INTERNATIONAL
Pollution Stirs More Action in Europe Many government agencies along with a group of oil companies, Concawe, have made strong efforts against air and water pollution Amid the increasing fracas over air and water pollution in Europe, the work of one organization passes almost unnoticed. Nevertheless, after only two years of existence, the organization, called Goncawe, has already made valuable contributions to the technical appraisal of pollution evaluation and abatement measures. Concawe's steering committee, in its latest meeting (at the Hague), reviewed a series of studies Concawe is sponsoring. These cover a variety of subjects ranging from recommendations for the optimum height of an oil refinery stack to the prevention of leakage from pipelines. Concawe, or to give it its full title "The Oil Refining Companies' International Study Group for Clean Air and Water Conservation in Western Europe," was set up and registered as a legal entity in the Hague in 1963. Seven international oil companies now belong to it. They are British Petroleum, Caltex, Compagnie Française de Raffinage, Gulf Eastern, Mobil Oil,
Concawe general secretary Liedmeier "A genuine desire to do all we could..."
66 C&EN MAY 3, 1965
Royal Dutch/Shell, and Standard Oil Co. (N.J.). Each participant pays a basic membership fee of $2780 annually, plus an additional sum based on its percentage share of Europe's oil refining capacity. Inquiry. A West German parliamentary inquiry four years ago into the sulfur content of fuel oils and the resulting eflFect on the sulfur dioxide concentration in the air did much to catalyze the formation of Concawe. "The oil companies decided that setting up such a body was the best means of getting the technical facts straight and of speaking with authority for the European oil refining industry as a whole," comments Patrick Docksey, general manager of research for British Petroleum, who is currently chairman of the Concawe steering committee. But there were other reasons for its formation. The oil refiners themselves wanted to learn more about pollution and to make the information available to other interested parties. "There was also a genuine desire to do all we could to keep pollution levels down," notes G. P. Liedmeier, who retired after 35 years with Shell to become Concawe's general secretary. Laws. As in the U.S., there is mounting concern in Europe over air and water pollution. Every European country has now brought legislation into force to safeguard water from excessive industrial pollution. It wasn't until fairly recently, however, that laws began to emerge governing pollution of the atmosphere. Great Britain was an exception. As far back as 1862 the House of Lords appointed a committee to inquire into "the injury resulting from noxious vapors evolved in certain gas manufacturing processes." The study pointed to the oxides of sulfur coming from alkali and copper works as the chief offenders and resulted in the Alkali Act of 1863. The act, including subsequent extensions, requires that industries prove to the chief al-
kali inspector that they are using the "best practicable means" of preventing the escape of noxious or offensive gases into the air and of rendering the gases harmless and inoffensive. Britain's newest antipollution legislation, the 1956 Clean Air Act, aims to cut down the level of smoke and grit particles in the atmosphere. France introduced a "frame" law in 1961, based on a 1917 law, which defined the general purpose of the law (the reduction of air pollution) and the authorities responsible for enforcing it. Subsequent regulations will introduce actual controls necessary to implement the law. For example, Law No. 63-963, passed in September 1963, provides for the creation of protection zones in which special controls may be enforced. The first of these zones