Integrated Pollution Prevention Research Articles

Industrial Wastewater Indirect Discharges in Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Perspective: A Case Study of Prague

Wastewater discharge is one of the sources of environmental pollution. Wastewater pollution originates, inter alia, in industrial wastewater. After treatment, industrial wastewater can be discharged directly into the receiving water body or indirectly into a sewerage network terminated by the concluding stage of wastewater treatment. In the Czech Republic, indirect wastewater discharges are obeyed by the contractual relationship between the wastewater producer and the sewerage network operator. General limits for indirectly discharged wastewater are not set by any national legislation. The aim of this paper is a description of industrial wastewater discharged into the municipal sewerage system in Prague and possibilities of setting limits for installations undertaking the industrial activities listed in Annex I of the Integrated Prevention Act. The study showed that 72% of installations discharge industrial wastewater indirectly. The majority are energy plants that produce boiler blowdown wastewater. More than 80% of wastewater from studied installations is treated by one central wastewater treatment plant. The studied installations are equipped with a wastewater neutralization unit. However, despite the existence of the legislative framework to propose limits for studied installations, only two installations covered by BAT conclusions with relevant BAT-AELs for indirect discharges to the receiving water body were determined. Generally, a small percentage of installations can be limited by an integrated permit due to an inconsistent approach to the issue of indirect discharges from installations under the scope of the Integrated Prevention Act.

RENEWABLE ENERGY: CURRENT DEVELOPMENT TRENDS

The article summarizes some aspects of the current state of wind energy and outlines possible development prospects. Attention is focused on the requirements of Directive 2001/80/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU "On integrated pollution prevention and control" and Directive 2010/75/EC of the European Parliament and the Council on industrial emissions (integrated prevention and control of pollution) and compliance with these conditions of the industrial policy of Ukraine . The current state of wind energy is considered, as a significant factor in countering global climate changes and improving the general state of energy security in the world, Europe and Ukraine. Prospects for the further development of wind energy are summarized. Territories of Ukraine, which are characterized by the highest wind energy potential and have favorable conditions for the production of electricity by wind power plants, are highlighted. It was noted that the use of RES is one of the main priorities of energy development for most developed countries. Wind energy is widely available and one of the cheapest sources among RES for the production of electricity in the world. Wind energy occupies the second place in the structure of RES after solar and is characterized by the fastest development of technologies and intensive growth of installed capacities due to the constant development of science and technology, which leads to increased availability, development of a wide range of equipment, as well as a decrease in costs for their production and exploitation. The world experience of implementing low-power wind and solar energy technologies, which can be used to increase the energy autonomy of enterprises, shows that the main advantages of their use, first of all, are the reduction of the ecological burden on the environment compared to traditional methods of obtaining electrical energy, due to the avoidance of emissions of harmful substances (sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, dust, greenhouse gases), as well as the almost complete absence of waste.

Comparison of the Three Approaches for Determining Ammonia Emissions in the Intensive Breeding of Fattening Pigs with Respect to the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control: Case Study for the Czech Republic

This study compares three approaches in the monitoring of ammonia (NH3) emissions from intensive breeding of fattening pigs in relation to compliance with the standards arising from the requirements of Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) used in the Czech Republic. The first approach was based on the determination of NH3 emissions calculation by measurement using reduced sampling days focused on the final fattening phase. The second approach was based on the determination of NH3 emissions calculation by measurement respecting the Best Reference Document for Intensive Rearing of Poultry or Pig (BREF IRPP) and relevant best available techniques (BAT) conclusions under Directive 2010/75/EU. The third approach was based on estimation by using emission factors respecting BREF IRPP and Methodological Instruction of the Air Protection Department of the Czech Republic. The results show that the determined emission factors in the Czech Republic may not always reflect the actual production of NH3 emissions even when reduced by the applied BAT. Determination of NH3 emissions calculation by measurement respecting BREF IRPP represents the predominant phases of fattening (refinement) and microclimatic conditions; however, it is time and money-consuming.

