Sunday, 20 October 2013
Saturday, 19 October 2013
Importance of Environmental Management System In Chemical Industries (Thesis)
1.1) Introduction to Environmental Management System (EMS)
1.2) HISTORY OF EMS
In the present day, environmental matter is not limited only in one country or specific area. The environmental impact affects everywhere and leads to problem all over the world. Environmental conservation has become so complicated that it causes pressure to all business organizations. The International Organization for Standardization had led to the development of the International Standard for environmental management system. [3]1) To support the June 1992 United National Conference on Environmental Development held in Brazil, the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) made a commitment to determine ways in which it might support the concept of sustainable business development.2) TC 207 was formed in January 1993. And by September 1994, approximately 50 countries were working on developing tools and systems in six areas of environmental management.
1.3) International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
- Implement, maintain and improve an environmental management system
- Assure itself of its conformance with its own stated environmental policy (those policy commitments of course must be made)
- Demonstrate conformance
- Ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations
- Seek certification of its environmental management system by an external third party organization
- Make a self-determination of conformance
ISO 14001
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EMS – Specification with guidance for use
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Published September 1996
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ISO 14002
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EMS – Guidelines on ISO 14001 for small and medium sized enterprises
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No draft or published version available. Discussion in June 1998.
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ISO 14004
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EMS – General guidelines on principles, systems and supporting techniques
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Published September 1996
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ISO 14010
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Guidelines for environmental auditing – General principles
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Published October 1996
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ISO 14011
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Guidelines for environmental auditing – Audit procedures – Auditing of EMS
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Published October 1996
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ISO 14012
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Guidelines for environmental auditing – Qualification criteria for environmental auditors
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Published October 1996
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ISO 14015
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Environmental assessments of sites and entities
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Publication expected 2000
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ISO 14020
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Environmental Labels and Declarations – General Principles
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At draft voting stage. Publication expected late 1998.
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ISO 14021
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Environmental Labels and Declarations – Self-declaration environmental claims – Guidelines and definition and usage of terms
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At draft voting stage. Publication expected 1999.
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ISO 14024
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Environmental Labels and Declarations – Environmental Labeling Type I – Guiding Principles and Procedures
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At draft voting stage. Publication expected end 1998.
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ISO 14025
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Environmental Labels and Declarations – Environmental Labeling Type II – Guiding Principles and Procedures
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At working draft stage. Publication expected 2000.
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ISO 14031
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Environmental Management – Environmental Performance Evaluation – Guidelines
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At draft voting stage. Publication expected 1999.
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ISO 14040
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Environmental Management – Life Cycle Assessment – Principles and Framework
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Published June 1997
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ISO 14041
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Environmental Management – LCA – Goal and Scope Definition and Inventory Analysis
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At draft voting stage. Publication expected 1998.
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1.3.3) Elements of ISO 14001 (EMS)
1.4) IMPLEMENTATION OF EMS
1.4.3) Communications
1.4.4) EMS Documentation
1.4.5) Document Control
1.4.6) Emergency Preparedness and Response
1.5) KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL EMS
1.5.2) Focus on continual improvement
1.5.3) Flexibility and simplicity
1.5.4) Compatibility with organizational culture
1.5.5) Employee awareness and involvement
1.6) BENEFITS OF IMPLEMENTING ISO 14000 EMS
1.6.1) Increased Profits
Implementing ISO 14001 today can provide a basis for implementing the other standards in the ISO 14000 series. This incremental approach can reduce overall costs to implement ISO 14000 because of lessons learned in each phase.
1.6.2) Operations
The EMS standards can define "best practices" and create a foundation for the next level of improvement.
1.6.3) Marketing
When environmental risks are reduced, the company becomes a more attractive investment to potential and current stockholders. Three factors contribute; corporate environmental management, environmental performance, and environmental communications. Establishing a strong environmental image can help attract environmentally conscious customers and create pressure on competitors. This image must be carefully marketed to receive these benefits.
ISO 14000 requires evidence of working processes to maintain compliance with laws and regulations. These processes can help companies identify where they are out of compliance and take action. Regulators may favor organizations with an ISO 14000 registered EMS. Improved compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements could reduce penalties and redemption costs. An ISO 14000 EMS demonstrates to regulatory agencies that the organization is proactive about reducing pollution and committed to continual improvement
[1].
