Characteristics and Impact of VOCs on Ozone Formation Potential in a Petrochemical Industrial Area, Thailand

Abstract

In this study, the ambient concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were intensively measured from January 2012 to December 2016 using an evacuated canister and were analyzed using a gas chromatography/mass spectrophotometer (GC/MS) based on the US EPA TO-15 in the community and industrial areas of the largest petroleum refinery and petrochemical industrial complex in Map Ta Phut Thailand. The ternary diagram was used to identify the source of VOCs. Reactivity of VOCs on their ozone formation potential (OFP) were quantified by the maximum incremental reactivity coefficient method (MIR) and propylene-equivalent concentration methods. Results from the study revealed that aromatic hydrocarbon was the dominant group of VOCs greatly contributing to the total concentration of measured VOCs. Among the measured VOCs species, toluene had the highest concentration and contributed as the major precursor to ozone formation. The ternary analysis of benzene:toluene:ethybenzene ratios indicated that VOCs mainly originated from mobile sources and industrial processes. Within the industrial area, measured VOC concentration was dominated by halogenated hydrocarbons, and alkene was the highest contributor to ozone formation. The propylene-equivalent concentration method was also used to evaluate the reactivity of VOCs and their role in ozone formation, and secondly to support findings from the MIR method.