Determination of Volatile Organic Profiles and Photochemical Potentials from Chemical Manufacture Process Vents

• Published in: Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995) 2007-06, Vol.57 (6), p.698-704
• Main Authors: Hsu, Yi-Chyun, Chen, Shan-Kun, Tsai, Jiun-Horng, Chiang, Hung-Lung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Air Pollutants - analysis; Air pollution; Air pollution control equipment; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Chemical Industry; Chronic illnesses; Emissions; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Global environmental pollution; Hazardous air pollutants; Hazardous substances; Industrial plants; Industrial Waste - analysis; Organic chemicals; Organic Chemicals - analysis; Oxidants, Photochemical - chemistry; Ozone - chemistry; Photochemistry; Pollution; Polyvinyl chloride; Respiratory system; Services; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds; Volatilization
• ISSN: 1096-2247; 2162-2906
• DOI: 10.3155/1047-3289.57.6.698

The main objective of this study was to monitor the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the stack gas released from organic chemical industrial plants to determine emission factors. Samples from 52 stacks, with or without air pollution control devices (APCDs), from seven industrial processes were taken and VOCs measured using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 18. These 7 processes, including 26 plants, were the manufacturers of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), acrylic resin (ACR), vinyl chloride (VC), para-terephthalic acid (PTA), and synthetic fiber (SYF). The results clearly indicate significant variations of emission factors among the various industrial processes, particularly emission factors for those without APCDs. As expected, those with APCDs yield much less emission factors. Regardless of those with or without APCDs, the order of manufacturing processes with regard to VOC emission factors is SYF > ABS > PS > ACR > PTA > PVC > VC. The emission factors for some processes also differ from those in EPA-42 data file. The VOC profiles further indicate that some VOCs are not listed in the U.S. VOC/Particulate Matter Speciation Data System (SPECIATE). The potential O 3 formation is determined from the total amount of VOC emitted for each of seven processes. The resultant O 3 yield varied from 0.22 (ACR) to 2.33 g O 3 g -1 VOC (PTA). The significance of this O 3 yield is discussed.