A Review: Comparison of Approaches to the Approval Process and Methodology for Estimation of Ammonia Emissions from Livestock Farms under IPPC

Ammonia (NH3) emissions have a negative impact on the welfare of breeding animals, human health, and the environment. These influences of modern intensive agriculture have led to numerous protocols, national regulations, and European Directives. Following previous regulatory measures, the Commission Implementing Decision European Union (EU) 2017/302 on 15 February 2017 has established best available technique (BAT) conclusions, under Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and the Council, for the intensive rearing of poultry and pigs. This applies to intensive poultry and pig producers with a capacity of over 40,000 poultry, 750 sows, or 2000 fattening pigs. Due to the application of this directive, air emissions have been reduced by between 40% and 75% over the last 15 years. The integrated permit monitors the entire environmental burden of the farm on its surroundings (air pollution, water, soil pollution, waste production, energy use). This review aims to provide a critical overview of how member states (including the United Kingdom) are approaching the implementation of IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) and the conclusions of BAT in their legislation and related documents, and how they monitor NH3 emissions from intensive livestock farming. The data for this review were obtained from 2019 to 2020.

INTEGRATING POLLUTION REGULATION REGIMES: A COMPARATIVE SURVEY OF THE FINNISH AND SOUTH AFRICAN LEGAL SYSTEMS

The South African environmental governance, particularly the pollution regulation regime, is fragmented. Fragmentation ultimately leads to an unsustainable governance effort which negatively impacts on the environment and development in general. In 2000, Finland comprehensively revised the legal structure on which its pollution regulation regime is based. This new regime provides for an integrated environmental authorisation for polluting activities, integrated authorisation procedures and institutions, which result in a more integrated and efficient governance regime. The integrated Finnish approach is based on an European Union framework directive that provides for Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC). The Finnish reforms may suggest strategies to integrate the fragmented South African regime. This article commences by investigating the nature and extent of fragmentation in South Africa. It then proceeds to analyse the European framework directive on IPPC, and then to reflect in detail on the new Finnish approach. It concludes by providing some comparative suggestions to achieve integration in South Africa.

The Role of a Hazardous Waste Intermediate Management Plant in the Circularity of Products

Zero-pollution goals and the reduction in environmental pressures related to production and consumption have become a priority in recent environmental policies such as the 8th European Environment Action Program proposal. Adapting current industrial processes is essential to this transition towards a regenerative economy. This work presents a redesign plan for an industrial system that includes mechanical workshops and a hazardous waste intermediate management plant, covering all management activities (both off-site and on-site), such as collection, transport, and treatment. The waste management hierarchy is modified/amplified considering the original definition and the circular economy focus. This includes the improvement of existing processes and/or the design of new sustainable processes from waste to energy and useful materials, with different foci (integrated pollution prevention and control, industrial ecology, the circular economy, system dynamics, and life-cycle thinking (LCT)) and different tools employed (Best Available Techniques inventory (BAT), process simulation, BAT analysis, industrial symbiosis, dynamic material and energy flow analysis, and LCT tools). These tools help us to improve the sustainability of waste to energy and useful materials processes and improve symbiotic behaviour in the industrial system. This study shows the real possibility of achieving the circularity of products, transforming the waste sector into a productive one. Meanwhile, it contributes to the extinction of the traditional concept of waste.

Research on Port Ship Pollution Prevention and Control System Based on the Background of Marine Environmental Protection

In the context of marine environmental protection and ecological protection, the article discusses the operating conditions of ship’s main pollution prevention equipment such as marine sewage discharge, oil-water separators and other equipment and the disadvantages of difficult monitoring of ship exhaust emissions. This paper designs an ocean-going ship based on Beidou Integrated pollution prevention and monitoring system for environmental protection vessels and ports. The system can continuously send information on the operating conditions of marine sewage discharge, oil-water separators and other equipment and ship exhaust emissions to shore-based ship management companies and maritime regulatory agencies through Beidou satellites in real time, providing technical support and information support for remote monitoring. At the same time, it effectively prevents the occurrence of marine pollution by ships and creates a new model of marine environmental protection.

