COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2015/2119
of 20 November 2015
establishing best available techniques (BAT) conclusions, under Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, for the production of wood-based panels
(notified under document C(2015) 8062)
(Text with EEA relevance)
Article 1
Article 2
ANNEX
BAT CONCLUSIONS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF WOOD-BASED PANELS
SCOPE
Reference document |
Subject |
Monitoring of Emissions to air and water from IED installations (ROM) |
Monitoring of emissions to air and water |
Large Combustion Plants (LCP) |
Combustion techniques |
Waste Incineration (WI) |
Waste incineration |
Energy Efficiency (ENE) |
Energy efficiency |
Waste Treatment (WT) |
Waste treatment |
Emissions from Storage (EFS) |
Storage and handling of materials |
Economics and Cross-Media Effects (ECM) |
Economics and cross-media effects of techniques |
Large Volume Organic Chemical industry (LVOC) |
Production of melamine, urea-formaldehyde resins and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate |
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
BEST AVAILABLE TECHNIQUES
EMISSION LEVELS ASSOCIATED WITH BAT (BAT-AELs) FOR EMISSIONS TO AIR
Emission source |
Reference oxygen levels |
Directly heated PB or directly heated OSB dryers alone or combined with the press |
18 % oxygen by volume |
All other sources |
No correction for oxygen |
where: |
|
EMISSION LEVELS ASSOCIATED WITH BAT (BAT-AELs) FOR EMISSIONS TO WATER
where: |
|
DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS
Term |
Definition |
COD |
Chemical oxygen demand; the amount of oxygen needed for the total oxidation of the organic matter to carbon dioxide (normally in reference to analysis with dichromate oxidation). |
Continuous measurement |
Continuous determination of a measurand using a permanently installed ‘automated measuring system’ (AMS) or ‘continuous emission monitoring system’ (CEM). |
Continuous press |
A panel press that presses a continuous mat. |
Diffuse emissions |
Non-channelled emissions that are not released via specific emission points such as stacks. |
Directly heated dryer |
A dryer where hot gases from a combustion plant, or any other source, are in direct contact with the particles, strands or fibres to be dried. The drying is achieved by convection. |
Dust |
Total particulate matter. |
Existing plant |
A plant that is not a new plant. |
Fibre |
Lignocellulosic components of wood or other plant materials derived by mechanical or thermo-mechanical pulping using a refiner. Fibres are used as the starting material for the production of fibreboard. |
Fibreboard |
As defined in EN 316 i.e. ‘panel material with a nominal thickness of 1,5 mm or greater, manufactured from lignocellulosic fibres with application of heat and/or pressure’. Fibreboards include wet process boards (hardboard, medium board, softboard) and dry-process fibreboard (MDF). |
Hardwood |
Group of wood species including aspen, beech, birch and eucalyptus. The term hardwood is used as an opposite to the term softwood. |
Indirectly heated dryer |
A dryer where the drying is exclusively achieved by radiation and conduction heat. |
Mat forming |
The process of laying out particles, strands or fibres to create the mat, which is directed to the press. |
Multi-opening press |
A panel press that presses one or more individually formed panels. |
New plant |
A plant first permitted at the site of the installation following the publication of these BAT conclusions or a complete replacement of a plant following the publication of these BAT conclusions. |
NOX |
The sum of nitrogen oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), expressed as NO2. |
OSB |
Oriented strand board, as defined in EN 300 i.e. ‘multi-layered board mainly made from strands of wood together with a binder. The strands in the external layer are aligned and parallel to the board length or width. The strands in the internal layer or layers can be randomly orientated or aligned, generally at right angles to the strands in the external layers’. |
PB |
Particle board, as defined in EN 309 i.e. ‘panel material manufactured under pressure and heat from particles of wood (wood flakes, chips, shavings, saw-dust and similar) and/or other lignocellulosic material in particle form (flax shives, hemp shives, bagasse fragments and similar), with the addition of an adhesive’. |
PCDD/F |
Polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins and -furans |
Periodic measurement |
Measurement at specified time intervals using manual or automated reference methods. |
Process water |
Waste water derived from processes and activities within the production plant, excluding surface run-off water. |
Recovered wood |