1.6.5) Social
ISO 14000 helps to create a common language and way of thinking about environmental aspects which can help companies, communities, governments, and organizations communicate and work together.
1.7) CONCLUSIONS
Chapter 02
CASE STUDIES
For the better understanding of environmental management system with industrial point of view, we visited different industries of Pakistan. The brief description of our work has been described as under.
2.1) Hazara Phosphate Fertilizer (Pvt) Limited
2.1.1) Introduction
Hazara Phosphate Fertilizers (Private) Limited (HPFL) is a public sector company. HPFL is located in Haripur, NWFP 75 KM from Islamabad. The factory is situated on 57 acres of developed land, and includes factory, housing and other amenities. HPFL was incorporated under the Companies Ordinance 1984 in June 1985 as a private limited company and commenced commercial operation in 1989.
2.1.2) Nature and history of company
HPFL is operating in the fertilizer industry and manufactures Granulated Single Super Phosphate (GSSP) fertilizers using a combination of indigenous phosphate rock from the Kakul mines in proximity of plant and imported rock from Jordan and Morocco. Since 1999 rock phosphate is being imported mainly from Jordan for manufacture of GSSP, because of non-availability of local rock phosphate.
2.1.3) Plant capacity and production information
HPFL produces two products i.e. Sulphuric Acid and Granulated Single Super Phosphate (GSSP). Sulphuric Acid is produced to be utilized in the production process of GSSP. The designed capacity of the Plant is 90,000 M.T. per annum of GSSP.
The Sulphuric Acid Plant is designed to produce 110 M.T. of 89.5% Sulphuric Acid per day by using Monsanto’s double contact, double absorption process. The process along with use of high efficiency fibreglasses mist eliminator reduces air pollution to minimum while obtaining a conversion efficiency of 99.5%.
The SSP Plant has a capacity to produce 300 M.T. of GSSP per day by the reaction of indigenous ground Phosphate Rock and Sulphuric Acid diluted to 68% from the Sulphuric Acid plant storage. The SSP process employs a 3 stage scrubbing system to wash reaction gases in order to achieve environmental pollution control standards.
The company manufactures GSSP fertilizer using a combination of indigenous phosphate rock from the Kakul mines in proximity of plant and imported rock from Jordan and Morocco.
Mainly consist of the following sections
Sulphuric acid plant
Single super phosphate plant
2.1.4) Sulphuric Acid Plant
2.1.4-1) Brief Description of the Process
The production of Super Phosphates requires sulphuric acid for the acidulation of phosphate rock. That is the reason why Sulphuric acid plant is installed beside the Single Super Phosphate plant.
2.1.4-2) Introduction
Sulphuric acid is manufactured in this plant with sulphur as a raw material. The principal steps in the process consist first of burning the sulphur (S) to form sulphur dioxide (SO2), second of combining the sulphur dioxide with oxygen (O2) to form sulphur trioxide (SO3) and third of combining the sulphur trioxide with water (H2O) to form a solution containing 98-99% sulphuric acid (H2SO4).
The reactions in chemical standards are as follows:
2) SO2 + ½O2 SO3
3) SO3 + H2O H2SO4
2.1.4-3) Sulphur and Sulphur burning
Sulphur, the major raw material, is received in the solid form. It is melted, filtered and pumped to a sulphur burner where burns with air supplied from the blower to form sulphur dioxide. Before entering the burner, the air passes through a drying tower where it is scrubbed with acid to remove the water vapors present in it.
The burning of sulphur evolves a large amount of heat which materially raises the temperature of the burner gas.
2.1.4-4) Conversion of SO2 to SO3
In the second step of the process, the SO2 in the gas combines with some of the remaining oxygen to form SO3. For this step, the gas is required at a lower temperature then it left the burner; therefore it is necessary to cool the gas leaving the sulphur burner. The cooling is accomplished by a waste heat boiler.
The SO2 is converted to SO3 in the converter. The converter contains four layers of Enviro-Chem Vanadium Catalyst which causes the chemical reaction to take place at an enormously higher rate than would be the case if no catalyst were used. The catalyst is not itself affected or used up.
The reaction is exothermic and also reversible. The inlet temperature of the gas to each converter pass must be maintained at the correct level in order to achieve the required conversion. The gas is therefore cooled between passes to maintain the correct inlet temperature to each pass.
