Methods for estimating volatile organic compound emissions from batch processing facilities

As emphasis changes away from end-of-pipe control technologies to cleaner production technologies, industrial processors seeking to identify and prioritize process changes need first to identify significant sources of waste, both in the form of air emissions as well as in energy and solid waste production. To this end, this paper presents a summary of methods of quantifying and characterizing air pollutants, specifically volatile organic compounds, from batch processing operations as well as from ancillary equipment such as storage tanks, leaking piping components, and wastewater treatment processes. In addition to presenting the basis for the methodologies, some discussion of the degree of confidence that should be imparted on the obtained values is provided.