Environmental Impact Analysis of the Emission from Petroleum Refineries in Nigeria

Health and environmental hazards, a thing of global concern have been the major characteristics of the petroleum refinery areas worldwide, Nigeria inclusive. This is as a result of the emissions from petroleum refineries which resulted into air quality degradation of the host environment. This problem which has equally affected the climatic conditions of the petroleum producing areas is more pronounced in Nigeria due to lack of implementing adequate policies to protect the host environment. This study is carried out to investigate the atmospheric conditions of the petroleum refineries and identify the environmental impact of emissions of criteria pollutants from the proposed project in the area of influence. Emission inventory of criteria pollutants was carried out on the four existing and twenty-three proposed petroleum refineries in Nigeria. Using no control-measure option, the estimated annual criteria air pollutants emissions from point sources in the existing refineries are 1,217 tons/annum for PM10, 45,124 tons/annum for SO2, 167,570 tons/annum for NOx, 3,842 tons/annum for VOC and 242,469 tons/annum for CO. An additional 1,082 tons/annum of PM10, 168,944 tons/annum of SO2, 688,687 tons/annum of NOx, 9,122 tons/annum of VOC and 569,975 tons/annum of CO were predicted to be added into the Nigeria airshed by the proposed petroleum refineries. The highest pollutant emitting state was predicted to be Rivers State with the highest number of refineries while the least pollutant emitting states were predicted to be Kaduna, Edo, Lagos and Anambra States with only one refinery in each of the state. The ability to adopt appropriate control measures will determine the rate of emission of criteria pollutants released into the country’s airshed

Modeling of Criteria Air Pollutant Emissions from Selected Nigeria Petroleum Refineries

The dispersion models were used to estimate or predict the concentration of air pollutants or toxins emitted from sources such as industrial plants, vehicular traffic or accidental chemical releases. In this study, the Industrial Source Complex Short Term (ISCST3) emission dispersion model was used to measure the ground level concentration of criteria air pollutants within 50 km radius of location. This model considered emissions from major point sources of pollutants in four existing and twenty-three proposed Nigeria petroleum refineries. The obtained ground level concentration for 24-hr averaging periods of the criteria air pollutants at sensitive receptor around each of the refineries was compared with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of Nigeria, World Bank and World Health Organization (WHO) to determine their level of compliance. The highest ground level concentration predicted to be 450 - 1875 μg/m3 for 24-h averaging period was obtained at Tonwei Oil Refinery, Ekeremor Local Government, Bayelsa State, while the lowest ground level concentration predicted to be 0.0099 - 0.1 μg/m3 for 24-h averaging period was obtained at Amakpe International Refinery, Eket Local Government, Akwa Ibom State. Percentage set limits of criteria air pollutants ranging from 0.02% to 94.5% are within the set standard limits and no health risk is associated with areas around the plant’s locations while percentage set limits of criteria pollutants ranging from 1.1 to 55.6 folds of the standards exceed the maximum permitted limits, hence affecting areas around the plants. The air quality standards guiding petroleum refinery emissions must be strictly considered, in order to ensure that the ground level concentrations do not exceed the required standard limits and prevent the adverse effects of air pollution in the Nigeria airshed

Investigation of Co and So2 from Acid Clay Treatment of used Lubricating Oil

Recycling and treatment processes is one of the acceptable means to reduce the effect of pollution from used oil. These recycling methods save some amount of time and money and also helps to conserve our natural resources. However, various methods have been used for used oil treatment which has resulted in toxic air emissions. This work monitored the emissions of Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) from used lubricating oil using a combustion analyzer. CO emission was found to be the highest emitted pollutant with MEC of 167.07 mg/m3 due to incomplete combustion. Also, CO concentration at dehydration exceeded the set limits which could cause adeverse effect to receptor locations while SO2 was within the limit. Hence, quantifying the emissions at each stage of this process is needed to control emissions in the sector. The predicted results in this study can help decision makers to formulate policy for controlling the impact of air emissions from used lube oil treatment plants using acid-clay treatment method

