Pars Special Economic Energy Zone Research Articles

A New Perspective on Estimation of Gas Flaring Volume From Space: OLI/TIRS, VIIRS, and TROPOMI

AbstractGas flaring (GF) has the negative impact on the environment, climate, and human health. So, regular monitoring of flares and quantification of their volume is necessary. Iran has many natural oil/gas processing plants and petrochemical companies which are concentrated in the southern region. Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ) is an industry part with different kinds of active flares, thus a significant potential source of environmental impacts due to gas flaring. Remotely sensed data are used in gas‐flaring detection, volume estimation, and pollution emission. In this study, we applied day/nighttime radiation and air pollutant data to estimate gas flaring volumes. We developed artificial neural network models (ANN) for finding the relationship between the field measurement of GF volume as the dependent variable and shortwave infrared and thermal infrared bands of Landsat 8, M10 band of Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite, and air pollutant (NO2, CO, O3, and SO2) of TROPOMI as independent variables. Results showed that R2 values were 0.73 for the ANN model from 2018 to 2019. The sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the thermal infrared bands of B10 and B11 of Landsat 8 had the most important role in the estimation of gas flaring volume. In contrast, the SWIR bands of Landsat 8 and all TROPOMI products were insignificant. The findings of this research help to shed light on the use of remotely sensed data in estimating the volume of gas flaring at the regional/global scale by integration of the ANN model.

Spatial distribution, source identification, ecological risk assessment, and air–seawater/seawater– Sediment exchange rates of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Pars special economic energy zone, Iran

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been introduced as major pollutants released by the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries. Against this background, the present study examined the coastal air, seawater, and sediments in the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ), Iran, in terms of pollution caused by such compounds. Considering the industrial facilities and residential areas in this region, the total suspended particulate (TSP), seawater, and sediments were sampled (n = 10) and then analyzed over the course of two seasons via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The total concentrations in the TSP, seawater, and sediments were found to be in the range of 346-739ngPAH/gTSP, ND-84.87 µg/L, and ND–306.7 ngg−1(dw), respectively. The positive correlation coefficients between sediment organic matter (OM) and concentrations did not show a significant relationship. Crude oil and its derivatives and biomass-coal combustion were identified as the main sources of pollution. Carcinogenic PAHs (CPAHs) were further detected at much higher concentrations near industrial facilities. Sediment qualityguidelines (SQGs) and risk quotients (RQs) showed that coastal seawater and sediments posed acceptable and moderate ecological risks. According to the fugacity diagrams, the seabed and seawater served as secondary sources of pollution. The total concentration and values obtained in earlier investigations were also comparable. Nonetheless, most maximum points could provide a point-form of the pollutant concentration. Therefore, preventive measures are required to ensure the protection of the environment.

Analysis of the high‐pressure steam import behaviour of an integrated ethylene oxide/ethylene glycol petrochemical plant under different production scenarios

AbstractIntegrated ethylene oxide/ethylene glycols (EO/EG) plants are prominent energy consumers in the petrochemical sector, particularly concerning high‐pressure steam (HPS) usage which holds the potential for substantial energy savings. This study focuses on an unexplored territory: Examining the impact of EO catalyst type, selectivity, and glycols production capacity on HPS import in a plant in the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ). Utilizing Python3 for data preprocessing and ordinary least squares linear regression analysis, we evaluate how varying catalyst loads and production scenarios influence HPS import. Regression models are created, encompassing normal and efficient HPS import scenarios, yielding positive outcomes in terms of correlation, mean error percentage, and R2 analysis. Comparing normal and efficient HPS import models highlights potential savings, uncovering opportunities to conserve between 45 and over 200 tonnes per day of HPS. We also explore the plant's HPS behaviour under 1% selectivity and production capacity reductions. Notably, catalyst activity decline markedly escalates HPS import for hybrid catalysts, while selectivity decline decreases HPS import for high‐activity catalysts. The models demonstrate that HPS import is ~150 tonnes per day more sensitive to a 1% change in selectivity compared to production capacity. Moreover, when comparing high activity and hybrid catalyst scenarios in normal and efficient cases, the most substantial HPS import difference arises under conditions of low selectivity, amounting to nearly 200 tonnes per day. Our methodology applies to other EO/EG plants. It is incorporated into our plant's energy management system, enabling continuous monitoring of steam import behaviour relative to catalyst and plant performance.

