Assessment of pellet and polymer powder emissions

Aim of this master’s thesis is to research and find an appropriate measurement method and technique for determining pellet and polymer powder emissions from discharge waters. Aim is also to find out how the Finnish legislation could regulate these emissions in the plastic industry in the future. For future legislation, thesis will look at developments especially regarding environmental legislation. Since there is no precise and uniform legislation in Finland or in the European Union regarding pellet and polymer powder emissions, the thesis looks at how the pellet and polymer powder emissions are regulated and limited in other countries. The thesis included a mapping of the emission sources to make the company easier to manage and reduce pellet and polymer powder emissions. The mapping of emission sources was carried out by means of risk analysis on all plastic plants in the industrial area. In the risk analysis, significant value is determined for each source of emission. With significance value the most significant emission sources for the company were found. There are no standardized measurements methods or techniques for measuring pellet and polymer powder emissions. The studies conducted by other researchers have focused on measuring the amount of plastic particles from natural waters. Separate measuring methods had to be developed for pellets and powder due to their large difference on particle size. The developed measurement methods should be suitable for the company’s needs. The obtained emission rate from the measurements are compared with the production capacity of the plants as well as with the results of previous research carried out in the European area.