A REVIEW ON TREATMENT METHODS OF USED LUBRICATING OIL

Disposing used lubricating oil (ULO) through local means has been found to lead to air, land and water pollution. This pollution lowers the lifespan of inhabitants due to spread of diseases. Treatment of used oil is one of the easiest way to avoid pollution as observed in literatures. Aside preventing pollution, another advantage is majorly turning waste to wealth. In this paper, an indebt review was done on the various methods for treating used lubricating oil. The advantages and shortcomings of each method were highlighted for further study

Gaseous Emission from the Combustion of AGO from the KRPC in Nigeria

Refined petroleum products from Kaduna refinery and petroleum company serves as a source of energy to the nation but gaseous emission from the combustion of these refined products can be harmful to the ecosystem. Gaseous emission from the combustion of AGO of different volumes from Kaduna Refinery was characterized for gaseous air pollutants using the E8500 combustion analyzer. The concentrations for the gaseous emission from the combustion of AGO were 45.84 mg/m3 HC, 16.33 mg/m3 CO, 206.33 mg/m3 NOx for 10 mL. 76.39 mg/m3 HC, 44.33 mg/m3 CO, 689.33 mg/m3 NOx for 20 mL 102.59 mg/m3 HC, 0 mg/m3 CO, 692.67 mg/m3 NOx for 30 ml. 154.97 mg/m3 HC, 0 mg/m3 CO, 1459 mg/m3 NOx for 40 ml. 141.88 mg/m3 HC, 0 mg/m3 CO, 1516.33 mg/m3 NOx, for 50 ml. This study shows that CO and HC exceeded the acceptable limit for stationary sources while NOx and SO2 were below the acceptable limit. Hence, there is a need for rapid response and urgent attention from government and regulatory bodies to put in place policies that will help minimize the effect of these emissions

Ultimate and Elemental Analysis of Some Common Charcoal in Southwestern Nigeria

Common charcoals from different wood species were collected, identified and prepared for analysis. Ultimate and elemental analyses were carried out. In this study, identified charcoal were characterized. The result showed that in the ultimate analysis, Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen are the major content of the charcoal samples and are of great importance for the heating value. Sulphur and Nitrogen content were resent in low in quantity. XRF was used in the elemental analysis and the following elements were detected (Na, Cr, Ni, Cd, Al, K, Mn, P, Ca, Si, Mg, Ti, Fe) In the charcoal samples, the percentages of Si and Al are high while the percentages of (Cd, Fe, Na, Ti, Ni, Mg, P, K, Cr) were low. Percentage of silicon was between 50% to 65% in Albizia zygia, Milicia excelsa, Terminalia avicennioides, Funtumia elastica, Milletia thonningii and Hevea brsiliensis with Hevea brasiliensis having the highest which suggested high slagging propensity. Anogeissus leiocarpa, Afzelia bipindensis, Vitellia paradoxum, and Burkea africana have high Na/K. The ratio of Ca/ Mg is greater than 2 in all the samples. LOI ranges from 54.56 – 7.88% with a mean of 25.978±22.909%

ESTIMATION OF EMISSION FACTOR FROM THE COMBUSTION OF AGO, PMS AND DPK FROM THE KADUNA REFINERY AND PETROLEUM COMPANY IN NIGERIA

Air emissions from the combustion of AGO, PMS and DPK were characterized for gaseous air pollutants using an E8500 combustion gas analyzer. The measured concentrations were used to calculate the emission factors of the pollutants. The emission factors for the gaseous emission from AGO were for 10 ml of AGO, HC was 4.584E-05 g/l, CO was 1.633E-05 g/l, NOx was 0.00021 g/l, and zero values were recorded for both CO2 and SO2; for 50 ml of AGO, HC was 0.000142 g/l, NOx was 0.001516 g/l and zero values were recorded for both CO, CO2 and SO2. From PMS were for 10 ml of PMS, HC was 6.9846E-05 g/l, CO was 0.00017 g/l, NOx was 0.00034 g/l, and zero values were recorded for both CO2 and SO2; for 50 ml of PMS, HC was 8.731E-05 g/l, CO was 0.000213 g/l, NOx was 0.0008 g/l, SO2 was 3.76E-06 g/l and CO2 was 0.0066 g/l. From DPK were for 10 ml of DPK, HC was 3.4923E-05 g/l, CO was 2.1667E-05 g/l, NOx was 0.000089 g/l, and zero values were recorded for both CO2 and SO2; for 50 ml of DPK, HC was 6.1115E-05 g/l, CO was 4.0667E-05 g/l, NOx was 0.000191 g/l and SO2 was 2.667E-06 g/l. This study shows that For 10 ml, DPK had the minimum emission factor for HC, AGO had the minimum emission factor for CO, DPK had the minimum emission factor for NOx. For 50 ml, AGO had the minimum emission factor for CO, SO2, DPK had the minimum emission factor for HC, NOx. Therefore, AGO and DPK can act as a source of fuel with the best sustainable environmental effects

