Nature-Inspired Emission Control :How UV & Plasma Systems Transform Industrial Air Treatment
Nature-Inspired Emission Control :How UV & Plasma Systems Transform Industrial Air Treatment
Traditional emission control systems often rely on thermal technologies that can be effective, but energy-intensive, costly to operate, and not always the best fit for low to moderate VOC loads. In this recorded webinar, BM Process Management and Oxitec explore how nature-inspired non-thermal UV and plasma technologies can help industrial facilities reduce odour, VOC emissions, and harmful exhaust components more efficiently, while supporting electrification and lower operating costs.
Webinar Overview
Industrial plants today face growing pressure to reduce VOC emissions, odours, and harmful air pollutants while also improving energy efficiency and complying with stricter environmental regulations. Traditional thermal oxidation systems such as RTOs remain widely used, but they are not always the most economical or sustainable solution, especially for variable, low to moderate concentration exhaust streams.
In this webinar, Amol from BM Process introduces the practical challenges industries face in emission control, followed by insights from Bart and Frank, who explain how a process-first approach helps identify the right treatment strategy for each exhaust stream. The session highlights where UV and plasma-based non-thermal oxidation systems fit into the emission control landscape, how they compare with conventional thermal solutions, and where they can deliver the greatest value across sectors such as chemicals, food and feed, wastewater, recycling, pharmaceuticals, coatings, and manufacturing.
The speakers also discuss how system feasibility can be assessed before investment, how variable VOC loads affect technology selection, and how modular UV and plasma systems can improve flexibility, reduce energy use, and support compliance with modern industrial air treatment demands.
Who this webinar is for
- Process engineers and emission control specialists
- Plant managers and terminal operators
- Environmental, health and safety professionals
- VOC and odour control decision-makers
- Chemical, food, feed, recycling, and manufacturing professionals
- Anyone evaluating alternatives to thermal oxidation systems for industrial air treatment
Key Themes Covered
- Why industrial emission control projects increasingly require more than traditional thermal solutions
- The importance of understanding the exhaust stream before selecting a treatment technology
- Where UV and plasma air treatment systems are most effective in the industrial emission control landscape
- Differences between thermal oxidation, UV systems, plasma systems, and hybrid treatment combinations
- How non-thermal technologies can treat low to moderate VOC concentrations and odour-driven exhaust streams
- Key feasibility factors including VOC concentration, humidity, temperature, aerosols, and peak loads
- How modular system design supports operational flexibility and easier scaling
- Applications in industries such as pet food production, battery recycling, pharmaceutical coating, printing, wastewater, and process manufacturing
- How non-thermal technologies can reduce energy consumption, CO2 impact, and operating costs compared with traditional systems
- Practical considerations for pre-treatment, post-treatment, catalyst integration, and system cleaning
Key Takeaways
- Not every exhaust stream should default to an RTO or another thermal solution
- A process-first, technology-second approach leads to more reliable and cost-effective emission control decisions
- UV and plasma technologies are especially suitable for low to moderate VOC loads, odour treatment, and highly variable emission profiles
- Non-thermal oxidation can often reduce energy consumption by 80 to 90 percent under the right conditions
- Modular systems allow plants to adapt more easily to changes in flow rate, concentration, and process requirements
- Proper feasibility evaluation is essential and should include average VOC concentration, humidity, temperature, aerosols, and process variability
- Hybrid solutions combining UV, plasma, scrubbers, catalysts, and activated carbon can provide strong results in complex applications
- The right emission control solution must balance compliance, OPEX, CAPEX, sustainability, and operational practicality
Meet Our Expert Speakers
Frank Seitz
Global Sales Director (Oxytec) & Consultant/Expert for UV/Plasma airtreatment (NEWFOOX)
OxyTec
Bio:
Frank Seitz is an expert in non-thermal plasma technologies for exhaust air treatment, with over 30 years of experience in industrial emission control. His core expertise lies in innovative, resource-efficient photo-oxidation technologies that eliminate VOCs, odours, aerosols, and smoke from industrial exhaust streams. Through NEWFOOX (New Foto Oxidation), Frank works as an independent consultant and technology developer, advising industrial clients across multiple sectors on technology selection, process evaluation, system design, dimensioning, cost estimation, and regulatory-compliant planning of exhaust air purification systems.
He is the inventor and developer of patented photo-oxidation technologies that have been successfully implemented for internationally recognized customers. Frank is also an appointed member of the KRdL working group VDI 2441, focused on “Odour Reduction and Exhaust Gas Purification Using Plasma Processes,” and serves as the organiser of the Heidelberg Exhaust Air Days, an international platform for knowledge exchange on industrial air treatment technologies.
In parallel, Frank serves as Global Sales Director Industry at Oxytec, where he is responsible for the design, application, and implementation of industrial UV and plasma systems for air purification, including VOC reduction, odour control, and disinfection. In this role, he bridges independent technology expertise with industrial-scale hardware solutions, supporting clients from early concept evaluation and feasibility analysis through to engineering design and full system implementation.
