Unveiling the characteristics of volatile organic compounds in east China's chemical industry: Insights into liquid loading and unloading dynamics.

The emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the loading and unloading of organic liquids in chemical-industrial parks has yet to receive widespread scholarly attention, despite its pronounced impact on front-line operators. This study presents a comparative field investigation of VOC emissions from loading/unloading operations at six chemical enterprises in an East China industrial park, using photochemical assessment monitoring stations (PAMS) and TO-15 methods for species-resolved quantification. Subsequently, a quantitative analysis was conducted to assess ozone formation potential (OFP), toxification, and an on-site health risk evaluation, encompassing six representative companies. This research builds upon previous studies by expanding both the number of facilities investigated and the diversity of species detected. The findings reveal that halohydrocarbons, alkenes, and aromatics, which together account for 96 % of total emissions, are the primary contributors to VOC emissions in these companies. Of these, alkenes contribute the most significantly to OFP, a result that aligns with similar studies. Furthermore, compounds such as 1,3-butadiene and benzene emerge as substantial contributors to long-term health risks, with aromatics serving as major agents for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects. These findings provide crucial insights for the development of VOCs control strategies for process flows involving the loading and unloading of organic liquids in chemical industrial parks.