Stack emissions and ambient air quality impacts from thermal desorption systems at MGP sites

William L. Troxler, Frank B. Kellogg III and Christopher H. Vail 

Abstract
An important aspect of any manufactured gas plant (MGP) site redevelopment project is to assure all stakeholders, including the public and regulatory agencies, that remediation activities will have minimal impacts on the surrounding community. However, stack gas emissions from any type of thermal treatment system are perceived by a segment of the public and regulatory agencies as a concern. This study included compiling stack emission factors from thermal desorption systems operating at six different MGP sites. Emission parameters were compiled for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX); total hydrocarbons (THC), carbon monoxide (CO), particulates and lead. Dispersion modeling was then conducted to estimate the ground level concentration of each parameter resulting from stack emissions. In order to put data on stack emissions and ambient impacts resulting from thermal desorber operations into perspective for the public, comparisons were made to the three different benchmarks. These benchmarks included: (1) ambient air quality criteria, (2) mass emissions from diesel trucks transporting soil to a landfill, and (3) measured ambient air quality impacts from other sources (including background, excavation, soil transportation, and soil treatment) at several MGP remediation projects. 

Key words: air quality, emissions, manufactured gas plant, remediation, thermal desorption 

Land Contamination & Reclamation, 14 (2), 2006, 225-231

DOI 10.2462/09670513.709 

Updated: 26-Jun-2006