Determination of air emission factor of pollutants from local crude oil refineries

High emission factor of identified air pollutants from the artisanal petroleum refineries in the Niger Delta region may be key to the degrading air quality of the region. This study determined air emission factor for the identified pollutants from the local refining technology in the region. The operational sites of these refineries are inaccessible due to security and proximity to raw material, making air quality evaluation and management impossible. However, Emission Factors are one of the best ways to quantify an activity-related air pollution especially in difficult terrain like those of the artisanal refineries. In this regard, air emissions resulting from the operation of these refineries were characterized/quantified with the use of E8500 Portable Industrial Combustion Analyzer. The measured concentrations were used to calculate the emission factors and emission rates for the identified air pollutants. The overall combined emission factors (g/kg) estimated in percentage of emissions for the pollutants characterized at the various unit operation, showed that; at the Oven Heating/Crude Oil Boiling Unit, HC had 52%, 41% for CO, 3% for NOx (NO + NO2), 2% for SO2 and 2% for H2S. Other process units emitted 53% and 55% for HC, 40% and 38% for CO, all 3% for NOx, all 2% for SO2 and all 2% for H2S for the Vapour Condensation and Refined Products Collection Units respectively. It therefore concluded that the high emission factors observed from the activities of these local petroleum refineries could be a contributing factor to the degraded air quality of the region. •Emission factors for the identified air pollutants in the artisanal refineries were determined.•The overall combined emission factor estimated in percentage of emissions for the pollutants characterized, showed that; at the Oven Heating/Crude Oil Boiling Unit, HC had 52%, 41% for CO, 3% for NOx, 2% for SO2 and 2% for H2S.•Other process units emitted 53% and 55% for HC, 40% and 38% for CO, all 3% for NOx, all 2% for SO2 and all 2% for H2S for the Vapour Condensation and Refined Products Collection Units respectively.•The high emission factors observed from these local petroleum refineries could be a contributing factor to the degraded air quality in the host community.