Monitoring the pollutants in a Romanian company producing chemical fertilizers.
Forgaciu, Flavia ; Oroian, Maria ; Opelsz, Helen 等
1. INTRODUCTION
Nowadays, every act of our industrial society leads to
environmental degradation, regardless of intention. Discharges from
human activities must be released into the air, the water or the soil.
Each of these potential reservoirs can accept a limited amount of
physical, chemical or biological substances without significant
deterioration. Beyond this point of assimilation, the environment can be
deteriorated to the point that sustainable biological growth cannot
occur (Campeanu, 2004). The quality of the environment is of a great
importance for all countries, especially for the developing countries,
where the losses of economic production (part of the GNP) and
expenditures for the environment preservation are more strongly felt
(Caracota & Caracota, 2004).
Pollution is defined as the deterioration of the existing state.
The physical effect of pollution can be biological (e.g. species change,
ill-health), chemical (e.g. the effect of acid rain on lands and
buildings surfaces) or auditory (noise). The pollution is a concrete
phenomenon, sustainable and largely measurable. From this perspective,
literature reveals a complex of pollutant factors, of causes and
effects, in the fields of life and the spheres of economic activity.
Moreover, pollution arising from one country can cause damage in another
country. The effects of environmental pollutants are related to time as
well as concentration or intensity. Time factors become increasingly
important when low concentrations of pollutants do not produce bad
effects until after months or years of exposure (Alley, 2006).
Romania still has an exceptional natural capital as compared to
other EU countries, but the pressures to which it is exposed are
enormous. Chaotic economic development and irrational exploitation of
natural resources lead to a rapid increase of pressure on ecosystems.
National policy of environmental protection against pollutants mainly
consists in the following: introduction of appropriate technologies and
techniques for the pollution detection at source, air resource
management, reducing pollutant emissions by achieving the lowest levels
and not exceeding the improvement of national integrated monitoring
system of air, earth and water quality. Communities must consider these
needs not only on short term, but on long term as well (Rojanschi et
al., 2002).
After studying various publications related to the recent policies
and strategies of sustainable development in Romania, we could find that
in recent years, companies have given a great importance to the
monitoring of environmental pollutants. The quantities and the degree of
hazard pollutant emissions depend on industry level, on the state of
used technologies and their performance (Gradinaru, 2001).
The purpose of this paper is to review the main water and air
chemical pollutants of X Company specialized in chemical fertilizers
production, in order to recognize the opportunities for eliminating,
minimizing, reusing or treating these pollutants so that their negative
effect on the environment will be minimized. The analytical methods
applied are suitable and they offer reliable data. The study highlights
the possibilities of reducing pollutants by the implementation of new
technological processes and by new ways of collecting, treating and
storing the wastewater which cannot be avoided or valorized.
2. MONITORING AIR AND WATER CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS IN A ROMANIAN X
COMPANY PRODUCING CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS
X Company from Mures County, Romania, is a joint stock company
founded in 1962. At present, it is the only chemical factory specialized
in chemical fertilizers production in Romania, and the only producer of
photo sensible materials in the country. The company has its
headquarters and chemical platform located in the western extremity of
the industrial area of Targu-Mures city at a distance of (5) km from
downtown. The company totally owns and uses an area of land equal to 147
h. The company has main technological facilities and auxiliary
installations, which provide the utilities needed, such as: the
reception, storage, packaging and shipping of raw materials and finished
products.
X Company is responsible for the emission of various substances,
with different noxious effects on humans and the environment. It
discharges into the atmosphere compounds based on nitrogen, ammonia,
chlorine and sulphur. The polluting substances in the air are gaseous or
solid, being dangerous for humans, animals and plants. The air disperses
the pollutants. This dispersion further dilutes the pollutants to a
downwind location. Because of this dispersion proclivity, air pollution
can be international in scope. Generally, X Company is in accordance
with the regulations imposed by NTPA-001/2002 regarding emissions into
the air of most agents, but exceeds the limits permitted for ammonium,
nitrogen dioxide and sulphur oxides. The last two oxides are responsible
for the so called "acid rains" which affect land-based flora
and fauna, reducing local biodiversity. Buildings suffer corrosion from
acidic deposits, causing extra maintenance to be carried out. S[O.sub.x]
and N[O.sub.x] are also implicated in the acceleration of certain
diseases, especially respiratory diseases.
Figure (1) shows the main pollutant emissions in the atmosphere and
their concentrations over the last (3) years, when a severe and more
careful monitoring of the environmental agencies started.