The effect of the European Industrial Emissions Directive on the air emission limit values set by competent authorities in the permitting procedure: The case of the Spanish cement industry

The concept of the “flexibility principle” introduced by the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive in the procedure to determine the emission limit values in the permit raised the interest of several scholars and heightened the debate on environmental regulation. The Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive allows a considerable flexibility to competent authorities in the permitting process to deviate from the use of best available techniques described in the reference documents. Several studies show how this flexibility lead to disparities in the permitting process among Member States, which reduced the potential benefits in the environmental performance of companies.After the adoption of the Industrial Emissions Directive by the Member States of the European Union, the permit contents of around 52,000 of the largest European Union industrial installations need to be updated by competent authorities to meet the requirements of this Directive. Several studies on its effectiveness have been developed to determine how emission limit values are set by competent authorities with reference to the range of emission levels associated with the best available techniques.This paper is oriented to study the effect of the Industrial Emissions Directive at sector level, investigating its effects on the air emission limit values set by the competent authorities in the permits for cement facilities. This paper contributes to the scientific debate in relation to the effect of these Directives on the environmental performance of the industrial installations. The data analysed in the case study considered show that the emission limit values have been reduced in permits consistently over the past 10 years.

Human health risk associated with emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the ship-loading of hydrocarbons in refineries

A significant contribution to Volatile Organic Compounds emissions in refineries and petrochemical plants is given by the ship-loading of hydrocarbons. Nevertheless, the assessment of the health risk associated with these sources of contamination is not widespread because it is currently not addressed neither by the European Directive on the integrated pollution prevention or other environmental regulations. The modelling of the emission and the contaminant transport is a complex issue, and this work aims integrating some common procedures within the approach for the human health risk assessment by means of a Geographical Information System. Its application to a case-study is given to verify the validity of the integrated approach and identify the contribution of VOC emissions of the ship-loading, to the risk associated with the total VOC emitted in a typical refinery. The iso-risk contours have also been drawn to allow the identification of critical areas for people to protect them by the adoption of abatement solutions.

An Integrated Pollution Prevention Ecosystem for Small-Scale Production of Raw Coco-nut Jelly in Craft Villages —— A Case Study from Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Raw coconut jelly is a popular byproduct of the coconut processing industry in the Asia Pacific which can enhance the added economic value for the local families in the rural area. However, the coconut jelly production has resulted in significant environmental impacts, particularly to the aquatic environment due to its heavily polluted wastewater e.g. very high values of COD (up to 120,000 mg/l), of total nitrogen (up to 1,740 mg/l), and of total phosphorus (up to 64 mg/l). The available wastewater treatment technology for such type of wastewater is likely to be not economically efficient due to the small-scale production at craft villages in the developing countries. This study developed and demonstrated an integrated eco-model for small (family) scale production of raw coconut jelly in craft villages which applied Cleaner Production sollutions for pollution prevention on the basis of available conditions at the local family. The system demonstration showed a win-win solution for family with major benefits by reduction of 90% of pollutants (i.e 27 kg COD, 21.4 kg BOD5, approx. 7 kg N, 113 g P and 28 kg SO42−for one production batch), as well as the other benefit by major reduction of 90 % of investment and operating costs of the wastewater treatment plant.

Green textile production: a chemical minimization and substitution study in a woolen fabric production.

