Emissions Monitoring

The production process of cement involves the emission of certain gases in the atmosphere. These emissions are monitored and disclosed under applicable local, national and, in some cases, internationally - there are several effective methods to ensure compliance with emission limits.

As systems of measurement and disclosure vary according to the company and the country where it is, CSI has developed a protocol for monitoring emissions. Particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx) were considered major pollutants in terms of volume, but participating companies also agreed to monitor the emission of other substances such as dioxins and furans, volatile organic compounds and metals heavy (mercury, cadmium and thallium). We will be also monitor the emission of other heavy metals (antimony, arsenic, lead, chromium, cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel and vanadium).

As part of the initiative, each company set individual goals and pledged to monitor and publish annually emissions since 2006, based on performance indicators common to members of CSI. Thus, the cement industry stakeholders now have clear and reliable information on the nature of emissions, its impacts and what is being done to reduce them.

NOx Reduction in Canada

The companies of Votorantim Cimentos North America (VCNA) achieved an expressive reduction in NOx (carbon oxide) emissions at their facilities. With the use of SNCR (Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction), a method which injects ammonia or urea into clinker kiln exhausts, NOx levels were cut by as much as 40%.

Ammonia and NOx react chemically to form a water and nitrogen vapor. The release of the pollutant is monitored continuously, enabling the facility to adjust the amount of ammonia injected into the kilns. In this manner VCNA companies managed to avoid releasing nearly six thousand metric tons of gas into the atmosphere.

In use at Votorantim Cement since 2004, the method is a new arrival to the cement industry. The system was chosen for being more economical and more efficient than SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction), the method most commonly used in the sector. SNCR enabled the Canada-based company to bring its NOx emissions within Ontario’s provincial regulations. Suwannee, located in Branford, Florida (USA) was the first Votorantim plant to adopt the method.

SOx Reduction in the United States

The St. Marys cement plant reduced its SOx emissions by 56.5% in 2006. Faced with the initial target of a 49% decrease, the unit installed a lime injection system toward the end of 2005. Lime reacts with SOx to form calcium sulphide, which either remains in solid form or is collected by the sleeve filters.  

This measure enabled the facility to exceed its initial target and achieve a 56.5% drop in comparison with rates for the first nine months of 2006 and the same period of 2005. The system became operational in January 2006.

Commitments individually assumed by CSI companies

Implement the recommendations outlined in the Emissions Monitoring and Reporting Protocol.
Make data on emissions available and accessible to stakeholders by 2006.
Set emission reduction targets for all relevant pollutants and make the results public.

Results obtained by Votorantim Cimentos:

Based on CSI directives, VC established corporate guidelines for Emissions Monitoring and Reporting in December 2005;
Reduction targets: targets for reducing emissions in Votorantim Cements were defined internally and spontaneously in 2000, shortly after the accession of the Company CSI: 5% reduction in emissions of NOx, SOx and particulate matter (PM) in 2012, compared with the data of 2000. By 2011, there were declines of 7.7% in NOx and 1.7% in SOx. The main initiatives implemented in the VC in order to obtain these results were: NOx reductions in Canada and SOx reductions in the USA.