The gas leaving the converter is passed through another economizer where it is cooled before passing to the final absorbing tower where the remaining SO3 in the gas is absorbed in 98% sulphuric acid.
2.1.5) Single super phosphate plant
2.1.5-1) Phosphate rock
Chemical reactions involving acidulation of phosphate rock ar
Ca3 (PO4)2 + 2H2SO4+4H2O Ca (H2PO4)2 + 2(CaSO4.2H2O)
Ca3 (PO4)2 + 2H2SO4+4H2O Ca (H2PO4)2 + 2(CaSO4.2H2O)
CaF2 + H2SO4 + 2H2O CaSO4.2H2O + 2HF
3SiF4 + 2H2O SiO2 + 2H2SiF6
The following is a more probable expression of the main reaction
The product from the above reaction is stored in a proper place for about 14 days. This stored material is named as Run of Piles (ROP).
Basic raw materials for ROP section are
- Sulphuric acid
- Phosphate rock
The manufacture of super phosphate consists essentially of mixing in an intimate manner the phosphate rock and the acid to promote the reaction. As the later is never instantaneous and requires a certain residence time in order to ensure the maximal acidulation of the rock, after mixing the slurry thus formed is discharged
in a “Den” where the reaction is going on. This allows the mixture to assume a solid form.
From the outlet of the den the super phosphate which is a more or less pulverized and wet product is transferred to the storage. Further more the acidulation is continued in the storage after the manufacturing itself, for the ratio the various raw materials is selected in such a way that it remains after manufacture an excess of acid with respect to phosphate rock. This is the curing of the super phosphate, where the super phosphate remains in storage long enough (2 to 4 weeks ) to permit the reaction to go to completion.
The product called ROP (run of pile) super phosphate is taken out of the storage and granulated for easier spreading by the agricultural equipment.
2.1.6) Impacts on environment
2.1.6-1) Sulphuric acid plant:
The basic effluents produced in the sulphuric acid plant are;
1. Unconverted SO3, resulting from incomplete conversion of oleum to sulphuric acid.
2. High temperature steam, produced in the process due to highly exothermic reaction.
Fig 2.1 high temperature exiting stream Fig 2.2 equipement eaten away by SO3
Fig 2.1 high temperature exiting stream Fig 2.2 equipement eaten away by SO3
The EPA standards, that have been setup for the industry for SO3, emerging form the stack is 0.2 PPM. Exceeding this limit will result in equipment damage and
cause bad effects upon the resident’s health. Conversely, keeping below this limit causes the production losses to the industry. So EPA has devised an ultimate which yields maximum production and safe environment as well. The concentration of the effluent gases in the industry often remain more than the value that has been defined, for this reason most of the equipments have been eaten up by corrosion and are damaged badly. Moreover the gas is very much poisonous and case health problems to the employees.
Accounting for the high temperature steam, that has been produced in the process due to evaporation of cooling water during the conversion of oleum to sulphuric acid, comprises a temperature of 700*C. this steam is sent to environment without any treatment. This causes severe energy losses to the industry.
cause bad effects upon the resident’s health. Conversely, keeping below this limit causes the production losses to the industry. So EPA has devised an ultimate which yields maximum production and safe environment as well. The concentration of the effluent gases in the industry often remain more than the value that has been defined, for this reason most of the equipments have been eaten up by corrosion and are damaged badly. Moreover the gas is very much poisonous and case health problems to the employees.
Accounting for the high temperature steam, that has been produced in the process due to evaporation of cooling water during the conversion of oleum to sulphuric acid, comprises a temperature of 700*C. this steam is sent to environment without any treatment. This causes severe energy losses to the industry.
2.1.6-2) Single Super Phosphate (SSP) Plant
In the single super phosphate plant, main wastes produced are;
- HF gases, produced during the SSP production.
- Water containing dissolved acids and raw material, emerging from the dust scrubbing section.
The EPA standards for the HF gases produced within the plant are 0.16 PPM.
The effluent water running down from the scrubbing section contains dissolved raw material and acids in it. This water is not treated properly before discharging into the environment. This results in loss of raw material and also results in pollution of drinking water and eco system.
Moreover, due to inefficient and poor scrubbing system, the dust that is being sucked from various parts of the process in not entirely removed and is thus discharged in greater concentration along with the emerging HF gases. This also results a lot in raw material loss and accounts for health problem of the employees and the residents.