This study aimed to decrease chemical costs and increase productivity and environmental performance by applying various practices for chemical minimization and substitution in an integrated textile mill producing woolen textile fabric. Detailed on-site process investigations and data collection studies were carried out in the mill. Process-based specific auxiliary chemical and dyestuff consumptions were calculated. Process and composite wastewater samples were collected at different periods and analyzed. The chemical loads of wastewaters were also calculated. The specific dyestuff and auxiliary chemical consumptions of the mill were compared with the data of a similar textile mill in the literature and the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC), Textile Best Available Techniques Reference (BREF) document. Thus, the chemical saving potential of the mill was evaluated. A detailed chemical inventory study was also carried out in the mill. The material safety data sheets (MSDSs) of 371 chemicals were examined in terms of biodegradation ratio, toxicity, and micropollutant content. As a result, 23 chemicals were proposed to be replaced with environmentally friendly substitutes. A total of 10 minimization and substitution practices were identified for the mill according to the investigation and analysis results. After the implementation of the suggested practices, reductions of 15-32 and 13-37% are estimated to be achieved in total chemical consumption and chemical oxygen demand (COD) load of wastewater, respectively. The potential payback periods of the suggested practices were calculated to range between 4 and 36 months. The employed methodology and the findings of this study may be useful for similar textile mills, stakeholders, and regulators. This study may also provide a road map to the textile industry for their sustainable and green production applications.

State of art control of dioxins/unintentional POPs in the secondary copper industry: A review to assist policy making with the implementation of the Stockholm Convention

Article 5 of the Stockholm Convention requires that each Party shall take measures to reduce the releases from anthropogenic sources of unintentional persistent organic pollutants (UPOPs), with the goal of their continuing minimization and, where feasible, their ultimate elimination. A major source of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and other unintentional POPs releases, both in China and worldwide, is the metal industry in particular secondary metal industries such as copper smelting. More than 50% of the global secondary copper production is now in China and high levels of PCDD/Fs are released from these operations with the national inventory of China reporting a total of 1133.8 g toxic equivalents (TEQ) yr−1. Consequently the Global Environment Facility (GEF) is supporting the project ‘UPOPs Reduction through best available techniques and best environmental practices (BAT/BEP) in the secondary copper production sector’ in China compromising >50% of the global secondary copper production. As part of this project, information on relevant UPOPs from the metal industry have been reviewed and is presented here. This information should also be useful for other (developing) countries for controlling UPOPs releases from metal industries. This review and the information it contains provides a robust resource for policy makers, the industry and researchers to improve secondary copper production to BAT/BEP standards in relation to the reduction of PCDD/Fs and other UPOPs release. The contents include the details required to assist the understanding of the formation of chlorinated UPOPs along with their brominated and brominated-chlorinated analogues. It reviews the international sources of information on BAT/BEP, including the integrated approach considered in the European BAT Reference document, and shows how this can be used to achieve an overall reduction of pollutant releases from the industry. The current national standards of PCDD/F limits to air, water and solid residues have been compiled and are also included. Challenges which need to be addressed, such as the current international lack to consider brominated and mixed bromo-chloro PXDD/Fs which might be more environmentally significant than PCDD/Fs in some facilities – are also discussed.The study includes a brief description of the steps China has taken to change the national regulatory framework and to improve the sustainability of its secondary metal industry. The Stockholm Convention BAT/BEP guidelines recommend consideration of integrated pollution prevention and control and sustainable production as general principles which parties may incorporate when applying the BAT/BEP guidelines and guidance. This holistic approach is considered in the current project and in the improvement of the pilot facilities and will also be considered in the replication of experiences in other facilities. Using this approach ensures the implementation of the Stockholm Convention can contribute to integrated pollution prevention and control, the development of a circular economy and consequently to genuinely sustainable development thus contributing to different sustainable development goals (SDGs). It is hoped this approach will be adopted in other developing and transition economies and thus help to achieve improvements of the secondary metal industry globally.

“Mejores técnicas disponibles": Un singular sistema de regulación ambiental

El trabajo analiza la regla mejores técnicas disponibles a través de su exponente principal en el Derecho europeo e interno: la técnica de la prevención y control integrados de la contaminación, regulada actualmente en la Directiva 2010/75, de emisiones industriales; y, en el Texto Refundido de la Ley de prevención y control integrados de la contaminación de 2016. La primera parte se centra en el origen y en la evolución que ha sufrido este criterio regulador. Una segunda parte aborda su significado actual, a la luz de su configuración legal y del avance producido en la concreción normativa de las mejores técnicas disponibles en el plano europeo (actos reglamentarios de la Comisión que determinan, en cada sector industrial, cuáles son estas técnicas y establecen los estándares asociados). Por último, se hace referencia a la jurisprudencia europea e interna en la materia, con el objetivo último de valorar su grado de aplicación en la práctica y los problemas jurídicos que viene planteando el nuevo sistema regulador establecido.

