2011 Matosinhos Data Book - Galp Energia

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Monitoring air quality
Matosinhos refi nery focuses heavily on minimizing the
environmental impact of its business, and these efforts are
shown in the development of its key indicators and the high
level of investment to improve the industrial plant.
In this guideline, between March 2010 and December 2011 a
comprehensive study to assess the air quality surrounding the
refi nery was carried out. This study emerges from the concern
that was expressed by the Commission for Coordination
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Toluene is an aromatic hydrocarbon insoluble in water with a
typical odor of paint solvent. Chemically, it is a mono-substituted
benzene derivative i.e. that presents one of the hydrogen
atoms of the benzene ring replaced by CH 3 group. Toluene
occurs naturally as a component of various petroleum products,
being widely used as industrial raw material and as a solvent
for paints, coatings, glues, oil and resins.
The term xylene refers to a set of three isomers closely related
with benzene (Ortho-, meta-, and para-xylene). Xylene is a
colorless aromatic hydrocarbon, with sweet odor and highly
fl ammable. The Ortho-xylene (o-xylene) is the only form of
naturally occurring xylene; the other two are forms of human
manufacture. The XYLENES are used in gasoline and as a
solvent in printing industries, rubber and leather. P-xylene is
Sources of benzene emissions
82%
Automobile
exhaust
In “Scientific American Magazine, February 1998”
14%
Industry
3%
Individual
activities
0.1%
Cigarettes
Another study, “Position Paper” drawn up in September 1998
by the “Council Directive on Ambient Air Quality Assessment
and Management Working Group Benzene”, calculates,
quoting “Air Quality Report of the Auto Oil Programme”, that
the anthropogenic origin of benzene is due to the following
sources.
IN FOCUS 06 07 08 09 10 11
of Development of the North (CCDR-N) to the extent that
indicative studies carried out by that entity, indicated
concentrations of benzene allegedly above the legal limits.
The parameters considered in this program for monitoring
air quality were the compounds SO 2 (sulfur dioxide), NO x
(nitrogen oxides) and BTX. Under the designation BTX is the
group of benzene, toluene and xylene compounds, being
natural chemicals that are found in petroleum products such as
gasoline.
a raw material used in the manufacture of polyethylene (PET),
polyesters and polymers.
Benzene is a colorless and highly fl ammable aromatic
hydrocarbon, slightly soluble in water, with a sweet smell and
a relatively high melting point. Being a known carcinogenic,
its use as a component of gasoline is currently limited to 1%,
although an important industrial solvent and precursor in the
production of synthetic rubber, nylon, plastics, insecticides,
paints, dyes, glues, gum, detergents and cosmetics.
The existence of benzene in the atmosphere, with
anthropogenic origin, has its main source, about 80%, in road
traffi c as shown in this graph:
Sources of benzene exposure
45%
Cigarettes
In “Scientific American Magazine, February 1998”
18%
Automobile
3%
Industry
34%
Individual
activities
Source (%)
Road traffi c 80 - 85
Oil refi neries 0.3 - 1.5
Fuel distribution 2.6 - 6
Chemical industry 1.3 - 13
Domestic heating (fi replaces) 3 - 7
Solvent use 1 - 4
MATOSINHOS REFINERY / DATA BOOK ON HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT 2011
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