2.1.6-3) Other problems
Sulphur, which is the main raw material for the production of sulphuric acid is stored under unsatisfactory conditions. No precautions are made for the safe storage of sulphur. This not only decreases its quality but my also result in a serious hazard, as there in no emergency preparedness and no fire fighting equipments if fire hazard occurs.
2.1) Koh-E-Sufaid Marble Industries
2.2.1) Introduction
Due to its suitable geological environment the NWFP is blessed with significant marble and granite deposits of variety of colors and qualities. The marble deposits are major source of raw material for numerous marble cutting and polishing industries spread thorough out the country.
In NWFP, major deposits are located in Bunair, Mardan, Swat, Mohmand and Bajuar areas. The marble industry based on these deposits is not only meeting the domestic requirements of construction industry, but also providing tremendous job opportunities to the people I remote areas of NWFP. The industry is also a major contributor of revenue generation to government of NWFP n form of royalty and excise duty etc. The marble industry receives the marble blocks and boulders produced from marble quarries and change them into the end product of tiles, slabs, and carving products: number of marble cutting and polishing units has been established in NWFP. These are mostly clustered in Peshawar, Mardan, Gadoon and Hattar industrial estate as well as in other areas of province.
2.2.2) Environmental pollution by marble factories in industrial estate Peshawar
As already mentioned, a number of marble cutting and polishing factories/ units have been established at different localities of NWFP. These units processes the marble blocks and boulders produced from the marble quarries and change them into the end product of tiles, slabs and carving products. About 22 such types of units are operating at SDA industrial state Peshawar. The marble cutting process by these factories is a wet process, in which a lot of water is indiscriminately used. Each factory is consuming about 1000- 1500 gallons of water per hour and discharge effluents containing hazardous solid waste to the combine drain of industrial estate and as such causing various kinds of environmental pollution.
2.2.2-1) Water pollution
Water is showered on marble rock during the cutting operation. A lot of water is used for cooling the cutting blades also. The water used during showering absorbs marble dust, produced as a result of cutting operation. The waste water so produced is routed to a series of settling tanks. The settling tanks are not being used effectively due to high level of marble sludge. The waste water overflows the settling tanks without proper control and is discharged into the effluents channels/ drains along the roads of the industrial estate. This water carries a large amount of marble
dust/ powder which settle at the bottom of the effluents/ waste water, the management of industrial estate normally remove the solid waste containing the marble sludge and dump on both sides of the drains. This on one side requires extra expenses while on the other side have serious health impact on the public health. In addition to the nuisance for the local inhabitants, such effluents ultimately pollute the ground water bodies and Kabul River.
2.2.2-1) Air pollution
Marble dust is a serous problem for the workers who are exposed to the marble cutting operations for long duration of time. Another significant issue of air pollution is due to marble factories on industrial estate. Peshawar is the dust emission generated from the marble waste and sludge heaps when sun dried. The marble sludge in settling tanks in removed periodically to the efficiency of these tanks and is dumped with in as well as outside the factories. The recovered sludge over a period gets sun dried and become air borne and as such causing air pollution problem for the inhabitants of the surrounding area. Proper disposal of the recovered sludge is major environmental problem faced by the marble industry in industrial estate Peshawar.
2.2.2-2) Noise pollution
Another environmental pollution caused by the marble industry is the noise pollution which is adversely affecting the worker as mostly the worker are not provided with ear plugs and if provided. They are reluctant to use such devices.
2.2.3) Environmental cleanup demonstration model in the marble industry
Keeping in view the environmental challenge faced by the marble industry, the mineral testing laboratory (MTL), being located in SDA industrial estate Peshawar, felt it necessary to extend its technical assistance to the marble factories/ units operation in SDA industrial estate, Peshawar and to help them in minimization of environmental pollution generated as a result of their operations. To meet such purpose, the mineral testing laboratory designed a demonstration project namely “environmental cleanup demonstration model in the marble industry by MTL Peshawar” in accordance with the themes and philosophy of national conversation strategy (NCS) and Sarhad Provincial conservation strategy (SPCS).
2.2.3-1) Objectives of the project
The main objectives of this project were;
- To keep the consumption of water by a marble factory/ units at minimum level by recycling the waste water produced by such factory.