Implementing the Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) and environmental policies in Central Asia

• After almost three decades, the management of environmental information in Central Asia still bears many of the hallmarks of the Soviet regime. It is technocratic, integrated in centrally planned economies, and embedded in a culture of nondisclosure to citizens and the international community. • SEIS is an essential part of the ongoing reform of environmental governance in Central Asia, supervised by UNECE and significant progress has been made in all five countries. SEIS’ development is particularly important for the progress on three environmental policies focusing on public access to environmental data and information. • The Aarhus Convention requires citizens to participate in environmental decision-making and act as ‘informed citizens’. Implementation of the convention in Central Asia still falls far short of the expectations of many local NGOs. Further SEIS improvement could increase the number of end-users of environmental data in both civil society and the private sector. • Implementation of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), including the creation of Water User Associations (WUAs) is underway in the region, providing increasingly reliable information on water intake in irrigated areas. SEIS helps ‘citizen science’, which could become an essential tool for collecting environmental data and information in remote regions of Central Asia. • Implementation of Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) is just starting in the region. SEIS can improve the decentralization and transparency in monitoring and reporting decentralization and transparent monitoring of industrial emissions.

Long-term emission sampling validation for PCDD/Fs control of compliance to permitted Emission Limit Values at a large sinter plant

Continuous sampling of emission into air of dioxins has been one of the targets of Directive 2010/75/EU Of The European Parliament And Of The Council on industrial emissions (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control, IED Directive) since year 2010. The present research was aimed at verifying the applicability of a long-term sampling system at the sinter plant of a large steel works in Taranto, Southern Italy, and to perform its validation compared to the standard reference method.Automated long-term samplings of 15 and 30 d were performed in parallel with manual short-term sampling, the latter with a frequency of two per week. Concentrations range was 0.05–0.20 ng I-TEQ/N m3 thus ensuring good coverage around the level of interest of 0.1 ng I-TEQ/N m3, as a typical Emission Limit Value for combustion plants. In addition the long-term device was used for short-time sampling in parallel with manual sampling showing an external variability between ± 0.05 ng I-TEQ/N m3 thus proving to be acceptable.As a result of the successful validation trial the long term emission sampling was enforced as Emission Limit Value official control technique.

Carving out a domain for the market: boundary making in European environmental markets

This paper proposes to analyse the politics of markets by problematizing the boundary between markets and policy. We show that this boundary has been central in the construction of European carbon markets through the Emissions Trading System, and we put these in contrast with two other European environmental markets – the market for clean technologies organized by the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control directive and the market for sustainable biofuels organized by the Renewable Energy Directive. We use these examples to analyse the operations through which boundaries are manufactured, maintained and contested. The case of European environmental markets allows us to study the political consequences of articulating the relations between markets and policy in terms of boundary-work, and to identify potential alternatives.

Reducing the Loss of Nitrogen in Athmosphere by Granular Urea

One of the main objectives for the future agriculture is to achieve high crop yields but also to maintain and improve soil quality. In 1995, the European Fertilizer Manufacturers Association (EFMA) prepared eight Booklets on Best Available Techniques (BAT) in response to the proposed EU Directive on integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC Directive). In this Booklet it is show that ammonium nitrate is used extensively as a nitrogenous fertilizer. It is made exclusively by the reaction between gaseous ammonia and aqueous nitric acid, the production of which are covered in EFMA BAT Booklets 1 and 2 respectively. Reseeding of grassland may increase the mineralisation of organic material and lead to a greater amount of mineral nitrogen in soil, which can be leached during the winter-period.

