Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions and Odor Impact in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are not only essential precursors for the formation of ozone and PM<sub>2.5</sub>, but also hazardous to human health and responsible for unpleasant odors. The pharmaceutical industry has become an important industrial source of VOCs due to China’s large...

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Main Authors: Hongchao Zhao, Ying Cheng, Yanling Liu, Xiuyan Wang, Yuyan Wang, Shuai Wang, Taosheng Jin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/11/1338
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author Hongchao Zhao
Ying Cheng
Yanling Liu
Xiuyan Wang
Yuyan Wang
Shuai Wang
Taosheng Jin
author_facet Hongchao Zhao
Ying Cheng
Yanling Liu
Xiuyan Wang
Yuyan Wang
Shuai Wang
Taosheng Jin
author_sort Hongchao Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are not only essential precursors for the formation of ozone and PM<sub>2.5</sub>, but also hazardous to human health and responsible for unpleasant odors. The pharmaceutical industry has become an important industrial source of VOCs due to China’s large emissions and complex emission chains. In total, 245 VOCs samples were collected and analyzed from 11 typical pharmaceutical companies in Zibo City of the North China Plain, in order to investigate the VOCs emission characteristics and odor impacts. The emission factor for the pharmaceutical industry was 7.97 ± 8.21 g/kg pharmaceuticals, while the main emission links were chimney emissions, equipment sealing leakage, and so on. Finally, considering both purifying efficiency and economic benefits, the multistage absorption (AB) method is most effective for VOCs concentrations below 100 mg/m<sup>3</sup>, while UV photo-oxygenation combined with adsorption (UVA) is more suitable for concentrations below 300 mg/m<sup>3</sup>. The Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO), Catalytic Oxidizer (CO), and Condensation + Adsorption (CA) technologies demonstrated greater stability and efficiency, particularly in the treatment of complex organic pollutants, highlighting their advantages in both VOCs and odor removal at higher concentrations.
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series Atmosphere
spelling doaj-art-819986dec6564ba1aa962e5fbf8e8b3b2024-11-26T17:50:26ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332024-11-011511133810.3390/atmos15111338Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions and Odor Impact in the Pharmaceutical IndustryHongchao Zhao0Ying Cheng1Yanling Liu2Xiuyan Wang3Yuyan Wang4Shuai Wang5Taosheng Jin6College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, ChinaCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, ChinaDepartment of Information Management, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, ChinaCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, ChinaCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, ChinaCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, ChinaVolatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are not only essential precursors for the formation of ozone and PM<sub>2.5</sub>, but also hazardous to human health and responsible for unpleasant odors. The pharmaceutical industry has become an important industrial source of VOCs due to China’s large emissions and complex emission chains. In total, 245 VOCs samples were collected and analyzed from 11 typical pharmaceutical companies in Zibo City of the North China Plain, in order to investigate the VOCs emission characteristics and odor impacts. The emission factor for the pharmaceutical industry was 7.97 ± 8.21 g/kg pharmaceuticals, while the main emission links were chimney emissions, equipment sealing leakage, and so on. Finally, considering both purifying efficiency and economic benefits, the multistage absorption (AB) method is most effective for VOCs concentrations below 100 mg/m<sup>3</sup>, while UV photo-oxygenation combined with adsorption (UVA) is more suitable for concentrations below 300 mg/m<sup>3</sup>. The Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO), Catalytic Oxidizer (CO), and Condensation + Adsorption (CA) technologies demonstrated greater stability and efficiency, particularly in the treatment of complex organic pollutants, highlighting their advantages in both VOCs and odor removal at higher concentrations.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/11/1338pharmaceutical industryVOCsodor pollutionemission inventorypurifying efficiency
spellingShingle Hongchao Zhao
Ying Cheng
Yanling Liu
Xiuyan Wang
Yuyan Wang
Shuai Wang
Taosheng Jin
Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions and Odor Impact in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Atmosphere
pharmaceutical industry
VOCs
odor pollution
emission inventory
purifying efficiency
title Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions and Odor Impact in the Pharmaceutical Industry
title_full Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions and Odor Impact in the Pharmaceutical Industry
title_fullStr Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions and Odor Impact in the Pharmaceutical Industry
title_full_unstemmed Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions and Odor Impact in the Pharmaceutical Industry
title_short Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions and Odor Impact in the Pharmaceutical Industry
title_sort characteristics of volatile organic compounds emissions and odor impact in the pharmaceutical industry
topic pharmaceutical industry
VOCs
odor pollution
emission inventory
purifying efficiency
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/11/1338
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