- To safely dispose off or possibly utilize the solid waste with minimum cost and if possible convert such waste in to useful products
- To keep the discharge of effluents/ waste water of a marble factory at zero level
- To minimize the concentration of pollutants in the main drains of industrial estate and to keep such effluents within the level of NEQS
- To keep the combine drains in the industrial estate clean and clear for smooth flowing of the effluent/ waste water discharge of other factories.
- To provide a demo/model project to the marble industry of the province and encourage them for keeping their operations environmental friendly clean technology
2.2.3-2) Construction work
03 tanks (each consists a set of 02 tanks), a flocculent tank and a platform has been constructed according to the already agreed lay out at Koh-e-Sufaid marble factory in industrial estate Jamrud road, Peshawar.
The sanitary fitting work as per drawing has also been completed and a pump has been installed at the flocculent tank (reservoir) to pump the clean water for reuse in the process.
2.2.4) Research and development work
2.2.4-1) Chemical analysis
45 no of samples of waste water and solid waste have been collected Koh-e-Sufaid marble factory, before and after construction of settling tanks and have been chemically analyzed for required parameters in comparison with National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS). Chemical analysis data for 05 number of samples (table-I) collected before the construction of settling tanks and 05 number of samples (table-II) collected after the construction of settling tanks are given under;
Table 2.1 Chemical analysis
The chemical analysis of the sample collected from the flocculent tank (reservoir for clean water) reveal that the values of all the parameters studied are with in the range of NEQS in these samples. It means that by proper use and maintenance of the settling tanks, sufficient clean water will be available to the marble factory for its reuse and as such on one hand the consumption of water will be reduced and o the other hand the discharge of the waste water will be kept at zero level which will ultimately contribute in minimization of environmental pollution the industrial estate. In other words the marble industry will keep its effluents.
2.2.5) Research and development work for possible utilization of solid waste/ conversion of marble powder into products
The following products have been successfully prepared by MTL, by the efficient use of its facilities and expertise available in its mineral processing and chemical sections, after conducting extensive research work and laboratory studies for the utilization of marble waste/ powder on cost effective basis as per objective of this project.
2.2.5-1) Surkhi low cost cement
The mineral processing section of MTL prepared Surkhi low cost cement from the marble powder collected form the settling tanks at Koh-e-Sufaid marble factory. This product us useful for construction purposes preferably in saline environment.
2.2.5-2) Washing powder (VIM)
Washing powder (VIM) has been prepared from the marble powder which is very useful for the washing of house hold utensils.
2.2.5-1) Insulation bricks
A number of tiles/ bricks have been prepared form marble sludge collected form settling tanks by mixing properly with Portland cement in different proportions. The insulation properties of these tiles/ bricks were compared with hollow blocks prepared form cement and it was found that the tiles made by mixing the marble powder with Portland cement are having good insulation properties.
2.2.5-2) Calcium hydroxide (chemical grade)
After subjecting the marble powder into successive laboratory experiments and tests, the mineral testing laboratory has successfully prepared calcium hydroxide of the chemical grade. By chemical and physical comparison of this product with the imported one, it was found that the quality of the product prepared by MTL is closely matching with the imported calcium hydroxide.
Chapter 03
Research Papers
Science and technology is a dynamic field, even changes occurs if fraction of second. To keep updated one needs to study and develop the thorough understanding of what has been going on recently. We studied the following research papers to get the up to date knowledge of environmental management system. The executive summary is given as under.
3.1) The role of environmental management system on introduction of new technologies in the metal and chemical/paper/plastics industries [09]
Gregor Radonjic, Polona Tominc
Journal of Cleaner Production 15 (2007) 1482e1493
Gregor Radonjic and Polona Tominc in 2006 studied the role of environmental management system on introduction of new technologies in the metal and chemical/paper/plastics industries. The research was performed within Solvene metal and chemical manufacturing companies.
The main objectives of study were;
- To study technology modernization due to ISO 14001 certification in industrial enterprises.
- To study whether ISO 14001 certification can accelerate the initiatives for adoption of new and cleaner technology within the certified firms.
- To study to what extent it helped to upgrade the environmental performance.