Material predominantly containing wood. Recovered wood can consist of ‘reclaimed wood’ and ‘wood residues’. ‘Reclaimed wood’ is a material predominantly containing wood derived directly from post-consumer recycled wood. |
Refining |
Transforming wood chips into fibres using a refiner. |
Roundwood |
A wood log. |
Softwood |
Wood from conifers including pine and spruce. The term softwood is used as an opposite to the term hardwood. |
Surface run-off water |
Water from precipitation run-off and drainage, collected from outdoor log yard areas, including outdoor process areas. |
TSS |
Total suspended solids (in waste water); mass concentration of all suspended solids as measured by filtration through glass fibre filters and gravimetry. |
TVOC |
Total Volatile Organic Compounds, expressed as C (in air). |
Upstream and downstream wood processing |
All active handling and manipulation, storage or transport of wood particles, chips, strands or fibres and of pressed panels. Upstream processing includes all wood processing from the point that the wood raw material leaves the storage yard. Downstream processing includes all processes after the panel leaves the press and until the raw panel or the value-added panel product is directed to storage. Upstream and downstream wood processing do not include the drying process or the pressing of panels. |
1.1. GENERAL BAT CONCLUSIONS
1.1.1.
Environmental management system
Applicability
1.1.2.
Good housekeeping
|
Description |
a |
Careful selection and control of chemicals and additives. |
b |
Application of a programme for the quality control of recovered wood used as raw material and/or as fuel(2), in particular to control pollutants such as As, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Zn, chlorine, fluorine and PAH. |
c |
Careful handling and storage of raw materials and waste. |
d |
Regular maintenance and cleaning of equipment, transport routes and raw material storage areas. |
e |
Review options for the reuse of process water and the use of secondary water sources. |
Description
1.1.3.
Noise
|
Description |
Applicability |
Techniques for the prevention of noise and vibrations |
||
a |
Strategic planning of the plant layout in order to accommodate the noisiest operations, e.g. so that on-site buildings act as insulation. |
Generally applicable in new plants. The layout of a site may limit the applicability on existing plants |
b |
Applying a noise reduction programme which includes noise source mapping, determination of off-site receptors, modelling of noise propagation and evaluation of the most cost-effective measures and their implementation. |
Generally applicable |
c |
Performing regular noise surveys with monitoring of noise levels outside the site boundaries. |
|
Techniques for reduction of noise and vibrations from point sources |
||
d |
Enclosing noisy equipment in housing or by encapsulation and by soundproofing buildings. |
Generally applicable |
e |
Decoupling individual equipment to pre-empt and limit propagation of vibrations and resonance noise. |
|
f |
Point source insulation using silencer, damping, attenuators on noise sources, e.g. fans, acoustic vents, mufflers, and acoustic enclosures of filters. |
|
g |
Keeping gates and doors closed at all times when not in use. Minimising the fall height when unloading roundwood. |
|
Techniques for reduction of noise and vibrations at the site level |
||
h |
Reducing noise from traffic by limiting the speed of internal traffic and for trucks entering the site. |
Generally applicable |
i |
Limiting outdoor activities during the night. |
|
j |
Regular maintenance of all equipment. |
|
k |
Using noise protection walls, natural barriers or embankments to screen noise sources. |
1.1.4.
Emissions to soil and groundwater
1.1.5.
Energy management and energy efficiency
|
Technique |
Applicability |
a |
Dewater wood sludge before it is used as a fuel |
Generally applicable |
b |
Recover heat from hot waste gases in wet abatement systems using a heat exchanger |
Applicable to plants with a wet abatement system and when the recovered energy can be used |
c |
Recirculate hot waste gases from different processes to the combustion plant or to preheat hot gases for the dryer |
Applicability may be restricted for indirectly heated dryers, fibre dryers or where the combustion plant configuration does not allow controlled air addition |
|
Technique |
Description |
Applicability |
a |
Cleaning and softening of chips |
Mechanical cleaning and washing of raw chips |
Applicable to new refiner plants and major retrofits |
b |
Vacuum evaporation |
Recovering hot water for steam generation |
Applicable to new refiner plants and major retrofits |
c |
Heat recovery from steam during refining |
Heat exchangers to produce hot water for steam generation and chip washing |
Applicable to new refiner plants and major retrofits |
1.1.6.
