Comprehensive Evaluation of Odor-Causing VOCs from the Painting Process of the Automobile Manufacturing Industry and Its Sustainable Management

Abstract

Automotive manufacturing is one of the potential sources of air pollution particularly involving volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This study intensively evaluated VOC emissions and their dispersion from the industry. The measured VOCs were speciated for further evaluation of their odor threats according to the characteristics of each compound. Mathematical emission and air dispersion models were applied to assist in elaborating the source–receptor relationship allowing the determining of existing business-as-usual conditions with proposed mitigation measures to manage the pollution of the factory studied in this paper. Seven VOC species potentially caused odor problems to the surrounding community, including 1-butanol, ethyl benzene, toluene, m,p xylene, o xylene, methyl ethyl ketone, and methyl isobutyl ketone. The results from the AERMOD dispersion model revealed that the smell from these chemicals could reach up to about 800 m from the source. Analysis of mitigation measures indicated that two interesting scenarios should be considered according to their effectiveness. The concentrations of VOCs can decrease by up to 4.7, 14.0 and 24.9% from increasing the physical stack height by +1, +3 and +5 m from its existing height, respectively. Modification of the aeration tank of the wastewater treatment unit to a closed system also helped to reduce about 27.8% of emissions resulting in about a 27.6% decreased ambient air concentration. This study provided useful information on the characteristics of VOCs emitted by the automobile manufacturing industry. It also demonstrated the relevant procedures and highlights the necessity to comprehensively analyze the source–receptor relationship to evaluate the most appropriate measures in managing industrial air pollution.

Integrated Sustainable Management of Petrochemical Industrial Air Pollution

“…The simulation results can help policymakers to identify the areas of maximum concentration [61]. For example, Kultan et al (2022) utilized the AERMOD model to predict the odor of industrial VOCs from automobile manufacturing. The key contributor to the smell and appropriate measures in managing industrial air pollution were identified [62].…”

“…These emissions could be reduced by enclosing the sump in a closed system. Based on previous research, covering the basin dramatically decreased VOC concentrations [62,76,77]. On the other hand, storage tanks also comprised a large proportion of the contributors to BTX concentration; therefore, reducing the ambient concentration should be considered.…”

VOC Emissions from a Rendering Plant and Evaluation for Removal of Pentanal by Oxidization Using Hydrogen Peroxide

“…Notably, the odor thresholds of pentanal and hexanal are as low as 0.41 and 0.28 ppb, respectively. The odor of pentanal is characterized by a strongly pungent and ethereal smell, which is particularly unbearable (Nagata, 2003;Kultan et al, 2022).…”

UV-curable polyurethane-acrylate hybrids made by a prepolymer-free process and free-standing polymer–metal oxide films made in a wholly water-based UV curing process

“…With growing concerns about emissions from solvents and residual volatiles from coatings 37–39 and the fact that UV curing is gaining prominence in additive manufacturing, 40–42 the process reported here holds much promise across a wide range of applications. The polymer–metal oxide hybrid films prepared here can be extended to prepare corrosion-resistant coated substrates, hybrid membranes and functional films using other metal oxides.…”