Abstract
Comprehensive measurement campaigns evaluating the concentrations of airborne particulate matter (PM) have been carried out at two different locations. The two locations represent a roof exhaust opening at a manganese production site and a tapping area at a silicon production site. A number of instruments and measurements techniques were employed at both sites, including two different optical transmission devices, a laser photometer, gravimetric filters and an electrical low pressure impactor (ELPITM). The results generated by the different instruments have been compared and evaluated. Certain instruments need calibration for the specific dust types of each plant as the commonly used test dust does not adequately represent the industrial aerosols found in this study. Nonetheless, the correlations between the different techniques are generally good, and calibration of the optical dust measurement devices may be carried out based on the results obtained by the gravimetric filters. For the estimation of fugitive emissions, the results obtained by the optical dust measurement devices may be combined with anemometer results (wind speed and direction) to estimate the total amount of fugitive emissions escaping from each exhaust opening. With the correct choice and placement of such instruments, it is possible for a metallurgical plant to greatly improve the accuracy of the emission estimates for environmental reports and emission control. Two stationary point samplers are evaluated with respect to the indoor air quality measurements. Such instruments are valuable for the scientific understanding of the fume characteristics, connected with the different metallurgical processes and operations occurring in the plant since they allow real-time, size-fractionated collection with particle size distribution and subsequent chemical analysis of the particulate matter (PM).
