Abstract
Sasol Synfuels is a petrochemical industry producing fuels and chemicals from coal andsituated in the Gert Sibande district municipality of Mpumdanga. These activities result in pollutants being released into the atmosphere. It was required to determine if reducing the radius of a 5.2 km pollution circle, measured from the centre of the plant, by 400m, toallow further residential development, will expose residents to an unacceptable ambient benzene concentration. A detailed study was implemented whereby the ambient air was sampled and analysised during a two seasonal period to determine how the benzene emissions released from the factory will impact on future residents within this 400m area.Meteorological measurements were also used to monitor atmospheric conditions.The results showed that the yearly average of ambient benzene concentrations for Secunda was 0.41 ppb and 0.64 ppb for eMbalenhle which was below the South African standard, but there were frequent sampling periods when the short-termconcentrations exceeded the annual standard, occurring mostly during the night, when the majority of residents were at home. From the results obtained, the 5.2 km pollutioncircle should therefore be maintained to ensure this risk of exposure to people is kept to a minimum
Highlights
Sasol Synfuels, a company that produces synthetic fuels from coal, covers an area of more than 13km2 and is designed for a Coal to Liquid (CTL) process
The results showed that the yearly average of ambient benzene concentrations for Secunda was 0.41 ppb and 0.64 ppb for eMbalenhle which was below the South African standard, but there were frequent sampling periods when the short-term concentrations exceeded the annual standard, occurringmostly during thenight, when the majority of residents were at home
In order to limit the impact of these emissions on people residing inthe surroundingresidential areas a pollution circle, with a radius of 5.2 lan,measured from the centre of Sasol Synfuels plant, was demarcated in terms of the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act when the plants were built in the late 1970"s
Summary
Sasol Synfuels, a company that produces synthetic fuels from coal, covers an area of more than 13km and is designed for a Coal to Liquid (CTL) process. In order to limit the impact of these emissions on people residing inthe surroundingresidential areas a pollution circle, with a radius of 5.2 lan,measured from the centre of Sasol Synfuels plant, was demarcated in terms of the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act when the plants were built in the late 1970"s. Within this circle, no residential development is allowed, but commercial and indistrial developments can take place (small businesses)
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