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Title: H-Coal pilot plant. Topical report: industrial hygiene air monitoring at the H-Coal pilot plant

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6040587

Ashland Synthetic Fuels, Inc. conducted an intensive industrial hygiene monitoring program to identify and characterize H-Coal Pilot Plant worker exposures to aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen oxides, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. Area and personnel samples were utilized, with emphasis on personnel samples collected on operations and maintenance workers grouped into 14 functional job categories. Generally, the industrial hygiene effort indicated that the worker exposure levels were typically well below threshold limit values, and that those job activities where threshold limit value excursions occurred could be readily controlled through engineering or personal protection methods to reduce worker exposures to the above mentioned air contaminants. However, the average exposure to one contaminant, coal tar pitch volatiles, slightly exceeded the threshold limit value. Process sample technicians, pipefitters, and boilermakers consistently showed higher mean and peak exposures than workers in other job categories. The categories with consistent low relative exposures included tank farm operators, wastewater operators, and laboratory technicians. A vent condenser was found to substantially reduce emissions of benzene, toluene, xylene and hexane from a hot oil storage tank vent. Improvements in air cleaning devices for flaking units are recommended for future operations at pilot or commercial coal liquefaction facilities.

Research Organization:
Ashland Synthetic Fuels, Inc., KY (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-76ET10143
OSTI ID:
6040587
Report Number(s):
DOE/ET/10143-30; ON: DE83012509
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Microfiche only, copy does not permit paper copy reproduction. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English