Journal of Petroleum & Environmental Biotechnology

Abstract

Minimization of SO₂ Emissions at ADGAS (Das Island, UAE): II- Impact onAir Quality

Samir I Abu-Eishah, Haitham SA Babahar and Munjed Maraqa

In Part I of this work, two SO2 minimization schemes, namely, Fuel Gas Sweetening (FGS) and Seawater-Flue Gas Desulfurization (SW-FGD) schemes have been proposed to be implemented at the ADGAS plant (Das Island, UAE). The implementation of such schemes is expected to reduce the SO2 emissions by 77%. The FGS scheme is expected to reduce the H2S content in the fuel gas system by 94% and results in decreasing the total SO2 emissions due to fuel gas usage by 98%. The SW-FGD scheme is expected to reduce the SO2 emissions due to incomplete sulfur recovery by 99.5%. This work is based on on-site measurements and data collected from specific locations at the ADGAS plant and over the Das Island, UAE. These data were loaded into air dispersion model software (AERMOD 7, 2008) and simulated to predict future air quality on the Island. The SO2 Ground Level Concentrations (GLCs) were predicted for the current conditions and for the proposed SO2 minimization schemes (presented in Part I of this work) using the BREEZE AERMOD Pro software model. Upon implementing the proposed SO2 minimization schemes, the predicted GLCs were found to comply with the United Arab Emirates Federal Environment Agency (UAE-FEA) standard limits at all sites in the ADGAS plant and over the Island. Also the remaining SO2 emissions have the potential to challenge any future stringent limits set by the UAE-FEA with a high level of confidence since the emission rates after implementing the proposed SO2 minimization schemes will be reduced to about 5% of the current standard emission limit (25 mg/Nm3). Lastly, the general approach presented in this work may be of value in application to other similar systems worldwide.