Sampling and analysis of volatile organic pollutants emitted by an industrial stack

The sampling of volatile organic compounds emitted by a process industry has been optimised and applied in realistic conditions. Two different fractions were obtained from the emission, one liquid from the condensation of the water vapour which contains the most polar compounds and another fraction of gas, which was trapped on an active carbon filter. Both fractions have been analysed by solid phase microextraction (SPME) with a polyacrylate fibre and then GC-MS. Once the composition of the industrial emission was known, two different systems have been studied for reducing the air pollution. The first one involves a washing system with water and the second one combines the washing system with a chemical oxidation using NaClO-NaOH. A pilot plant has been installed connected to the industrial chimney for the study. Reduction factors of air pollution of 70 and 90%, respectively, have been found. The analytical results as well as the technological ones are shown and discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.