Emission Reduction of Air Pollutants Produced from Chemical Plants

This study identified emission sources and emissions of air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), solvents, and acid gases produced from chemical plants. We collected air samples from various processes, reactors and facilities using VOC detectors and workers' experience. We identified chemical structures and emission concentrations of air pollutants. We analyzed total emissions of air pollutants emitted from the chemical plants. Also, we developed some emission reduction technologies based on chemical types and emission situations of the identified air pollutants. For reduction of air emissions of acid gases, we employed a method improving solubility of pollutants by reducing scrubber operation temperature, increasing surface area for effective contact of gas and liquid, and modifying or changing chemicals used in the acid scrubbers. In order to reduce air emissions of both amines and acid gases, which have had different emission sources each other but treated by one scrubber, we first could separate gas components. And then different control techniques based on components of pollutants were applied to the emission sources. That is, we first applied condensation and then acid scrubbing method using H2SO4 solution for amine treatment. However, we only used an acid scrubbing method using H2O and NaOH solution for acid gas treatment. In order to reduce air emissions of solvents such as dimethylformamide and toluene, we applied condensation and activated carbon adsorption. In order to reduce air emissions of mixture gases containing acid gases and slovents, which could not be separated in the processes, we employed a combination of various air pollution control devices. That is, the mixture gases were passed into the first condenser, the acid scrubber, the second condenser, and the activated carbon adsorption tower in sequence. In addition, for improvement of condensation efficiency of VOCs, we changed the type of the condensers attached in the reactors as a control device modification. Finally, we could successfully reduce air emissions of pollutants produced from various chenmical processes or facilities by use of proper control methods according to the types and specific emission situations of pollutants.