Computacional study of the atmospheric emissions and dispersions from Kraft pulp production: air pollution assessment

ABSTRACT:

The Kraft pulp production is associated with the emission of harmful air pollutants that cause impacts in the environment, property and human health. This study aimed to quantify the concentration of air pollutants in a radius of 10 km around a large emission source, to compare simulated concentrations according to the national standards and the specific limits with some health effect, as well as to evaluate the behaviour of pollutants by analysis of dispersion maps. The pollutant concentrations were estimated by the use of Aermod atmospheric dipersion model for the year 2012. Peak concentrations estimated by the model were: 11.62 µg.m^-3 (24 h) and 2.06 µg.m^-3 (1 year) for respirable particulate matter; 2.59 µg.m^-3 (1 h) and 0.27 µg.m³ (24 h) for reduced sulfur compounds; 0.47 µg.m^-3 (24 h) and 0.09 µg.m^-3 (1 year) for sulfur oxides; 189.36 µg.m^-3 (1 h) and 5.83 µg.m^-3 (1 year) for nitrogen oxide; 13.26 µg.m^-3 (8 h) and 5.63 µg.m^-3 (24 h) for carbon monoxide. There was no violation in the amounts established by the CONAMA Resolution n° 003/1990, United State Environmental Protection Agency (1979) and the values which can cause some health effect.

Keywords:
industrial emissions; Kraft process; modeling atmospheric dispersion; Aermod