are in Paris. Within these zones, it is forbidden to burn bituminous coals because of their smoke-forming properties. In addition, the law limits the maximum sulfur content of the flue gases to 2 grams per thermie (3968 B.t.u.) of fuel used. Germany. Last September, West Germany drew up a law that set rigid limits on the content of noxious gases permissible in the atmosphere. Under the ruling, the maximum ground level concentration of sulfur dioxide is 0.4 mg. per cubic meter (or 13.6 parts per 100 million) over a 30-minute sampling period. The level may go as high as 0.75 mg. per cubic meter (25.6 parts per hundred million) once every two hours. The hydrogen sulfide limit is 0.15 mg. per cubic meter (9.75 parts per hundred million), again based on a 30-minute sampling. There are similar rigid numerical limits for chlorine, and nitrogen oxides. The German law also provides a number of measures to ensure that the sulfur dioxide level stays below the maximum limit. For example, the height of a flue stack must be proportionate to the maximum rate of sulfur emission to allow for adequate dispersion before the gases reach ground
L A B O R A T O R Y REPORT NO. 8 OXIDES DIVISION
CABOT
CABOT
CORPORATION
DEPT. CEN
125 HIGH STREET, BOSTON, MASS. 02110
how to thicken polar systems at low cost with Precise thickening control can be achieved in polar liquid systems with small amounts of CAB-O-SIL plus additives. Since CAB-O-SIL is essentially polar in nature, high concentrations are needed to gel polar liquids which hydrogen-bond to CAB-O-SIL. However, certain additives — such as those having a long organic chain with one terminal -OH or -IMH2 group — can reduce the amount of CAB-O-SIL needed for greatest thickening economy. High thickening efficiency can be obtained with CAB-OSIL in highly polar, high hydrogen-bonding liquid with the use of additives. For example, a 5% dispersion of CAB-O-SIL in isopropyl alcohol gave an apparent vis cosity of 50 cps. By adding .5% Triton X-100, a non-ionic
CAB-O-SIL
additive, or . 5 % Armeen 12, a cationic additive, an ap parent viscosity of 200,000 cps was attained. Additives cause the CAB-O-SIL chainsto migrate toward each other, and compel these chains to link together because of the opposing forces between the liquid system and the additive attached to the CAB-O-SIL. Thus the -OH groups on the CAB-O-SIL lock with the hydroxyl groups on adjacent CAB-O-SIL particles by hydrogen-bonding, gelling the liquid. If your product needs more efficient thickening, try CAB-O-SIL. Call us at Liberty 2-7300 for suggestions or a brief review of your problem. Send coupon for sample and literature.
Graphic illustration of gelling action of CAB-O-SIL in alcohol with cationic additive.
. where each Hydrogenbonding action between CAB-O-SIL particles.
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HOW CAB-O-SIL SOLVED THESE PROBLEMS
CAB-O-SIL is a fire-dry pyrogenre silica with a particle size of 0.015 micron, surface area of 200 m2/gm, bulk density of 22 lb./cf.
AEROSOL DERMATOLOGIC LOTION contained alcohol, cala mine and essential oils which ran off the body when sprayed. 5% CAB-O-SIL prevented flow off the body by gelling the mixture on contact.
C A B O T C O R P O R A T I O N —OXIDES DIVISION
SILVER POLISH upon standing showed 37V2% clear solvent. Only % of 1% CAB-O-SIL increased viscosity sufficiently to keep materials in suspension. MASTITIS CATTLE REMEDY contained exotic drugs in peanut oil. The liquid was separating from the gel. Problem solved with 3% CAB-O-SIL and .2% Triton X-100. Product is now a salve, with improved wetting. WALL TILE CLEANER in the form of an organic liquid was difficult to apply. By increasing water content to 50%, adding 5% CAB-O-SIL and .2% Triton X-100, a paste was formed. This was easier to apply, and removed water soluble as well as greasy stains.