Assessment of RXD Algorithm Capability for Gas Flaring Detection through OLI-SWIR Channels

The environment, the climate and human health are largely exposed to gas flaring (GF) effects, releasing significant dangerous gases into the atmosphere. In the last few decades, remote sensing technology has received great attention in gas flaring investigation. The Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ), located in the south of Iran, hosts many natural oil/gas processing plants and petrochemical industries, making this area one of the most air-polluted zones of Iran. The object of this research is to detect GF-related thermal anomalies in the PSEEZ by applying, for the first time, the Reed-Xiaoli Detector (RXD), distinguished as the benchmark algorithm for spectral anomaly detection. The RXD performances in this research field have been tested and verified using the shortwave infrared (SWIR) bands of OLI-Landsat 8 (L8), acquired in 2018 and 2019 on the study area. Preliminary results of this automatic unsupervised learning algorithm demonstrated an exciting potential of RXD for GF anomaly detection on a monthly scale (75% success rate), with peaks in the months of January and February 2018 (86%) and December 2019 (84%). The lowest detection was recorded in October 2019 (48%). Regarding the spatial distribution of GF anomalies, a qualitatively analysis demonstrated the RXD capability in mapping the areas affected by gas flaring, with some limitations (i.e., false positives) due to possible solar radiation contribution. Further analyses will be dedicated to recalibrate the algorithm to increase its reliability, also coupling L8 and Landsat 9, as well as exploring Sentinel 2 SWIR imagery, to overcome some of the observed RXD drawbacks.

Persistent organic pollutants influence the marine benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in surface sediments of Nayband National Park and Bay, Northern Persian Gulf, Iran.

Macroinvertebrate communities have been influenced by chemical substances, originated from petrochemical developments, that caused many problems in the marine biota. This study investigated the surface sediments of Nayband National Park and Bay (northern Persian Gulf) for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in terms of their distribution, source, and impacts on benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages. To this end, a total of 180 surface sediment samples from 20 stations were collected using Van-Veen grab sampler during winter 2018. The concentration of PAHs, TPHs, total organic carbon (TOC). and total organic matter (TOM) were evaluated, and grain size measurements were conducted on sediment samples in this study. Benthic macroinvertebrates were then identified in terms of presence and distribution. The results indicated that coarse granulometric fractions of sands were prevalence in all samples stations. The total concentration of PAHs ranged from 47.57 to 657.68ng/g and TPHs 5.72 to 42.16µg/g dw. The risk of ΣPAHs and TPHs in the sediments was relatively low to moderate according to the sediment quality guidelines. Analysis of the results revealed a significant negative correlation between ΣPAHs (R-value = - 0.917; P < 0.01), TPHs (R-value = - 0.849; P < 0.01) and macrofaunal abundance. Findings demonstrated that the species richness and abundance were at the lowest levels in stations where concentrations of PAHs, TPHs, TOC, and TOM were in the highest values, suggesting that these contaminants could negatively influence the benthic organisms in Nayband National Park and Bay. The results of correspondence analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) analysis showed that sedimentary habitats in Nayband National Park and Bay are being negatively affected by PAHs and TPHs, released from Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ). Moreover, the marine biotic index (AMBI) and Shannon-Weiner Diversity (H') results suggest that Nayband National Park and Bay can be classified as slightly to moderate polluted area. In conclusion, Northern Persian Gulf is significantly affected by oil industry developments and petrochemical activities. The unique ecosystem like Nayband National Park and Bay has been in a cautious status in terms of the PSEEZ pollutants and the levels of PAHs and TPHs concentration, warning that urgent environmental programs should be considered to protect the diversity and ecology of this valuable marine systems.