[FIGURE 1 OMITTED]
As you can see, in 2007, the percentage of substances overcoming
the amount allowed for daily average concentration (normally of 1%) was:
for ammonium 6.42%, for the nitrogen oxides 6,09% and for oxides of
sulphur 3.42%, thus obtaining the highest values as compared to the
previous years. To remedy this problem, the company plans a series of
investment and modernization works that will be performed over the years
to come.
Chemical pollution of water is represented by water penetration of
various chemicals, from organics, easily degradable to those with long
and persistent toxicity, having as consequence the destruction of the
aquatic flora and fauna. Chemical pollution of water may accidentally
occur, but most often it occurs due to uncontrolled discharges of
various liquid or solid waste residues. Water also acts as a disperser
of pollutants, but it is easier to model and predict than air since it
flows in a defined channel with a predictable velocity. Water pollution
can be of regional interest because of this dispersion. Normally, the
municipality will restrict industrial water pollutants.
Industrial production of X Company requires the use and disposal of
water. The contact with a process or product can add pollutants to the
water. The resulting water is then classified as wastewater. It will
either be discharged directly into a receiving artificial lake or into
the sewerage system of the municipality, or it will be reused or
recycled. In case of X Company, the year with the highest degree of
water pollution was 2006, when the factory was close to the limit
between the areas with severe risk and medium risk, a situation
generated by the real conditions of that year. The main indicators of
impurification which produce significant water pollution of the local
river are: ammonia (N[H.sub.3], N[H.sub.4.sup.+]), nitrates and
nitrites. These pollutants get into the local river by a direct
discharge of wastewater from the factory, or from water collected in an
artificial lake. Ammonia, at certain concentrations (over (1,0) mg/l) is
toxic for fish and wildlife. In (2) (0) (0) (6), the concentration of
ammonium registred a peak of (1) . (7) mg/l. The highest value was
registred in the case of nitrate ions, with a concentration of over 9,99
mg/l, when the normal was of only 2,5 mg/l. The X Company of chemical
fertilizers caused an increase in the concentration of pollutants in the
local river by 2% to 4%.
In figure (2) the main pollutants discharged into the local river
and their concentration are presented.
To reduce the quantities of pollutants, especially ammonium and
nitrate ions in wastewater, in 2004, the building of an installation for
treatment of these waters with changing ions began. In addition, to
reduce the level of the artificial evacuation lake of 30 ha, a new
installation for the water evaporation in 2006 was built and put into
operation. In order to reduce the amount of suspension of wastewater
discharged into the local river, a new investment for filtering
wastewater has been started.
[FIGURE 2 OMITTED]
The required transitional period was obtained, so all programs of
each stage, alongside the necessary investments to comply with
environmental rigours, have as deadline the year 2015. Investments made
by the company had as source of funding both their own resources as well
as loans from the local budgets. In the year (2) (0) (0) (5),
investments have amounted to 16,647,000 EUR and in the year 2006 they
reached the value of 19,675,587 EUR. Total estimated overall investment,
including operating costs and maintenance for the period 2006 - 2015 are
of 82,555,000 EUR. Investments made by X Company during 2005-2006 had a
beneficial effect on pollution, but nevertheless the company could not
meet the standards stipulated by the Environmental Protection Agency
regarding the impact of pollutant agents resulting from the production
process of the company.
3. CONCLUSIONS
Environment is now considered a political and economic priority,
both internationally and nationally. In the spirit of the principles of
sustainable development, current Romanian laws compel operators to
review their attitude, breaking the link between economic growth and
environmental deterioration. In case of the X Company, profiled on the
production of chemical fertilizers, exceeds with significant
environmental impact are recorded at two chemical pollutants, measured
in a systematic way, namely ammonium and nitrates ions. These two are
responsible for various effects, affecting both human and local flora
and fauna. X Company understands the necessity to ensure life quality
for future generations and wishes to comply with the laws in force and
environmental standards. To achieve this desideratum, X Company makes
huge financial efforts, ensuring the reduction of waste flows resulting
from production, by improving its processes.
4. REFERENCES
Alley, R. E. (2006). Water Quality Control Handbook, Second
Edition, McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing, ISBN:
0071467602/9780071467605, New York
Caracota, D. & Caracota, C-tin R. (2004). Contemporary
Dimensions of Sustainable and Competitive Development, Economics Press,
ISBN: 973-594-487-1, Bucharest
Campeanu V. (2004). Dimension of European and World Sustainable
Development, Expert Press, ISBN: 973-618-038-7, Bucharest
Gradinaru, I. (2000). Protecting Environment, Economics Press,
ISBN: 973-590-427-6, Bucharest
Rojanschi, V.; Bran F. & Diaconu, Gh. (2002). Engineering and
Environmental Protection, Economics Press, ISBN: 973-590-455-1,
Bucharest