DEPT. QEN 125 HIGH STREET, BOSTON, MASS. 02110
D RUSH FREE SAMPLE and literature on CAB-O-SIL D Please call me for appointment. Tel: e I am especially interested in
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I level. Where this isn't practical—for example, if a stack is already in existence or is near an airport (should the required stack be too tall)—the authorities may demand a reduction in the sulfur content of the fuel oil burned. Operations that emit more than 200 kilograms of sulfur dioxide per hour may be required to provide A N N I V E R S A R Y space for the eventual installation of E D I T I O N flue gas cleaning equipment. North Rhine-Westphalia, where such highly industrial cities as Dortmund, Duisburg, and Essen are located, is an area where the most critical air pollution problems exist in West Germany. Pollution control is approached there on a highly scientific basis. The local government has drawn up an air pollution concentration map based on a statistical analysis of readings taken at intersections of a 1-kilometer (0.62 mile) grid covering the Ruhr area. Readings of sulfur dioxide concentration and the corresponding atmospheric conditions have been taken about once every two weeks since 1962 at each point of the grid. A chart of these measurements was first made publicly available in early April at the International Clean More than 22,000 stock items New edition lists more than 22,000 items, Air Exhibition and Congress in Dusadequate supplies of which are regularly seldorf. maintained in our headquarters stock for Last December, Belgium adopted immediate shipment. an air pollution "frame" law. The Selection of Apparatus governments of Italy, Sweden, and Based on careful review and evaluation the Netherlands are also working on by our Technological staff. Quality main- formulating laws. tained by our Inspection staff. Includes Objectives. Although individual many new lines and items. oil companies in Europe have been Guarantee spending time and money all along on We accept full responsibility for quality pollution control studies, they decided and performance of every item listed. there was need for closer cooperation. Detailed, factual descriptions Thus Concawe came into being. All items fully described, carefully in- Its objectives are: dexed and cross-referenced. • Collation of information on the Technological Service pollution of air, water, and soil attribQualified experts available for consulta- uted to the oil refining industry. tion and service. • Promotion of active cooperation Prompt shipments between the participating companies We offer unexcelled service because of toward finding ways to reduce polluour large stocks and streamlined order tion. handling system, combined with an inter• Provision of funds to research innational airport, excellent motor transport networks and a major seaport. stitutes for carrying out special studies. Copies sent to laboratories and • Making available to other interpurchasing personnel on request. ested parties the results of these studies and the views of the organization. Three study groups have already ARTHUR H. THOMAS CO. been set up. One is tackling the analScientific Apparatus ysis and treatment of liquid effluents from refinery streams. Another is reVINE STREET AT 3RD viewing available methods for calcuPHILADELPHIA, PA. 19105 lating the atmospheric dispersion of
NEW...
Thomas
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flue gases. The third is looking into means of preventing leaks from pipelines and determining leaks should they occur. "In many ways Concawe parallels the air and water conservation side of the American Petroleum Institute," notes Mr. Liedmeier. Concurrent with the result of Concawe's findings, Shell has decided to build a 700-foot stack at its Pernis refinery near Rotterdam. It will replace 26 smaller stacks now in use, and take flue gases above the air inversion level. When built, it will be one of the world's tallest concrete stacks. Others. The oil companies aren't alone in studying pollution problems in Europe. All of the chemical industries are in on the act. Dutch State Mines, for example, completed a 575foot stack (see cover) at its chemical complex at Geleen, Limburg, last year. It is associated with DSM's nitric acid and ammonium nitrate production there. DSM claims it is the tallest stack for a chemical company in Europe. In England, ICI's heavy organic chemicals division has spent more than $4 million during the past 10 years to cut down smoke and odors in the Billingham area. Courtaulds has installed the first commercial fluidized carbon bed unit to recover sulfur from carbon disulfide gases at its viscose rayon plant in Greenfield, North Wales, and is now adapting the unit for such solvents as acetone. European institutes and societies are also actively involved in study programs. In Britain the Society of Chemical Industry is sponsoring an economic and social appraisal of air pollution control. Alan Smith, formerly head of ICI's economics and statistics department, is in charge of the project. And the Ministry of Housing and Local Government in London has a technical committee looking into the disposal of toxic solid wastes from chemical and allied industries. Since 1957, the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community has spent more than $2 million on research into air pollution caused by the steel industry. One of the urgent problems under study is seeking ways to reduce the copious iron oxide fumes that arise from steelmaking processes using bulk oxygen. In December 1963 a new institute was set up in Essen to study all aspects of air pollution. Called "Die Landesanstalt fur Immissions- und Bodennutzungsschutz," it has already built the first part of a new lab complex.
