Evaluation of volatile organic compound control effectiveness at bulk gasoline terminals

Abstract

Studies on the evaluation of volatile organic compounds control effectiveness at Bulk Gasoline Terminals i.e. the Shell of Thailand and the Fuel Pipeline Transportation (FPT). The samples were daily collected at both inlet (uncontrolled) and outlet (controlled) of Vapour Recovery Unit (VRU), during 1-8, 12-16 of December 2002 and 21-27 of January 2003. All the samples were analysed for total VOCs and major HAPs benzene (B), toluene (T), ethyl benzene (EZ), xylene (X) and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) by Gas chromatograph with Flame lonization Detector (GC/FID) at the optimum conditions. The VOCs and HAPs removal efficiencies of two Bulk Gasoline Terminals were almost the same which an average efficiency of 99.97% and 99.01% respectively. From this studies also shown that the VRU could removed the HAPs varies from 97% to 100%. The order of HAPs control efficiency were ethylbenzene > MTBE > o-xylene > benzene > toluene > m-xylene, 100%, 99.82%, 99.69%, 98.75% 98.21% and 97.93%, respectively. The results showed that the average VOCs emitted at both Bulk Gasoline Terminals, 0.24mg/l and 0.11 mg/l respectively, were under the compliance limit of notice of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment From the economic estmation was based on the net annual revenue through 20 years of VRU at FPT and Shell were -28.87 Million Baht and -63.65 Million Baht, respectively (since only 20% capacity of VRU were used). The average cost of 1 kilogram VOCs removed of FPT and Shell was 35.711 Baht and 22.657 Baht, respectively. However, the other benefits getting from emissions controlled at gasoline terminal that could not value in monetary were not included. Those are health benefit of reducing occurrence of sickness of operators who work at site and reducing level of air pollution, especially for ozone accumulation.