Research was based on questionnaires survey conducted on sample of ISO 14001 certified manufacturing companies that operate in republic of Solvinia . These sectors were chosen because of
Due to their high environmental impact
Due to big popularity of ISO-14001 certification
The questionnaires were mailed to the companies within the two sectors under study. In order to achieve the objective of study, the following questions were addressed.
i) How (by what means), did the enterprises reduced environmental impacts
ii) Which factors were improved after the introduction of new technology and to what extent?
iii) What is the origin of new technology?
iv) How did enterprises estimate the role of ISO-14001 certification of adoption and upgrading of their technologies?
New technology in the context of study included any change, either modification, adoption of technology which was already in use, purchasing of completely new equipment which substituted for the older technology.
Results that the authors obtained from question of how did enterprises reduce this environmental impacts is given by,
i) Namely, they used combination of good housekeeping practices together with partial adoption of new technologies/ partial modification of existing technology.
ii) Combination of good housekeeping practices with predominant modification of existing technology.
In summary 95.5% of metal industries in sample and all chemical and related industries reduced environmental impacts with technological changes.
Author says that in order to follow priorities of improving firms’ environmental performance, different factors may serve as an indicator of environmental benefits, such as increased share of recycle material, reduction of energy consumption, solid waste, emission to air and water etc.
All firms in sample considered more than one factor to reduce its environmental impacts.
In metal industries,
o 85% of the firms improved safety of their working staff.
o 81%reduced air emission
o 76.2% reduced water emission
o 76.2% reduced energy consumption.
In chemical and related industries the most considered factors was solid waste reduction, followed by the emission reduction, energy consumption reduction and higher working staff safety.
The author says that, in chemical industries, pollution can be prevented by
o Modifying production process with adoption of more advanced technologies through process variable control
o Changing cleaning process
o Or by segregating and separating wastes.
Regarding the origin of new technology three options were given with intension of cleaning up processes
o New technology as a result of in-house research and development
o As a result of cooperation with academic and research institution
o As a result of purchasing in licensed technology.
The results thus obtained by the author are as under,
o 35% of firms in metal industries reported on developing upgraded technologies in house.
o 25% within institute or through academic cooperation
o 60% have brought up licensed technology
Situation was a bit different in chemical industries,
o 66% reported on developing upgraded technologies in house
o 20% within institute or through academic cooperation
o 33.3% however brought up new licensed technology
On the basis of the research made, the author concluded the following results,
o The requirements of ISO-14001 standard helped an organization in improving their environmental performance and reduce several impacts
o Upgrading technology is one of the most important areas for an industry not only because of environmental requirements but also to increase productivity and lowering costs and energy losses.
o EMS influenced firms’ economic performance through increased productivity and reduced costs.
o In order to achieve drastic reduction in emissions more fundamental changes in the process are required.
3.2) Underlying Mechanisms in the Maintenance of ISO-14001 Environmental Management System[10]
Michaela A. Balzarova, Pavel Castka
Journal of Cleaner Production 16 (2008) 1949e1957
Michaela A. Balzarova and Pavel Castka in 2007 studied the underlying mechanism in the maintenance of ISO-14001 environmental management system. In this paper Michaela and Pavel aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism on ISO-1400. Initially they looked into Hillary’s study reports on the basics, opportunities and devices for small and medium size enterprises. The adoption of environmental management system develops a comprehensive list of barriers identical in literature. They used observed list of barriers to investigate the underlying mechanisms in the maintenance of ISO-14001 through an in depth longitudinal case study in two medium scale manufacturing organizations.
They determined five underlying processes
1) Transforming and value adding
2) Administrating and improving
3) Understanding and accepting
4) Communicating and learning
5) Availability of resources
And key actors,
· External environment
· Environment management team
· ISO-14001 EMS
· Organization’s resources and skills
Whose actions are captured and presented by them after their research as M-ISO (model of international standard organization for EMS 14001)
According to them the process of transforming and value adding captures the interactions between the external environment (i.e. external forces that shape the process of ISO-14001 certification maintenance) and the EMS team (i.e. group of actors that are responsible for maintaining and improving of the ISO 14001 EMS). In their research EMS team consisted of people from operations management and plant management was also classified as “external actors”. Their research revealed that EMS teams were given the authority to manage operations and EMS internally (at the facility level) yet they had to transform improved value to their activities based also on the external feed back from external auditors, senior management, as important translators between external environment and the rest of organization.