Odour
Applicability
1.1.7.
Management of waste and residues
|
Technique |
Applicability |
a |
Reuse internally collected wood residues, such as trimmings and rejected panels, as a raw material. |
The applicability for reject fibreboard panel products may be limited. |
b |
Use internally collected wood residues, such as wood fines and dust collected in a dust abatement system and wood sludge from waste water filtration, as fuel (in appropriately equipped on-site combustion plants) or as a raw material. |
The use of wood sludge as a fuel may be restricted if the energy consumption needed for drying outweighs the environmental benefits. |
c |
Use ring collection systems with one central filtration unit to optimise the collection of residues, e.g. bag filter, cyclofilter, or high efficiency cyclones. |
Generally applicable for new plants. The layout of an existing plant may limit the applicability. |
|
Technique |
Applicability |
a |
Continuously review options for off-site and on-site reuse of bottom ash and slag. |
Generally applicable. |
b |
An efficient combustion process which lowers the residual carbon content. |
Generally applicable. |
c |
Safe handling and transport of bottom ash and slag in closed conveyers and containers, or by humidification. |
Humidification is only necessary when bottom ash and slag are wetted for safety reasons. |
d |
Safe storage of bottom ash and slag in a designated impermeable area with leachate collection. |
Generally applicable. |
1.1.8.
Monitoring
Parameter |
Standard(s) |
Minimum monitoring frequency |
Monitoring associated with |
Dust |
EN 13284-1 |
Periodic measurement at least once every six months |
BAT 17 |
TVOC(3) |
EN 12619 |
BAT 17 |
|
Formaldehyde |
No EN standard available(8) |
BAT 17 |
|
NOX |
EN 14792 |
BAT 18 |
|
HCl(6) |
EN 1911 |
— |
|
HF(6) |
ISO 15713 |
— |
|
SO2 (4) |
EN 14791 |
Periodic measurement at least once a year |
— |
Metals(5) (6) |
EN 13211 (for Hg), EN 14385 (for other metals) |
— |
|
PCDD/F(6) |
EN 1948 parts 1, 2 and 3 |
— |
|
NH3 (7) |
No EN standard available |
— |
Monitoring of emissions to air from the press |
|||
Parameter |
Standard(s) |
Minimum monitoring frequency |
Monitoring associated with |
Dust |
EN 13284-1 |
Periodic measurement at least once every six months |
BAT 19 |
TVOC |
EN 12619 |
BAT 19 |
|
Formaldehyde |
No EN standard available(10) |
BAT 19 |
|
Monitoring of emissions to air from paper impregnation drying ovens |
|||
Parameter |
Standard(s) |
Minimum monitoring frequency |
Monitoring associated with |
TVOC(9) |
EN 12619 |
Periodic measurement at least once a year |
BAT 21 |
Formaldehyde |
No EN standard available(10) |
BAT 21 |
Parameter |
Standard(s) |
Minimum monitoring frequency |
Monitoring associated with |
Dust |
EN 13284-1(11) |
Periodic measurement at least once a year(11) |
BAT 20 |
Parameter |
Standard(s) |
Minimum monitoring frequency |
Monitoring associated with |
NOX |
Periodic: EN 14792 Continuous: EN 15267-1 to 3 and EN 14181 |
Periodic measurement at least once a year or continuous measurement |
BAT 7 |
CO |
Periodic: EN 15058 Continuous: EN 15267-1 to 3 and EN 14181 |
BAT 7 |
Parameter |
Standard(s) |
Minimum monitoring frequency |
Monitoring associated with |
TSS |
EN 872 |
Periodic measurement at least once a week. |
BAT 27 |
COD(13) |
No EN standard available |
BAT 27 |
|
TOC (Total organic carbon, expressed as C) |
EN 1484 |
— |
|
Metals(14), if relevant (e.g. when recovered wood is used) |
Various EN standards available |
Periodic measurement at least once every six months. |
— |
Parameter |
Standard(s) |
Minimum monitoring frequency |
Monitoring associated with |
TSS |
EN 872 |
Periodic measurement at least once every three months(15) |
BAT 25 |
Description
1.2. EMISSIONS TO AIR
1.2.1.
