Ranking of hazardous organic pollutants using emission, reactivity and health criteria in the South Pars Zone

Hydrocarbon processing industries are considered as potential sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) due to their specific nature. These compounds can directly or indirectly through producing secondary pollutants have adverse effects on the health of individuals. Therefore, identification of them is an important step in the formulation of control programs. This study aimed to identify the type and amount of the most important volatile organic compounds in the South Pars region. In this study, industrial processes located in the region were investigated and information was gathered for estimation of VOCs emissions. The emission was estimated over a one-year period and was ranked according to three criteria including emission, health hazards and ozone production potential. The results showed that the greatest emission was due to equipment leakage and storage tanks (64%), cooling towers (21%) and flaring (11%). The 171 VOCs were determined in Plum of these processes and propylene had the greatest contribution (21%). The alkenes had the highest share in total mass (41%) and ozone production (78%). By weighting the list based on the three criteria mentioned above, formaldehyde is the most important emitted VOC and the main sources of it were olefins and aromatic units. This method can be a useful tool for identifying effective organic compounds in such areas. Here, the optimum control strategy is mitigating of emission of formaldehyde from the aromatic and olefins processes. The next priority is to control propylene, ethylene and butylene emission sources.