Spatial distribution of BTEX emission and health risk assessment in the ambient air of pars special economic energy zone (PSEEZ) using passive sampling

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) are a challenging group of volatile organic compounds in industrial and energy areas. Since these aromatics may cause serious diseases such as cancer and respiratory illnesses, they must be monitored. Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ) in Iran is the second largest energy zone of the world with numerous gas refineries and petrochemical complexes for producing a wide range of products. This study is focused on determination of BTEX concentration in the whole South Pars area (46 sampling points) which is the active site of PSEEZ using passive sampling. Then, the results of the passive sampling are used for providing spatial distribution of BTEX using GIS. The annual BTEX measurements revealed that benzene and toluene concentration violates the maximum permitted values at numerous points most of which are located in the vicinity of petrochemical complexes. Active sampling in these complexes not only confirms the results of passive sampling, but also suggests a more intensified BTEX pollution in the air quality of the area which reaches as high as 3500μg.m-3 and 18,000μg.m-3 for benzene and toluene, respectively, being far beyond the acceptable standards. Health risk analysis also confirms the intensity of BTEX at the selected points. This study suggests a reconsideration of the location of non-operational sites and personnel who are more vulnerable to BTEX contamination. Also, BTEX profile provided by GIS in this research gives a suitable plan for relocating.

Seasonal variations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coastal sediments of a marine resource hot spot: the case of pars special economic energy zone, Iran.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are an important group of compounds of major environmental concern, which are in the class of persistent organic pollutants. Therefore, the key purpose of this research was to analyze seasonal fluctuations and to determine the probability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coastal sediments of the Iranian Marine Resource Center based on the evaluation of 16 US-EPA important PAH compounds. These compounds have been collected from intertidal sediments located in the marine resources of southern Iran in different seasons. These samples of the surficial sediment were collected at the PSEEZ area using a stainless steel grab sampler in four seasons, from depths between 0.5 and 30m. Surface sediment samples were removed by spoons and carefully placed in an aluminum foil; they were taken to the laboratory on ice and held at 20° C until their study. After extraction, by using a rotary evaporator apparatus, samples were condensed. The assay was added to roughly 2g of activated copper flasks in the refrigerator for 36h for desulfurization. Among different seasons, the highest concentration was observed in winter, with a mean of 281.3ngg-1. According to ecological risk assessment (concentrations of possible effects, low effect range, degree of threshold effects, and median effect range), PAH risks in surface sediments of PSEEZ were lower than the threshold results levels (TEL), possible effects levels (PEL), low range of effects (ERL), and median range of effects (ERM), indicating that a biological effect would rarely occur. The dry weight scale of the concentration of ∑PAHs ranges from 145.7 to 348.42ngg-1 with a mean quantity of 260.52ngg-1. Therefore, according to the amount of ∑PAH concentration, the sediments in the PSEEZ area indicated moderate to heavy pollutions. In this way, the sedimentary surface ecosystems of the Persian Gulf were considered as moderately polluted compared with other ecosystems worldwide. Our study highlighted some of the research gaps in PAH contamination studies and the level of PAH contamination. Therefore, this study will provide a scientific background, planning, and policies for PAH pollution control and environmental protection in Iran and similar regions around the world.

Evaluation of Different Flare Gas Recovery Alternatives with Exergy and Exergoeconomic Analyses