Channelled emissions
|
Technique |
Main pollutants abated |
Applicability |
a |
Dust abatement of inlet hot gas to a directly heated dryer in combination with one or a combination of the other techniques listed below |
Dust |
Applicability may be restricted, e.g. in cases of existing smaller wood dust burners. |
b |
Bag filter(16) |
Dust |
Applicable to indirectly heated dryers only. Due to safety concerns, special care should be taken when using exclusively recovered wood. |
c |
Cyclone(16) |
Dust |
Generally applicable. |
d |
UTWS dryer and combustion with heat exchanger and thermal treatment of discharged dryer waste gas(16) |
Dust, volatile organic compounds |
Not applicable to fibre dryers. Applicability may be limited for existing combustion plants not suitable for post-combustion of the partial dryer waste gas flow. |
e |
Wet electrostatic precipitator(16) |
Dust, volatile organic compounds |
Generally applicable. |
f |
Wet scrubber(16) |
Dust, volatile organic compounds |
Generally applicable. |
g |
Bioscrubber(16) |
Dust, volatile organic compounds |
Applicability may be limited by high dust concentrations and high temperatures in the waste gas from the dryer. |
h |
Chemical degradation or capture of formaldehyde with chemicals in combination with a wet scrubbing system |
Formaldehyde |
Generally applicable in wet abatement systems. |
Parameter |
Product |
Dryer type |
Unit |
BAT-AELs (average over the sampling period) |
Dust |
PB or OSB |
Directly heated dryer |
mg/Nm3 |
3–30 |
Indirectly heated dryer |
3–10 |
|||
Fibre |
All types |
3–20 |
||
TVOC |
PB |
All types |
< 20–200(17) (18) |
|
OSB |
10–400(18) |
|||
Fibre |
< 20–120 |
|||
Formaldehyde |
PB |
All types |
< 5–10(19) |
|
OSB |
< 5–20 |
|||
Fibre |
< 5–15 |
|
Technique |
Applicability |
a |
Efficient operation of the combustion process using air- and fuel-staged combustion, while applying pulverised combustion, fluidised bed boilers or moving grate firing |
Generally applicable |
b |
Selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) by injection and reaction with urea or liquid ammonia |
Applicability may be limited by highly variable combustion conditions |
Parameter |
Unit |
BAT-AELs (average over the sampling period) |
NOX |
mg/Nm3 |
30–250 |
|
Technique |
Main pollutants abated |
Applicability |
a |
Select resins with a low formaldehyde content |
Volatile organic compounds |
Applicability may be restricted, e.g. due to demands for a specific product quality |
b |
Controlled operation of the press with balanced press temperature, applied pressure and press speed |
Volatile organic compounds |
Applicability may be restricted, e.g. due to the operation of the press for specific product qualities |
c |
Wet scrubbing of collected press waste gases using Venturi scrubbers or hydrocyclones, etc.(20) |
Dust, volatile organic compounds |
Generally applicable |
d |
Wet electrostatic precipitator(20) |
Dust, volatile organic compounds |
|
e |
Bioscrubber(20) |
Dust, volatile organic compounds |
|
f |
Post-combustion as the last treatment step after application of a wet scrubber |
Dust, volatile organic compounds |
Applicability may be restricted for existing installations where a suitable combustion plant is not available |
Parameter |
Unit |
BAT-AELs (average over the sampling period) |
Dust |
mg/Nm3 |
3–15 |
TVOC |
mg/Nm3 |
10–100 |
Formaldehyde |
mg/Nm3 |
2–15 |
Applicability
Parameter |
Unit |
BAT-AELs (average over the sampling period) |
Dust |
mg/Nm3 |
< 3–5(21) |
|
Technique |
Applicability |
a |
Select and use resins with a low formaldehyde content |
Generally applicable |
b |
Controlled operation of ovens with balanced temperature and speed |
|
c |
Thermal oxidation of waste gas in a regenerative thermal oxidiser or a catalytic thermal oxidiser(22) |
|
d |
Post-combustion or incineration of waste gas in a combustion plant |
Applicability may be restricted for existing installations where a suitable combustion plant is not available on site |
e |
Wet scrubbing of waste gas followed by treatment in a biofilter(22) |
Generally applicable |
Parameter |
Unit |
BAT-AELs (average over the sampling period) |
TVOC |
mg/Nm3 |
5–30 |
Formaldehyde |
mg/Nm3 |
< 5–10 |
1.2.2.
