Methods and apparatuses for reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds from pumps and storage tanks for voc-containing fluids

A method for pumping a fluid from a low-pressure fluid source to a high-pressure fluid outlet, wherein the fluid comprises a volatile organic compound (“VOC”), wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• (A) operatively positioning a VOC-absorbing material between an enclosure for a pump and the atmosphere, wherein the VOC from the enclosure must pass through the VOC-absorbing material before being vented to the atmosphere, and wherein the VOC-absorbing material comprises:
• (i) a permeable substrate;
• and
• (ii) a stripper for the VOC;
• (B) reciprocating the piston or plunger in the cylindrical port to pump fluid from the low-pressure fluid source to the high-pressure fluid outlet;
• and
• (C) exposing the stripper of the VOC-absorbing material to bacteria, wherein the bacteria is selected for being capable of converting the VOC to another compound.

A method for storing or transporting a fluid, wherein the fluid comprises a volatile organic compound (“VOC”), wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• (A) storing or transporting the fluid in a closed container;
• (B) operatively positioning a VOC-absorbing material between the container and the atmosphere, wherein the VOC from the container must pass through the VOC-absorbing material before being vented to the atmosphere, and wherein the VOC-absorbing material comprises:
• (i) a permeable substrate;
• and
• (ii) a stripper for the VOC;
• and
• (C) exposing the stripper of the VOC-absorbing material to bacteria, wherein the bacteria is selected for being capable of converting the VOC to another compound.