Experimental Investigation of the Electrical Resistivity of Cement Dust

Electrical resistivity is one of the important particle–based factors influencing the performance of an Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP), a particulate control device commonly employed in most cement industries in Nigeria. Therefore, this study investigated the electrical resistivity of Cement Kiln Dust (CKD) across nine locally-operated cement manufacturing plants in Nigeria with the aim of tracing causes of performance problems associated with the ESP used for dust control in the plants. Samples of CKD were collected from the ESPs of these plants and tested for their resistance using the two probe method. The measured electrical resistivities were in the range of 108 – 1011 Ω·cm and showed strong dependence on temperature and slight variation with particle size. The CKD’s resistivity increases as temperature rises from ambient to about 250℃ and declines as temperature rises above 300℃; Nevertheless, the resistivities are adaptable for efficient ESP performance in the collection of cement dust

Identification of the woody biomasses in Southwest, Nigeria as potential energy feedstocks in thermal power plants for air pollution control

This study identified one hundred samples of woody biomasses in the southwest, Nigerian. The woody biomass samples identified were collected from different saw mills, farms and kitchens in Osun State, Nigeria. The identification of the woody biomass samples was done using literature materials and at a herbarium in the Botany Department, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, using the vegetative parts of their trees. The identification was carried out to know the numerical availability, the family or English names, the common names and the botanical names of the southwest Nigeria woody biomasses. From the findings, 100 samples of the woody biomasses were identified of 39 families and classes of hard woody biomasses and soft woody biomasses out of which only two are soft and rest are hard. It was discovered that Southwest, Nigeria has the capacity to embark on the massive production of these woody biomasses identified due to her land mass of 77,818 km2 comprising 85 forests. In conclusion, serious investment in the propagation of these energy crops would lead to the production of woody masses to serve as feedstocks in thermal power plants for sustainability in power supply, air pollution control and employment opportunities

TOTAL SUSPENDED PARTICULATES FROM CRUDE OIL SPILL

Total suspended particulates emitted during crude oil spill were investigated using laboratory simulation experiments. This was with a view to establishing the toxicity potentials of emitted particulates. Climatic and spill media conditions similar to those obtainable in real life were created in an environmental chamber and the total particulates emitted during spills involving three crude oil samples of Nigerian origin were measured with Quick Take sampler. The toxicity potentials of the emitted particulates were subsequently determined by dividing the 24- hour averaging period concentrations of the particulates by the statutory limit. The statutory limits used were those of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Environment (FMENV), World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO). For temperatures between 15 ºC and 35 ºC and spill media (over fresh water, sea water and soil), the extrapolated 24 – hour averaging period concentrations ranged between 186.79 – 584.28 μgm-3, 186.98 - 584.48 μgm-3 and 247.40- 350.21 μgm-3 for sample A; 183.44 – 571.99 μgm-3, 183.63 -572.19 μgm-3 and 244.05-337.92 μgm-3 for sample B and 178.41 – 566.96 μgm-3, 178.61 - 567.16 μgm-3 and 332.89- 280.60 μgm-3 for sample C. The observed TSP concentrations breached the WHO (lower limit) and World Bank limits at all temperatures and over all spill media and consequently the toxicity potentials exceeded 1.0 which were indications of hazards to human health. The study concluded that particulate emissions during crude oil could be high enough to pose threats and suggested adequate protection for cleaning up workers