Diffuse emissions
Description
|
Technique |
Applicability |
a |
Regularly clean transport routes, storage areas and vehicles |
Generally applicable |
b |
Unload sawdust using covered drive-through unloading areas |
|
c |
Store sawdust dust-prone material in silos, containers, roofed piles, etc. or enclose bulk storage areas |
|
d |
Suppress dust emissions by water sprinkling |
1.3. EMISSIONS TO WATER
|
Technique |
Applicability |
a |
Collect, and treat separately, surface run-off water and process waste water |
Applicability may be restricted on existing plants due to the configuration of the existing drainage infrastructure |
b |
Store any wood except roundwood and slabs(23) on a hard-surfaced area |
Generally applicable |
|
Technique |
Applicability |
a |
Mechanical separation of coarse materials by screens and sieves as preliminary treatment |
Generally applicable |
b |
Oil-water separation(24) |
Generally applicable |
c |
Removal of solids by sedimentation in retention basins or settlement tanks(24) |
There may be restrictions to the applicability of sedimentation due to space requirements |
Parameter |
Unit |
BAT-AELs (average of samples obtained during one year) |
TSS |
mg/l |
10–40 |
Description
|
Technique |
Applicability |
a |
Mechanical separation of coarse materials by screens and sieves |
Generally applicable |
b |
Physico-chemical separation, e.g. using sand filters, dissolved air flotation, coagulation and flocculation(25) |
|
c |
Biological treatment(25) |
Parameter |
BAT-AELs (average of samples obtained during one year) |
mg/l |
|
TSS |
5–35 |
COD |
20–200 |
Technique(26) |
Applicability |
Sedimentation, decanting, screw and belt presses to remove collected solids in wet abatement systems |
Generally applicable |
Dissolved air flotation. Coagulation and flocculation followed by removal of floccules by flotation aided by dissolved air |
1.4. DESCRIPTION OF TECHNIQUES
1.4.1.
Emissions to air
Technique |
Description |
Biofilter |
A biofilter degrades organic compounds by biological oxidation. A waste gas stream is passed through a supporting bed of inert material (e.g. plastics or ceramics) on which organic compounds are oxidised by naturally occurring microorganisms. The biofilter is sensitive to dust, high temperatures or high variation in the waste gas inlet temperature. |
Bioscrubber |
A bioscrubber is a biofilter combined with a wet scrubber that preconditions the waste gas by removing dust and lowering the inlet temperature. Water is recycled continuously, entering the top of the packed bed column, from where it trickles down. Water collects in a settlement tank where additional degradation takes place. Adjustment of pH and the addition of nutrients can optimise degradation. |
Cyclone |
A cyclone uses inertia to remove dust from waste gas streams by imparting centrifugal forces, usually within a conical chamber. Cyclones are used as a pretreatment before further dust abatement or abatement of organic compounds. Cyclones can be applied alone or as multicyclones. |
Cyclofilter |
A cyclofilter uses a combination of cyclone technology (to separate coarser dust) and bag filters (to capture finer dust). |
Electrostatic precipitator (ESP) |
Electrostatic precipitators operate such that particles are charged and separated under the influence of an electrical field. The ESP is capable of operating over a wide range of conditions. |
Wet electrostatic precipitator (WESP) |
The wet electrostatic precipitator consists of a wet scrubber stage, which scrubs and condenses the waste gas, and an electrostatic precipitator operating in wet mode in which the collected material is removed from the plates of the collectors by flushing with water. A mechanism is usually installed to remove water droplets before discharge of the waste gas (e.g. a demister). Collected dust is separated from the water phase. |
Bag filter |
Bag filters consist of porous woven or felted fabric through which gases pass to remove particles. The use of a bag filter requires the selection of a fabric appropriate for the characteristics of the flue-gas and the maximum operating temperature. |
Catalytic thermal oxidiser (CTO) |