Application of LES-CFD for predicting pulverized-coal working conditions after installation of NOx control system

The upcoming environmental requirements outlined at the 2017 European Commission Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) are becoming more and more strict in comparison to the existing standards – IED 2010/75/EU. Questions arise about changes in boiler operating conditions after the adoption of the regulations to fulfill specified emission limits. Of initial concern is the question of which technology to pursue in order to reach the specified level of NOx emissions at 150 mg/Nm3@6%O2. By introducing an air staging technique the NOx limit can be partially achieved; however these changes affect the boiler operation in a detrimental way. In order to investigate impact of de-NOx installation on the temperature and heat flux distribution, numerical techniques can be used. In order to determine the impact of the changes in the boiler operation, this paper presents the application of an advanced, multiphase open-source code Arches, developed at the University of Utah for modeling pulverized-coal combustion using Large-Eddy Simulation (LES). Numerical simulations showed the effect on the boiler's working parameters e.g., heat-transfer rate, temperature distribution, species concentration, and NOx emission before and after proposed modifications.

VOC emission reduction and energy efficiency in the flexible packaging printing processes: analysis and implementation

Volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions into the atmosphere are among the primary environmental problems caused by flexible packaging printing plants. Since 1999, VOC emissions from the use of solvents in various technological processes have been limited by the volatile organic compounds solvents emissions directive, and by directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions since 2010. Thus, flexible packaging plants require processing technologies or other solutions to ensure compliance with these requirements. In this paper, combined VOC pollution prevention and treatment alternatives were suggested and were evaluated for their technical, environmental, and economic feasibility. A flexible plastic packaging company that produces over 1920 t/year of plastic packaging for the food industry was selected for detailed analysis. The material and energy flow analysis shows that VOC emissions from the main technological processes reached 112.2 kg/t of production, and a considerable amount of energy (up to 771.6 kWh/t of production) was used. Three integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) alternatives of the five analysed in this study were selected and implemented within the company to reduce its VOC emissions and energy consumption. The results indicate that after the implementation of the three suggested economically reasonable IPPC alternatives (replacement of solvent-based with water-based inks; modernisation of the ventilation and lighting system), the VOC emissions decreased to 8.4 kg/t (92.5%) and the total energy consumption for the production of 1 t of flexible packaging decreased to 605.6 kWh/t (21.5%). This study shows that IPPC methods not only significantly reduces VOC emissions from flexible packaging printing processes, but also saves energy and raw materials, and reduces costs.

Assessing temporal variations of Ammonia Nitrogen concentrations and loads in the Huaihe River Basin in relation to policies on pollution source control

To assess the quality of a water environment, an in-depth analysis of temporal patterns of contaminant concentrations in water body should be carried out based on unbiased water quality datasets. In this study, we developed a modified log-linear model to account for non-stationary seasonal variations of contaminant concentrations over multiple periods. The model was applied to analyze temporal changes of the Ammonia Nitrogen (AN) concentration at Middle Reaches of Huaihe River (MRHR) and two major tributaries, Shaying River (SR) and Guo River (GR). The modified model outperformed the original models and fitted the data well with Pearson correlation coefficients ranging from 0.67 to 0.86. Temporal patterns of AN concentrations, loads and sources were identified from 1998 to 2015 in connection to the implementation of Five-Year Plans (FYPs, policies for controlling water pollution) in the Huaihe River Basin (HRB). The results show that the AN concentration experienced a significant decrease. Since FYPs focused on controlling AN point sources, the proportion of AN loads derived from point sources decreased from 48–86% to 1–17% in the MRHR and from 66–92% to 2–56% in the SR and GR. However, rebounds of AN concentration occurred in the first year of each FYP period possibly due to discontinuity of the policy implementation over the transition between two consecutive FYPs. High AN concentration anomalies were found in flood seasons, related to pollution discharge beyond limits and/or irrational regulation of sluices. These results have implications for future pollution control policies in the HRB, particularly, the need to reduce the upper limits of contaminant loads for flood seasons, continuity of the policies implementation, reduction of non-point source pollution, rational sluice regulation and integrated pollution prevention programs. The developed model and approach are applicable to other polluted river basins to facilitate water quality assessment and evaluation of pollution control policies.