Monitoring air emissions

To prevent fugitive emissions, all raw materials and products (metal powders) are handled in closed processes, including in in-house storages and sealed transport containers of materials, with a few exceptions. The site in Höganäs, Sweden, uses bulk transport by ship and the unloading is open. Slag handling, including sorting and transporting to internal landfill is generally carried out in open air at all slag production sites. Special procedures including watering, road sweeping, landfill covers, etc, are used to minimize emissions from the open handling. A combination of paved roads and working areas, and a programme for keeping the sites clean at all times, minimises secondary dust emissions. 

To minimize stack emissions, all large point sources are equipped with filters. Local environmental control programmes typically include monitoring emissions such as nitric oxides (NO_x), and sulphur oxides (SO_x), metals to air, and other substances of concern, depending on the nature of the process.

Stable production processes and preventive maintenance of process equipment is key in avoiding both fugitive and stack dust releases.