In 2001, Forrest Paint implemented an innovative technology to clean our air emissions.  We installed a new air handling system never used in Oregon for our type of manufacturing processes called a biofilter.  The system uses living microbes to treat the air. The biofilter had been used in other industrial applications, but required modifications to be used in a paint manufacturing application as specialized as Forrest Paint Company.  This new application has presented challenges and has evolved to be an innovative and effective control technology. 

In 2006, Forrest Paint Company added a BioAirVent Tower from BioReaction Industries, LLC.  This new equipment processed high volumes of faster and more efficiently.
 
The biofilter system works by drawing the air from covered mixing tanks into a water scrubber/trickling unit.  This unit humidifies the air and degrades water soluble compounds using microbes that are suspended on an inorganic membrane and in the sump water.  After this pretreatment, the airflow is split between the two towers of the biofilter.  The biofilter decomposes VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) in structured beds containing more microbes.  The filtered air streams are combined and discharged through an outlet.  Non-hazardous biological waste from the microbes is removed from the system and disposed of per state and federal regulations.
 
The use of the biofilter living microbe air handling system is an innovative technology that keeps Forrest Paint at the forefront of environmentally responsible emission control.  While we always comply with regulations from OSHA, DEQ and LRAPA (Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority), we strive for ways to exceed those minimum requirements as good stewards of the local environment. 

The benefits of the biofilter and BioAirVent technology:

• Uses many times less energy than air treatment systems that burn natural gas
• Living microbes break down VOCs and clean the air of these compounds
• The system does not require hazardous chemicals for maintenance or cleaning
• The process emits cleaner air than the surrounding air shed

For more information about this technology you can visit the BioReaction Industries, LLC website:  www.bioreaction.com