They stated that both case studies reported a strategy to embed ISO 14001 EMS in the day to day running of the organization. Indeed contradictory attitudes of the case studies employees were identified on the negative side. These were exhibited thorough comments such as, there is a lack of understanding, trip service, and managers do not care negative attitude towards ISO 14001 EMS. On the other hand sign of satisfactory level of EMS understanding and acceptance for identified as well. Examples of comments individual risks failure, issue environmental system help system to improve one quality positive attitude towards ISO 14001 EMS. The problem of acceptance of EMS was also aggregated by the fact that ISO 14001 EMS appeared as a stand alone system. This de-coupling was particularly notable in the case studies, where the research reveals that many activities took priority over the maintenance and continual improvement of ISO 14001 EMS.
All these issues are captured in ISO model by the process “understanding, accepting, communicating and learning.” They found out that these two processes
are lonely inter-linked and contributed to the exceptional and non-acceptance of ISO 14001 EMS and more importantly its maintenance and continual improvement.
The final process, “availability” describes the resource and skill management issue in the process of ISO 14001 EMS maintenance. But case studies were leading specialized staff, time, knowledge of legislation etc.
On the basis of case studies, Michaela and Pavel concluded that following are keys to EMS team members.
· Environmental and legal knowledge
· Common sense
· Managerial skills
· Organizational background knowledge
· Administrative skills
· Communication skills
· Energy management knowledge
3.3) Implementation of ISO-14001: 2004 EMS standards for reverse osmosis desalination plant for the first time in Iran[11]
Arian Edalat
Desalination 220 (2008) 57–64
Implementation of ISO-14001: 2004 EMS standards for has been carried out for the first time for reverse osmosis desalination plants in Iran at Noor Vijeh (N.V. Co) water and waste water firm in Tehran. The aim of the project was to inline the company’s approach to friendly environmental activities. Initially PDCA was used to identify the aspects affecting the environment and then probabilities of loss are anticipated through numerical methods. These aspects are evaluated through their interaction with release to water, emission to air, land contamination, waste management, energy used and raw materials.
Author says that reverse osmosis plants have proved to be harmful to environment. With the industrial growth due to the shortage of water specialty in arid areas, the environmental situation look to be detoriating even further decent professional conduct require a special attention to this potential hazard to the environment and actions must be taken almost immediately. This is the reason N.V. Co has been devoting some of its resources to the matter which is presented here.
The treatment and distribution of portable desalinated water accompanies BWRO desalination plant in the city of Qom . Treatment of portable water SWRO in Assaluyeh;
To implement standard system core elements were constructed which are as follows;
1. Environmental policy, its targets and programs.
2. Practical methods for EMS processes.
3. Executive manuals for implementing special activities
4. Table and indexes for environmental aspects of each plant.
The different environmental impacts are shown in table 1
Identification of aspects which arises from emergency conditions is conducted through following procedure;
· Identify emergency conditions, arising from the natural disasters like storms, earthquakes etc.
· Identify emergency conditions arising from human errors.
After finding the environmental aspects they should be the solved the 1st step is to determine “likelihood factor obtained by multiplying the degree of frequency of exposures to probability of loss”. The well factor is “Max severity loss” multiplication of the “likelihood factor” to “maximum severity loss” produce aspect impact grade. Then this grade is multiplied by the homogenized factor, I.e. 0.9, 0.8, 1 to reduce the error. Then this becomes the final “aspect grade” and provides the basis to measure the environmental priorities of a company.
The aspect identification and evaluation, done on the city of Qom is as follows. The aspects were in following areas;
· Sanitary waste water,
· Waste water resulting from membrane cleaning operation,
· Plant’s reject stream,
· Water network leaks,
· Use of large quantities of HCl.
With the environmental threats, the company should plan which were simple, practical and economic action.
Emergency conditions anticipated in Qom were earth quakes, fires and contamination of water reservoirs. During the training, careful instructions should be given to the personal further more complicated drilling processes should be planned carefully. Training should include the concept of ISO-14001: 2004, its internal audit, laboratory operations, fire extinguishing equipment operations.
The important environmental aspects those were identified in Assaluyeh;
1. Sanitary waste water
2. RO concentrate stream
3. Disposal of chemical packing
4. Corrosion of equipment due to heat and humidity
Potential harms caused by RO alarms specialists and activists to take necessary actions to remedy this situation.
N.V. Co is the first firm to take step in this direction, Implementing ISO-14001: 2004.
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