SOP for Monitoring Air Emissions During Waste Incineration

Standard Operating Procedure for Monitoring Air Emissions During Waste Incineration

1) Purpose

The purpose of this SOP is to establish a systematic procedure for monitoring air emissions generated during waste incineration to ensure compliance with environmental standards and minimize the release of harmful pollutants into the atmosphere.

2) Scope

This SOP applies to all waste incineration processes within the facility, including the incineration of hazardous, biomedical, and general waste. It is relevant to personnel responsible for waste management, environmental monitoring, and equipment maintenance.

3) Responsibilities

Environmental Officers: Oversee the air emission monitoring process and ensure compliance with regulations.
Incinerator Operators: Operate incinerators as per standard procedures and assist in emission monitoring activities.
Maintenance Personnel: Maintain emission monitoring equipment and ensure proper calibration.
Compliance Team: Document and report emission data to regulatory authorities as required.

4) Procedure

4.1 Regulatory Requirements and Standards

Emission Limits:
- Comply with emission standards for pollutants such as particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), carbon monoxide (CO), and dioxins/furans as prescribed by local environmental authorities.

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Guidelines:
- Follow guidelines issued by regulatory bodies such as the EPA, CPCB, or equivalent agencies.

4.2 Preparation for Emission Monitoring

Inspection of Monitoring Equipment:
- Ensure that stack monitoring systems, probes, and sampling devices are functional and

calibrated.

Conduct pre-operation checks to verify equipment integrity and connectivity.

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Selection of Monitoring Locations:

Install stack monitoring equipment at appropriate locations to capture representative emission samples.
Ensure that sampling ports and access points comply with regulatory specifications.

4.3 Real-Time Monitoring of Emissions

Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS):
- Operate the CEMS to measure parameters such as PM, CO, SO₂, and NOₓ in real time.
- Log data automatically into the system’s data acquisition software.

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Manual Sampling (if applicable):
- Use portable gas analyzers or isokinetic sampling devices to measure pollutant levels.
- Follow standard methods (e.g., EPA Method 5 for PM, Method 23 for dioxins/furans).

4.4 Data Recording and Analysis

Recording Emission Data:
- Log real-time data from CEMS and manual sampling results into the Emission Monitoring Log (Annexure 1).
- Record key parameters such as temperature, gas flow rate, and pollutant concentrations.

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Data Analysis:
- Compare emission levels with regulatory limits to identify non-compliance or anomalies.
- Perform trend analysis to detect changes in emission patterns over time.

4.5 Corrective Actions

Operational Adjustments:
- Optimize incinerator temperature and air supply to minimize pollutant formation.
- Address abnormal operating conditions (e.g., incomplete combustion or excess oxygen).

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Maintenance of Equipment:
- Inspect and clean incinerator components such as burners, filters, and scrubbers regularly.
- Calibrate and maintain CEMS equipment as per manufacturer recommendations.
Incident Reporting:
- Document any exceedances or equipment malfunctions in the Emission Incident Report Log (Annexure 2).
- Report non-compliance incidents to the regulatory authorities within the stipulated time frame.

4.6 Documentation and Reporting

Maintain Records:
- Store emission monitoring logs, calibration certificates, and incident reports for a minimum of 5 years.

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Regulatory Reporting:
- Submit periodic emission reports to the relevant authorities, as per compliance requirements.

5) Abbreviations, if any

CEMS: Continuous Emission Monitoring System
PM: Particulate Matter
CO: Carbon Monoxide
SO₂: Sulfur Dioxide
NOₓ: Nitrogen Oxides

6) Documents, if any

Emission Monitoring Log
Emission Incident Report Log
Calibration Records
Regulatory Reports

7) Reference, if any

EPA Emission Standards
CPCB Guidelines for Waste Incineration
ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems

8) SOP Version

Version: 1.0

Annexure

Template 1: Emission Monitoring Log

   Date  Time  Parameter  Measured Value  Regulatory Limit  Operator Name  
  DD/MM/YYYY  HH:MM  PM  10 µg/m³  20 µg/m³  John Doe

Date	Time	Parameter	Measured Value	Regulatory Limit	Operator Name
DD/MM/YYYY	HH:MM	PM	10 µg/m³	20 µg/m³	John Doe

Template 2: Emission Incident Report Log

   Date  Time  Incident Description  Corrective Action Taken  Reported By  
  DD/MM/YYYY  HH:MM  SO₂ levels exceeded limit  Adjusted temperature and air supply  Jane Smith