Sources of Industrial Emissions and Methods for Controlling Them in Kazakhstan

Industrial emissions are generated at various stages of production: during fuel combustion, raw material processing, heating, crushing, drying, storage, and transportation of materials. Their composition depends on the industry, the equipment used, and the production process.
For enterprises in Kazakhstan, emissions monitoring serves several purposes. It allows them to assess the impact of production on the atmosphere, verify the effectiveness of gas cleaning systems, and collect data for environmental monitoring of production. In addition, measurements of pollutant emissions into the atmosphere are necessary for preparing environmental reports and confirming compliance with established standards.

Where Do Industrial Emissions Come From?

Sources of air pollution are divided into organized and unorganized sources.
Organized sources are those through which emissions are directed to a specific location. These include boiler room chimneys, flues, ventilation shafts, process units, and other components of the production system. In such cases, the emission flow can be monitored directly at the equipment outlet.
Unorganized emissions occur without a single discharge channel. They result from the storage and transfer of bulk raw materials, the operation of open storage facilities, the loading and unloading of materials, the evaporation of petroleum products, and leaks through equipment leaks.
Both types of sources may be present at a single facility. Therefore, environmental monitoring is typically not focused on a single stack but takes into account the entire production site and the specific characteristics of the manufacturing process.

What substances are monitored at industrial facilities?

The list of pollutants depends on the specific production facility. At power and industrial facilities, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide are frequently monitored. These are primarily produced during fuel combustion; however, their concentrations may vary depending on the load on boilers, furnaces, and other equipment.
At chemical and agro-industrial facilities, additional attention may be paid to ammonia. In the oil and gas and petrochemical industries, monitoring of volatile organic compounds is a priority.
Dust and suspended particles constitute a separate group. They are generated during the crushing, grinding, transfer, and transportation of raw materials, as well as during the production of cement, construction mixtures, metals, and other materials.

The absence of visible smoke or a strong odor does not mean that the emissions are safe. Many pollutants cannot be reliably detected without special measuring instruments.

Categories of Facilities Under the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan

In Kazakhstan, facilities that have a negative impact on the environment fall into one of four categories. The category depends on the nature of production, the facility’s capacity, the raw materials used, the types of fuel, and the potential level of impact.

Category I facilities are subject to the strictest environmental control requirements. In particular, the use of automated emission monitoring systems (AEMS) may be mandatory for such facilities. Specific requirements are determined by the facility’s characteristics and applicable regulatory documents.
It is important to note that a facility’s category is not determined solely by its industry. Two facilities in the same industry may fall into different categories due to differences in capacity, technological processes, and the composition of their emissions.

How Industrial Emissions Are Monitored

Monitoring may include periodic instrumental measurements, laboratory analyses, and automated monitoring. The choice of approach depends on the emission source, reporting requirements, and the need for real-time data.
Periodic measurements allow for an assessment of the composition of emissions at a specific point in time. However, they do not always detect short-term exceedances that occur during equipment startup, load changes, or deviations from operating procedures.
Automated systems provide a more detailed picture. They record data continuously or at specified intervals, store the results, and can transmit them to the facility’s centralized information system.
However, automation alone does not guarantee the accuracy of measurements. The equipment must be suitable for the operating conditions, properly installed, and undergo the necessary calibration and maintenance procedures.

Gas Analyzers for Emissions Monitoring

Stationary gas analyzers are used to determine the concentration of gaseous pollutants. They are installed at boiler rooms, industrial furnaces, power plants, production lines, and other emission sources.
Depending on the model, these instruments can monitor the concentration of:

• SO₂;
• NOₓ;
• CO;
• NH₃;
• oxygen;
• other components of the gas mixture.

When selecting a gas analyzer, it is important to consider more than just the list of substances. Other key factors include the measurement range, gas temperature and humidity, pressure, sampling characteristics, and requirements for integration with a monitoring system.
For enterprises in Kazakhstan, the metrological status of the equipment is of particular importance. If measurement results are used as part of official environmental or production monitoring, it is necessary to verify that the instrument is listed in the State Register of Measuring Instruments of the Republic of Kazakhstan and that the relevant documents are valid.

Control of Dust and PM2.5 and PM10 Particles

In the construction, mining, cement, and metallurgical industries, industrial dust can account for a significant portion of emissions.
It is generated during the processing of mineral raw materials, the operation of crushing and grinding plants, the transfer of materials, the loading of silos, and the movement of products. Dust emissions can also occur in open storage areas and on roads within industrial sites.
Optical meters are used to measure dust concentration. Depending on their intended use, they allow for monitoring of overall dust levels or specific fractions of suspended particles, including PM2.5 and PM10.
Such devices are used to assess air quality, verify the effectiveness of filters and extraction systems, and monitor areas where dust may be carried outside the production facility.

Monitoring of Ambient Air and the Sanitary Protection Zone

Monitoring at the emission source does not always allow for an accurate assessment of the actual air quality outside the facility. If residential areas, public facilities, or other industrial sites are located nearby, it may be necessary to monitor ambient air within the sanitary protection zone (SPZ).
Automated environmental monitoring stations are used for this purpose. They may include gas analyzers, dust meters, meteorological sensors, and data transmission equipment.
The station’s configuration is determined by the specific nature of the facility. For a coal-fired plant, the priority pollutants may be SO₂, NOₓ, CO, and particulate matter. In chemical production, the list will be different, for example, including ammonia or specific volatile compounds.
Automated stations allow for tracking changes in indicators over time and correlating them with weather conditions, wind direction, and the facility’s operating mode.

How to Choose Environmental Monitoring Equipment

Before purchasing equipment, it is necessary to conduct an inventory of emission sources and determine which substances may be released into the atmosphere. A mistake at this stage can result in the device having an unsuitable measurement range or being unable to operate under the specific production conditions.
When selecting equipment, the following factors are taken into account:

• the technological process;
• the raw materials and fuels used;
• the list of pollutants;
• expected concentrations;
• ambient temperature, humidity, and pressure;
• the need for continuous or periodic measurements;
• requirements for data storage and transmission;
• metrological documentation and suitability for use in Kazakhstan.

If the equipment is planned for use as part of an automated monitoring system (AMS), the sampling method, component compatibility, installation conditions, and the possibility of integration with the enterprise’s software are additionally evaluated.

Promanalit Emissions Monitoring Equipment

Promanalyt supplies equipment for monitoring industrial emissions and ambient air quality. Solutions are tailored to the specific industry, the composition of pollutants, and the facility’s objectives.
Depending on the project, stationary gas analyzers, dust meters, automatic monitoring stations, and other environmental monitoring devices may be used.
Promanalyt gas analyzers are included in the State Register of Measuring Instruments of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The equipment is issued the appropriate certificates, and initial calibration is performed by the company’s specialists in its own accredited laboratory.
This allows the instruments to be used not only for real-time monitoring of the production process but also for tasks where documented measurement results are essential.
Properly organized monitoring of industrial emissions helps a company identify actual changes in the composition of emissions, detect deviations in a timely manner, and evaluate the performance of abatement equipment. At the same time, the system must take into account not only legal requirements but also the specific characteristics of a given production facility—from the type of fuel to the operating conditions of the measuring instruments.