Catalytic thermal oxidisers destroy organic compounds catalytically over a metal surface and thermally in a combustion chamber where a flame from combustion of a fuel, normally natural gas, and the VOCs present in the waste gas, heat the waste gas stream. The incineration temperature is between 400 °C and 700 °C. Heat can be recovered from the treated waste gas before release. |
Regenerative thermal oxidiser (RTO) |
Thermal oxidisers destroy organic compounds thermally in a combustion chamber where a flame from the combustion of a fuel, normally natural gas, and the VOCs present in the waste gas, heat the waste gas stream. The incineration temperature is between 800 °C and 1 100 °C. Regenerative thermal oxidisers have two or more ceramic packed bed chambers where the combustion heat from one incineration cycle in the first chamber is used to preheat the packed bed in the second chamber. Heat can be recovered from the treated waste gas before release. |
UTWS dryer and combustion with heat exchanger and thermal treatment of discharged dryer waste gas |
UTWS is a German acronym: ‘Umluft’ (recirculation of dryer waste gas), ‘Teilstromverbrennung’ (post-combustion of partial directed dryer waste gas stream), ‘Wärmerückgewinnung’ (heat recovery of dryer waste gas), ‘Staubabsheidung’ (dust treatment of air emission discharge from the combustion plant). UTWS is a combination of a rotary dryer with a heat exchanger and a combustion plant with recirculation of dryer waste gas. The recirculated dryer waste gas is a hot vapour stream that enables a vapour drying process. The dryer waste gas is reheated in a heat exchanger heated by the combustion flue-gases and is fed back to the dryer. Part of the dryer waste gas stream is continuously fed to the combustion chamber for post-combustion. Pollutants emitted from the wood drying are destroyed over the heat exchanger and by the post-combustion. The flue gases discharged from the combustion plant are treated by a bag filter or electrostatic precipitator. |
Wet scrubber |
Wet scrubbers capture and remove dust by inertial impaction, direct interception and absorption in the water phase. Wet scrubbers can have various designs and operating principles, e.g. spray scrubber, impingement plate scrubber or Venturi scrubber, and can be used as a dust pretreatment or a stand-alone technique. Some removal of organic compounds may be achieved and can be further enhanced by using chemicals in the scrubbing water (achieving chemical oxidation or another conversion). The resulting liquid has to be treated by separating the collected dust by sedimentation or filtration. |
1.4.2.
Emissions to water
Technique |
Description |
Biological treatment |
The biological oxidation of dissolved organic substances using the metabolism of microorganisms, or the breakdown of organic content in waste water by the action of microorganisms in the absence of air. The biological action is usually followed by the removal of suspended solids, e.g. by sedimentation. |
Coagulation and flocculation |
Coagulation and flocculation are used to separate suspended solids from waste water and are often carried out in successive steps. Coagulation is carried out by adding coagulants with charges opposite to those of the suspended solids. Flocculation is carried out by adding polymers, so that collisions of microfloc particles cause them to bond to produce larger flocs. |
Flotation |
The separation of large flocs or floating particles from the effluent by bringing them to the surface of the suspension. |
Dissolved air flotation |
Flotation techniques relying on the use of dissolved air to achieve separation of coagulated and flocculated material.. |
Filtration |
The separation of solids from a waste water carrier by passing them through a porous medium. It includes different types of techniques, e.g. sand filtration, microfiltration and ultrafiltration. |
Oil-water separation |
The separation and extraction of insoluble hydrocarbons, relying on the principle of the difference in gravity between the phases (liquid-liquid or solid-liquid). The higher density phase settles and the lower density phase floats to the surface. |
Retention basins |
Large surface area lagoons for the passive gravitational settlement of solids. |
Sedimentation |
The separation of suspended particles and material by gravitational settling. |