Natural gas flaring is considered one of the significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the upstream oil and gas industry. It plays an essential role in reducing the energy efficiency of oil and gas production. Depending on flare gas properties, it can be used for different destinations. Herein, we have evaluated the main flare gas recovery alternatives, including sweet gas production, Gas to Liquid (GTL), and power generation, by using exergy and exergoeconomic analysis tools. For this purpose, flare gas condition in two phases of the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone in south of Iran was chosen as a case study. The mass sensitivity analysis is conducted to examine the processes in different flare gas volumes. Mass flow fluctuation analysis is carried out to analyze the effect of mass flow fluctuation as an intrinsic characteristic of flare systems. Results indicate that the production of electrical power from flaring gas is an economical method regarding the exergoeconomic criteria. While the power generation process has disadvantages such as high exergy destruction and high capital cost, advantages such as higher revenue, local potentials for designing, equipment, and construction should be regarded. On the other hand, the sweetening plant has the highest exergetic efficiency rather than other substitutes. This method also has a lower exergoeconomic factor, especially in lower flaring volume. The mass flow sensitivity analysis in these processes shows the GTL production unit's appropriate performance in low flare gas volume. The results also offer the superior performance of sweetening plants in high flare gas volume. Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) process shows an acceptable performance in a broad range of flare gas volumes. Additionally, mass flow fluctuation analysis has been conducted to determine the effect of mass flow fluctuation in these alternatives. The investigation suggested that the CCPP process has lower fluctuation in terms of cycle product (power generation).

Scenario-based planning for reduction of emitted CO2 from the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ) of Iran.

The Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ) is one of the largest gas reserves in the world. To reduce the CO2 emission from the area in line with the international climate commitments, two groups of scenario have been developed: the first is using the ecosystem services of mangrove forests, and the second is technology development for oil and gas industries. For the first scenario, the carbon sequestrated by the trees was calculated using the allometric equation, and the carbon of sediments was determined by using the Walkley-Black method. For the second scenario, CO2 emitted from the PSEEZ was calculated by using the Iranian Petroleum Ministry Guidelines. CO2 emission from the PSEEZ was 0.030 Gt year-1. The maximum CO2 sequestered by mangrove scenarios was 0.12% of the PSEEZ emissions, while the flaring elimination technology reduces 36% of the PSEEZ emissions. Generally, the scenario of using oil and gas industry technologies is more effective.

Petrochemical waste characterization and management at Pars Special Economic Energy Zone in the south of Iran.

Industrial waste management generated by different petrochemical complexes at Pars Special Economic Energy Zone, located in the south of Iran, was investigated. All 10 active petrochemical complexes were visited and generated wastes were identified by a checklist. Petrochemical plants were classified regarding feeds, process, and products and nine representative wastes were sampled. Physicochemical characteristics were analyzed and appropriate management approaches were proposed according to the literature review and the results of waste characterization. The generated wastes were classified as hazardous and non-hazardous according to the Basel Convention and Environmental Protection Agency lists of waste classification. Also, the concentrations of organic compounds and heavy metals were measured to classify wastes characteristically. Comparing concentrations of the most important heavy metals in sampled wastes illustrated that sandblast with Cu concentration of 4295 mg kg-1, spent activated carbon with Hg concentration of 127 mg kg-1, and spent catalyst with 25% Ni content can be categorized as hazardous wastes, due to the exceeding Total Threshold Limit Concentration levels. Based on laboratory results, all industrial waste generated in the petrochemical complexes were categorized into three groups, namely Organic Waste with High Calorific Value, Non-organic Recyclable Waste, and Non-organic Non-recyclable Waste. Finally, management approaches, including material recycling, energy recovery (through incineration), and landfilling, were proposed and a conceptual model was suggested in order to show different routes and final destination for each kind of waste generated in all similar petrochemical complexes.

An approach to evaluating sustainable supply chain risk management based on BWM and linguistic value soft set theory

Companies are attaching more and more importance to sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) as which makes the right strategy measures for companies. Due to the complexity of external environmental factors and internal structure, sustainable supply chain management is vulnerable to various risks. The purpose of this paper is to present a new two-stage approach for determining the best practitioner in Iran Pars Special Economic Energy Zone based on the sustainable supply chain risk management (SSCRM). The best and worst method (BWM) is used to determine the weight of risk factors. Then the method of linguistic value soft set is used to assess the impact of risk factors on each company’s sustainable supply chain which is a multiple attribute decision making problem with language preference in the second stage. Consequently, the ranking results of sustainable supply chain of each enterprise are obtained. This study contributes to finding the key risk factors of SSCRM. Evaluating these companies SSCRM with preference information, the best practitioner can obtain. The combination of BWM and linguistic value soft set approach provides a new nonparametric theoretical method and tool for this kind of decision-making problems with this background. At the same time, the conclusions of this study have guiding significance for the implementation of industrial supply chain. Limitations of the study along with future research directions are also presented.

