Epcon designed and delivered a tailored afterburner system equipped with a quench tower and industrial scrubber system to abate hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), acid gases (SO₂/SO₃), and other acidic by-products from a chemical/petrochemical exhaust stream. The integrated system destroys harmful gases, quenches and cools the exhaust, and neutralizes acid gases — significantly reducing disposal costs, improving environmental compliance, and streamlining waste-management for the facility. The turnkey installation delivers reliable emission control with ongoing preventive maintenance support, proving the effectiveness and durability of Epcon’s engineered solutions.
Afterburner with Quench & Scrubber for Petrochemical Operations
Project No 3603
Executive Summary
Project Overview
A leading chemical and petrochemical equipment plant in Latin America produced exhaust containing H₂S, water vapor, and acidic gases from process operations. The plant required a robust air-pollution control system that could treat these emissions safely and efficiently, while minimizing waste disposal cost and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. Epcon was contracted to design, fabricate, and commission an Afterburner + Quench + Scrubber system capable of treating the hazardous exhaust stream and neutralizing acid gases before release — providing a full solution for gas destruction and emissions cleanup.
The Challenge
The customer’s exhaust stream posed multiple challenges:
- High concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and acid gases (SO₂ / SO₃) requiring destruction and neutralization
- Presence of water vapor and process humidity increasing complexity of exhaust treatment
- Need for thorough gas treatment — simply oxidizing the exhaust was insufficient; acid gas removal and neutralization were required to meet emissions regulations and avoid corrosive exhaust discharge
- Disposal of by-products and wastewater generated by scrubbing process needed to be managed efficiently to avoid high disposal costs
- The system had to be reliable and continuously operational, suitable for a chemical plant environment
Engineering Requirements
To meet the plant’s environmental, safety, and operational demands, the system needed to:
- Provide a direct-fired oxidizer (afterburner) capable of destroying H₂S and acidic gas precursors in the exhaust stream
- Incorporate a quench stage to rapidly cool hot exhaust gases to prevent damage to downstream scrubber components and avoid evaporation of scrubbing liquor
- Use a wet scrubber (or equivalent) designed to neutralize remaining SO₂/SO₃ and any residual acidic gases after oxidation
- Ensure safe handling of water-vapor-rich exhaust, avoiding corrosion or operational issues with high-temperature or moisture-laden gas streams
- Provide industrial-grade construction and automation suited for continuous operation in a chemical/petrochemical environment
- Minimize ongoing operating and disposal costs, including efficient generation of waste water from scrubber, and simplified maintenance
Technical Specifications
System Configuration: Afterburner (direct-fired thermal oxidizer) + Quench Tower + Wet Scrubber (Acid-Gas / H₂S)
Pollutants Treated: Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), acid gases (SO₂ / SO₃), water-vapor-laden exhaust, associated acidic by-products
Exhaust Stream Characteristics: High humidity, presence of acidic gas precursors, variable flow typical of chemical processing
Combustion Method: Direct-fired thermal oxidation for complete destruction of sulfurous and VOC-based contaminants
Gas Cooling: Quench tower immediately downstream of afterburner to bring exhaust to safe temperature before scrubbing
Scrubber Type: Wet/chemical scrubber designed for acid-gas absorption and neutralization of SO₂/SO₃ and residual H₂S after oxidation
Material/Construction: Corrosion-resistant materials suitable for acidic wet exhaust and long-term chemical-service operation
The Results
The installed afterburner-quench-scrubber system provided the chemical plant with:
- Complete destruction of hydrogen sulfide and acidic gas precursors, eliminating hazardous emissions and meeting environmental compliance requirements.
- Neutralization of acid gases and safe exhaust discharge, avoiding corrosive emissions and protecting downstream equipment and environment.
- Reduction in operating and disposal costs, because the scrubbing system handles waste water and acidic residues efficiently, reducing external disposal requirements.
- Continuous, reliable operation, with Epcon’s preventive maintenance services ensuring long-term stability and minimal downtime.
- Improved environmental performance and regulatory compliance without compromising production — demonstrating that effective emissions control can coexist with chemical-process productivity.
Since commissioning, the system has operated successfully and continues to provide safe, compliant, and cost-effective emissions control for the facility.
Contact Epcon for Custom Solutions
Epcon offers full engineering, fabrication, and installation of afterburner-based thermal oxidizers, quench systems, wet scrubbers, and full emissions-control lines — customized for chemical, petrochemical, and industrial gas-stream applications.If your facility handles acid gases, H₂S, solvent exhaust, or other challenging emissions, contact our engineering team to discuss a tailored solution.
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