PNNL

Abstract

Research and development (R&D) operations are inherently variable, especially at multi-disciplinary laboratories. This makes estimating emissions problematical and compliance management challenging. This paper summarizes an approach using chemical inventory data and release fractions for quantifying and managing R&D laboratory emissions to State of Washington limits. In addition, the results of stack measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and several toxics from three R&D laboratories at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are summarized. Measured VOC emissions from the three R&D laboratories ranged from 53 to 117 kg/year (0.06 to 0.13 ton/year). Estimates of the release fractions, defined as the ratio of the measure-ments to various measures of inventory usage, were made. The average release fraction based on VOCs used during the year plus VOCs in inventory at the end of the year was 0.06 with a range of 0.02 to 0.09. This provides reasonable validation of the 0.1 factor assumed in our compliance assessments. Measurements of selected toxic air pollutants (TAPs) indicate that low concentrations (ppb) were emitted from the three R&D laboratories. Stack samples were collected using triple adsorbent tubes that were then analyzed by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry. Ambient air concentra-tions were estimated from the measurements using a number of conservative assumptions. Only a few compounds were found to be more than 1% of the State of Washington’s acceptable ambient air impact concentrations. The maximum was about 65%. The measurements and inventory usage data were used to calculate preliminary release fractions for volatile TAP liquids. The release fractions ranged from 0.11 to 0.27. These are higher than the assumed 0.1. However, there are sources of bias in the data and data analysis that warrant further evaluation