Assessing the changes of mangrove ecosystem services value in the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone

The Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ) is the largest global special economic zone in the field of oil, gas, and petrochemical industry. The Nayband national marine park is located in the PSEEZ and mangrove forests are spread throughout the estuaries (Bidkhun or Asaloyeh, Basatin and Haleh) of the park. Despite important goods and ecosystem services of mangroves and their high economic value, mangroves within the PSEEZ are threatened by activities of the oil industry. Thus, it is necessary to monitor and assess the mangroves and their ecosystem services. In this context, remote sensing technologies provide effective tools for spatio-temporal analysis of mangrove distribution. In this study, Landsat-5, 7, 8 images were used from 1986 to 2018. Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Sen's slope was employed for monitoring mangrove cover changes and estimating Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) trends. In assessing the economic value of the ecosystem services of the Mangrove forests, the mangrove distribution changes and global values of mangrove ecosystem services were integrated. The results revealed that the coverage of mangroves had increased to about nearly 204.93 ha in area from 1986 to 2003, followed by a drop to 169.29 ha in 2018. The economic value of mangrove forests of the PSEEZ in 1986, 1998, 2003, 2015 and 2018 was estimated to be about 3.3, 3.8, 6.7, 6.5 and 5.5 million US dollars per year, respectively. Based on Sen's slope, the NDVI trend in Basatin estuary decreased at a rate of −0.001, but showed significant increases of about 0.008 and 0.006 for the Bidkhun and the Haleh estuaries, respectively. Despite the suitable distribution and an economic value of $1.9 million in 1986, conditions of the Basatin estuary seem to have diminished from 1986 to 2018 (economic value of $0.71 million in 2018). The Bidkhun estuary, which showed a positive trend in distribution changes, has also been downgrading since 2015 to about 30.43 ha in size, and an economic value of $1 million. Since 1998, the mangroves of Haleh estuary have been improving distribution-wise, with further elevations in economic value ($ 0.26 million in 2018).

The physical activity level and aerobic capacity estimation (VO2max) among the administrative staff of the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (Assaluyeh, Iran) with different BMIs.

Background The purpose of this study was to examine the level of physical activity (PA) and maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) among office workers of the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone in Iran with different body mass indexes (BMIs). Materials and methods This research was descriptive, and a correlation of variables was applied as its execution method. Administrative staff of two centers were randomly selected from 20 to 30 administrative centers of the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone, Assaluyeh, Iran, and included 294 male employees who were willing to participate in this research and who met the inclusion criteria (being in the age range of 20-60 years, lacking specific diseases, and who had enough physical fitness to do PA) who were purposefully selected. Results The age-adjusted means for the PA score (7.93 ± 1.12) and VO2max (48.66 ± 6.95) mL/min/kg were calculated. After adjusting for other variables, significant difference was found between BMI and age (β = 0.20; p = 0.005), BMI and VO2max (β = 0.302; p = 0.001), as well as BMI and the total PA score (β = -0.304; p = 0.045). Conclusions The results of this study showed low levels of PA (work, exercise and leisure) and respiratory capacity in the administrative staff of the oil and gas industry, which is associated with overweight and obesity.

Risk assessment of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) in the hydrocarbon sludge extracted from the south pars gas field in Iran

