Channeled PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 Emission Factors Associated with the Ceramic Process and Abatement Technologies

Abstract

A sampling methodology and a mathematical data treatment were developed that enable to determine not only total suspended particulates (TSP) emitted at channeled sources but also the PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 mass fractions (w10, w2.5, and w1) and emission factors (E.F.), using a seven-stage cascade impactor. Moreover, a chemical analysis was performed to identify the elements present in these emissions. The proposed methodology was applied to different stages of the ceramic process, including ambient temperature (milling, shaping, glazing) and medium–high-temperature (spray-drying, drying, firing, and frit melting) stages. In total, more than 100 measurements were performed (pilot scale and industrial scale), which leads to a measurement time of 1500 h. Related to the mass fractions, in general, the mean values of w10 after the fabric filters operated at high performance are high and with little dispersion (75–85%), and it is also observed that they are practically independent of the stage considered, i.e., they are not significantly dependent on the initial PSD of the stream to be treated. In the case of the fine fraction w2.5, the behavior is more complex (w2.5: 30–60%), probably because the only variable is not the cleaning system, but also the nature of the processed material. Regarding abatement measures, the use of high-efficiency cleaning systems considerably reduces the emission factors obtained for fractions PM10, PM2.5, and PM1. In reference to chemical analysis, the presence of ZrO2 and Ni in the spray-drying and pressing stages, the significant concentration of ZrO2 in the glazing stage, the presence of Pb, As, and Zn in the firing stage, and the presence of Zn, Pb, Cd, and As compounds in the frits manufacturing should all be highlighted. Nevertheless, it should be pointed out that the use of some compounds, such as cadmium and lead, has been very limited in the last years and, therefore, presumably, the presence of these elements in the emissions should have been also reduced in the same way.

Conditioning Influence of Kaolinite Matrices on Flexural Strength of Raw Pressed Slurry Collected from Ceramic Tile Production Wastewater

“…Otherwise, it is a very balanced material, containing well-selected and processed minerals that are worth being utilized in some useful applications instead of being dumped. The dumped wastewater ceramic slurry might release very dangerous atmospheric emissions such as PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 if they are not properly wetted and supervised [29,30]. Thus, dumping is costly and potentially dangerous for the environment; in fact, we are pleading once more for re-utilization of certain manufacturing sub-products or other applications that might be identified by a close investigation of the wastewater ceramic slurry composition and its behavior.…”

Environmental Impact Assessment by Green Processes

“…Different from strong decoupling, both agricultural carbon emission intensity and agricultural labor forces acted as positive driving factors of agricultural carbon emissions, while the agricultural structure and agricultural economic growth acted as inhibitory driving factors of agricultural carbon emissions. Celades et al’s [ 8 ] sampling methodology and mathematical data treatment were developed, which enable us to determine not only total suspended particulates emitted at channeled sources but also the PM 10 , PM 2.5 , and PM 1 mass fractions and emission factors, using a seven-stage cascade impactor. The proposed methodology was applied to different stages of the ceramic process, including ambient temperature (milling, shaping, glazing) and medium–high-temperature (spray-drying, drying, firing, and frit melting) stages.…”