#TechTalk:  DFTOs: Not Just a Backup Plan — For Biofuel, the Only Plan

#TechTalk: DFTOs: The Only Choice for Tough Biofuel & Biogas Emissions

July 15, 2025

As biofuel and biogas production expands, many facilities face a rising challenge: emissions too hot, corrosive, or chemically complex for standard VOC abatement systems.

That’s where Direct-Fired Thermal Oxidizers (DFTOs) come in—especially for processes like anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis, or organics-to-energy where sulfur, nitrogen, or moisture levels are too extreme for regenerative systems.

At Ship & Shore Environmental, we engineer DFTOs to destroy these tough emissions—without compromising uptime, safety, or compliance.

Why DFTOs Outperform RTOs for Biofuel Emissions

RTOs are best for clean, dry exhaust with consistent VOC levels.

DFTOs are built for:

• – High VOC concentrations
• – Sulfur- and nitrogen-rich off-gas
• – Wet, sticky, or tar-laden streams
• – Faster startup and simpler operation

With direct flame combustion, DFTOs achieve 99%+ destruction efficiency for hazardous organics and corrosive compounds—without ceramic beds, valve sequencing, or energy loss from fouling.

Case Study: 102-Ton DFTO in Southern California Biofuel Facility

One of the largest organics-to-energy operations in the U.S. needed to treat:
– 35,000 ACFM at 750°F
– High levels of mercaptans, SOx, and nitrogen compounds

S&SE delivered a 102-ton DFTO system with:
– Integrated NOx abatement
– Vertical stack and heat recovery
– Full design-to-startup execution
This system now keeps them compliant with Inland Empire AQMD standards—and fully scalable for future expansion.

DFTO’s by Design — Key Features:

– >99% DRE for tough organics
– High-temperature flame zone (up to 1,800°F)
– No ceramic media to clog or foul
– Simple logic controls for safer startup/shutdown
– Compatible with wet scrubbers, heat exchangers, and CO₂ recovery

Our DFTO systems are fully customizable—from fuel type and control integration to heat recovery and permit support.

Whether you’re upgrading a compliance plan or building a facility from scratch, we handle it all—in-house.

#DFTO #Biofuel #VOCControl #ThermalOxidizer #ShipAndShore #CleanAirSolutions #ComplianceEngineering

Categorised in: #Biofuel, #CleanAirSolutions, #MadeInAmerica, #VOC Control, 25Years of S&SE, DFTO, DirectFired, Ship & Shore, Technical, TechTalk, ThermalOxidizer, VOC Abatement