Natural radionuclides are always present in soil, water, and in particular in materials extracted from the depths of the earth. The accumulation of natural radionuclides and the increase in their radioactivity to excessive levels will lead to health hazards and environmental damages. Therefore, carrying out studies, evaluations and risk assessments in industries with the possibility of excessive accumulation of these materials in their various processes is inevitable to protect occupational health of employees and stakeholders and prevent the pollution of environmental resources including soil, water and air. Oil and gas fields are among the most prepared areas in this regard. Iran is one of the largest owners and producers of huge oil and gas resources in the world. The great concentration of hydrocarbon reservoir extraction and production facilities in some parts of the country, and the presence of a large number of oil & gas organizations employees in these areas, necessitate such studies. For this reason, one of the South Pars gas field refineries located in Pars special economic energy zone, Assaluyeh, Iran, was selected to investigate the concentration of radioactivity of hydrocarbon sludge and soil and the related hazards indices (potential hazards). The obtained results showed that the concentrated sludge in the condensate pre-flash drum of the condensate stabilization unit and some of heat exchangers had higher than normal radioactivity levels. Furthermore, health and environmental risks were assessed and the results indicate that there are high risks in some activities and environmental aspects that it is necessary to consider controls to reduce them to acceptable levels.

Source, spatial distribution, and toxicity potential of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in sediments from Iran's environmentally hot zones, the Persian Gulf

Surface sediments, sampled from Iranian coast of the Persian Gulf (n = 134), were analyzed in order to track spatial distribution of PAHs and their related eco-hazards. The levels of PAHs were in the range of 1.98–814 ng g−1 dw and the region was lowly to moderately polluted. The profile of PAHs was mainly composed of 2,3-ring chemicals and suggested a local source of PAHs and relatively fresh inputs. Statistical analysis and molecular fingerprints proposed that the basin receives PAHs from multiple origins including petrogenic and pyrogenic (traffic and auto emission) ones. Spatial distribution of organic matter and fine fraction of the sediments had a horizontally increasing trend in the studied basin. ∑16PAHs showed significant positive correlation with TOC and fine fraction (p < 0.05) and the spatial deposition of ∑16PAHs followed the spatial trends of TOC and fine fraction. Spatial mapping techniques confirmed that Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ) is the hot zone of PAH pollution. A combination of source availability, finer sediments, and great organic matter levels were the main effective factors that highlighted the deposition of PAHs in the PSEEZ. The Nayband Bay, as the Iran’s first national marine Park, possibly received PAHs from its adjacent zone, the PSEEZ. On the other hand, low organic matter and sandy nature of the Nayband Bay was not suitable for effective sequestration of PAHs. Thus, the biota of Nayband Park was encountering with relatively severe multiple eco-hazards due to both ecological and economic factors.

Prevalence of obesity and overweight among office workers of pars special economic energy zone, Assaluyeh, Iran

Objective: The obesity-related costs imposed on the society are astounding. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among office workers of Pars Special Economic Energy Zone in Assaluyeh, Iran. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 294 office workers. We applied a questionnaire to collect demographic factors, Beck's questionnaire was also administered to measure physical activity, and finally, the FFQ questionnaire was applied to determine the calorie intake of participants. Then, some anthropometric indices of BMI, WHR, WC, and BFP were measured and evaluated. Results: The overall prevalence of obesity and overweight among the studied office workers was 79.6% (26.2% obese and 53.4% overweight). Low percentage of employees had normal weight with waist circumference (WC) of 20.7% and waist-tohip ratio (WHR) of 20.4%. After adjusting for other variables, age (OR=31.82, 95% CI 1.046 – 968.26, p<0.047), marriage status (OR=0.020, 95 % CI 0.001–0.752, p<0.035), calorie consumption (OR=1.023, 95% CI 1.012–1.033, p=0.001), and physically activity (OR=0.245, 95% CI 0.074–0.810, p=0.021) were significantly associated with obesity and overweight. Conclusion: Although the study did not include the whole staffs, obesity and overweight were very prevalent among office workers of Pars Special Economic Energy Zone. So, a detailed and comprehensive plan is needed to identify the related causes of such diseases and educate individuals to change their lifestyles. We recommend individuals to have a proper diet and to do regular physical activity as effective solutions to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity.

