  3. Solvent Recovery
  4. Carbon Trading
  5. Tax Incentives
  6. VOC & NOx Trade
  7. RNG + Green Energy

[Read more…]

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Case Study – Specialty Chemical Refurbished Solution

Industry: Specialty Chemical/Materials
Project Type: Chemical
Location: Louisiana
Project Goal: A quickly commissioned pollution control solution
Equipment Type: Refurbished Thermal Oxidizer

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Gulf Coast Environmental Systems was tasked with finding a pollution control solution for a chemical application which had an unusually tight timeline.

CLIENT OVERVIEW:
This customer manufactures and sells high-performance specialty chemicals and materials. One of the largest chemical providers in the world, this company operates in two separate segments; Catalyst Technologies and Materials Technologies. Catalyst Technologies provides fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts to produce petroleum-based fuels like gasoline and diesel. They also supply methanol-to-olefins catalysts for the conversion of methanol into petrochemical feeds like ethylene and propylene. [Read more…]

Company Profile

Gulf Coast Environmental Systems (GCES) is your custom solutions provider for pollution control systems, industrial ovens, systems engineering and field support worldwide. Our unique approach is to analyze your process stream and business objectives and propose an ideal solution or range of options to help you optimize these objectives. GCES is a one-stop shop: we provide engineering services, manufacturing, installation, commissioning and ongoing support. With our broad base of expertise and large installed global base, we are well-positioned to solve your pollution control issues.

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