Analytical techniques

ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES TO FULFILL AIR POLLUTION MONITORING REQUIREMENTS ABB Analytical, 3 Eglin Road, Sunninghill, 2157, South Africa atmospheric pollution, monitoring, control, analytical measurements, NDIR, FID, FTIR A question often raised by plants facing new air pollution monitoring requirements is whether there are proven technologies for measuring the wide range of pollutants they are being asked to monitor and report. The only defensible answer to this question is a very strong yes. While environmental monitoring up to this time has been largely limited to a few targeted gases like SO , process engineers have for years been accurately measuring the same wide range of gases environmental managers are now being asked to monitor. The combinations of rapidly advancing technology and a need for greater automated process control have combined to allow process engineers of today to accurately monitor essentially any process variable or gas needed. This paper defines the wide range of monitoring technologies readily available. The reliability and accuracy of these systems/technologies are supported in actual field examples. This paper provides the material necessary to insure that plant environmental managers fully appreciate the well-documented capability of modern day instrumentation to provide whatever data is required by the plants permit. More specifically, this paper provides the plant environmental professional with a practical path forward for selecting and installing the most cost effective air pollution monitoring technology commensurate with the specific stake, liability and preferences of his or her site. The Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act The Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act (45) of 1965, as amended, is the primary mechanism in South Africa for the management and control of air pollution. This legislation provides for the following: Control of noxious and offensive processes , commonly known as Scheduled Processes, of which there are 162 listed in schedule 2 of the Act. These processes are