Spatial distribution and vertical profile of heavy metals in marine sediments around Iran's special economic energy zone; Arsenic as an enriched contaminant

Surface sediments (n = 35) and a core sample around Pars Special Economic Energy Zone were analyzed to address spatiotemporal variations of heavy metals. Enrichment factors classified the elements as: (1) poorly enriched, geogenic elements (Co, Cr, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Ti, and V), (2) minimal enriched elements (Zn and Mg), (3) moderately enriched elements (Ag, Cd, Pb, Se, and Sr), and (4) significantly enriched element (As and Hg). The core profile showed that As, Hg, Ag, and Cd had considerable anthropogenic inventories. Arsenic levels were continuously increasing toward the top of the core and sedimentary cycling was not an effective factor on its enrichment. Pollution load index classified the area as a severely affected region and Risk Index values suggested that 57% of the sediments had a moderate potential risks. The mapping techniques proposed a polluted and hazardous patch at the entrance and center part of the Nayband Bay.

Assessment of the toxicity, origin, biodegradation and weathering extent of petroleum hydrocarbons in surface sediments of Pars Special Economic Energy Zone, Persian Gulf

During the last years, the oil and gas explorations, extractions and refineries have led to severe ecological damages into the sensitive environment of the Persian Gulf. In this study, the level of oil contamination, the source of hydrocarbons and the degree of weathering or degradation extent were investigated in the Surface Sediments of Pars Special Zone, Persian Gulf. Fifteen sediment samples were collected. The Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry used to analyze Aliphatic Hydrocarbons (AHC) and EPA's sixteen compounds of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). The total concentration of Aliphatic Hydrocarbons found to be in the range of 693 to 3752 μg/g and the 16 EPA PAHs compounds varied between 46.6 and 84.7 ng/g dry weight in the region. The concentration of hydrocarbons found to be lower than the level of threshold effects. The source of compounds was also identified by developing the multiple indices.

Ecological Landscape Planning and Design Strategies for Mangrove Communities (Hara Forests) in South-Pars Special Economic Energy Zone, Asalouyeh- Iran

&lt;p class="1Body"&gt;Along with the strategic role of Asalouyeh region as an industrial zone in recent decades, there have been some growing problems regarding the ecosystems of the region due to the heavy activities such as petrochemical, industrial, transportation and related development in the area. The major region of Mangrove communities in the Persian Gulf that contains some unique ecotones has established a dynamic sustainable ecosystem integrating the relationship between sea and plateau ecosystems. It is also considered as a rich habitat for the creatures in flood and Ebb conditions. Therefore, taking in to account the increasing process of ecological destruction in the existing specific protected regions- especially the Mangrove communities, it is essential to study the structural relationships between landscape elements and patches in order to balance the ecological, social relationships as well as the environmental remediation based on the preservation of ecological structures. This study tries to examine the ecological role of Mangrove communities and their habitat to introduce the threatening factors in the "South Pars Special Economic Energy Zone" and then it suggests some strategies for ecological planning and design for protecting Mangrove communities in the area i.e. storm water management, protection and development of degraded habitats and phytoremediation, to create a framework for eco-tourism and Sustainable Development in the region.&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Investigation and recovery of purge gas streams to enhance synthesis gas production in a mega methanol complex

Nowadays, methanol has gained great importance as an alternative fuel and a product which can be considered as a CO2 utilization in novel processes; nevertheless, there is no adequate work on purge gas streams in current conventional methanol complexes. This study aims to specify main waste gasses in one of the biggest methanol plants in the world, located in the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone of Iran. The calculations in this work show that every hour, 50106Sm3 purge gas including unreacted gas (60% hydrogen, 17% CO and CO2, and 23% N2 and CH4) is burnt in the complex. A new process design has been proposed to recovery of available purge gasses in that methanol plant. The Auto-Thermal Reformer (ATR) of the complex has been modeled in detail and various cases were considered to analyze the effects of this new strategy. The results indicate noteworthy improvements in both quality and quantity of the produced synthesis gas by injecting the recoverable stream into the ATR. In this way, emission of 26.7 ton carbon dioxide per hour to the atmosphere is prevented and it converted to valuable methanol. This process can bring annual profit ranging from 20 to 40 million US dollars per year with the Rate of Return (ROR) between 29 and 56%.