Investigation of Particulate Emission from a Cement Manufacturing Plant Into its Community Air Shed
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Date
2015
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Obafemi Awolowo University
Abstract
This study measured particulate deposition rates in Ewekoro cement manufacturing host community and determined the elemental composition of the measured particulates. It also determined the contribution of the cement plants to the measured particulates and recommended appropriate technology for the control of the particulates around the cement manufacturing plants.
The particulate deposition rates were measured by placing two deposition gauges of 10.5 cm diameter by 10 cm height at elevations ranging between 5 m to 10 m above ground level. These gauges were positioned at specified locations in the 10 towns/villages of radius 5 km around the plant for a sampling period of 30 days. After the first sampling period, the gauges were harvested and the process repeated for another 30 days. The particulate content of the harvested gauges were accurately weighed and the average weight of the measured particulates in each town/village was calculated. The deposition rates (flux) in g/m2 month for the respective towns/villages were also calculated. The measured particulates from the towns/villages were subjected to elemental analysis using X-Ray Fluorescence spectroscopy (X-RF). With the use of elemental ratio, the cement plants’ contributions to the measured particulates were determined and the results obtained were compared with existing data in the literature while the appropriate technology for the control of particulates around the cement plants was determined. Data obtained in the study were analysed using appropriate inferential and descriptive statistics.
In the upwind direction, the least value of dust loading of 9.828 – 13.454, 11.641 and 1.812 g/m2 month as the range, mean and standard deviation of the particulate deposition rates, respectively, was recorded in Agbesi, 4 km away from the plant; and the highest value of dust loading of 10.8785 – 30.223, 19.3786 and 8.069356 g/m2 month as the range, mean and standard deviation, respectively was recorded at Papalanto, 3.5 km away from the plant. Ewekoro which is at zero distance away from the cement manufacturing plant had 83.907 – 139.427, 107.583 and 23.3762 g/m2 month as the range, mean and standard deviation of the deposition rates, respectively. Downwind, Jaguna, 2.5 km away from the plants recorded the least dust loading of 5.5664 – 6.1554, 5.8609 and 0.29450 g/m2 month as the range, mean and standard deviation of particulate deposition rates, respectively; while Itori 1 km away from the plants recorded the highest value of 13.316 – 22.197, 17.7570 and 3.026343 g/m2 month as the range, mean and standard deviation of particulate deposition rates, respectively. Akinbo, Papalanto, and Agbesi recorded Ca/Fe ratio of 3.642, 1.323 and 0.399 respectively; and 14.7, 7.4 and 2.2 as the corresponding percentage contribution of cement to the dust loading respectively. Also, Ewekoro, Olapeleke, Itori, Jaguna, Agbon and Eruku had Ca/Fe ratio of 17.94, 3.179, 2.317, 2.011, 0.92, and 1.64, respectively; and 100, 17.7, 12.9, 11.2, 5.1 and 9.1 as corresponding percentage contribution of cement to the dust loading respectively.
Both the high values of dust loading (higher than USEPA standard of 3.9 g/m2 month) and Ca/Fe ratio recorded in the towns/villages in the host community of the cement manufacturing plant, which decrease with increasing distance away from the plant in both upwind and downwind direction, support the claim that cement dust is the major source of atmospheric pollution in that community. It is therefore recommended that all the possible malfunctioning dust control equipment like baghouses, multiple cyclones and electrostatic precipitator should be replaced with new ones while routine cleaning of baghouses should strictly be adhered to. Finally, Environmental Audit should be carried out on the plant in order to ensure adherence to the international standard for particulate emission from cement plant into its residential neighborhood.
Description
xv,118 Pages
Keywords
Particulate Emission, Cement Manufacturing Plant, Community, Air shed, Ewekoro
Citation
Usman Yekini(2015)Investigation of particulate emission from a cement manufacturing plant into community air shed.Obafemi Awolowo University.