By Erin Matthews for the Saskatchewan Research Council
From potash to oil and gas to manufacturing, industrial air quality measurement and monitoring has historically focused on reporting for regulatory purposes, with an end goal of protecting people and the environment.
With industry and government focusing more on improving the environmental performance of industrial facilities, the ability to measure, monitor, and model air quality is important to reporting and delivering on these goals.
For more than 45 years, the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) has helped important economic sectors operating on the Canadian Prairies keep a close eye on their air emissions to ensure they meet environmental standards and regulatory requirements, as well as to implement process improvements for emissions reduction strategies.
SRC’s air quality team offers a wide range of services, from industrial source testing to ambient air monitoring and industrial hygiene, for a variety of industries, such as mining, manufacturing, biofuels, construction, and electricity generation.
Insight into process refining and pollution control equipment
With highly trained and highly experienced team members, SRC is a trusted provider of stack sampling on the Prairies.
Generally, large facilities are required to test what is emitted from their stacks annually. SRC’s air quality team conducts this regulatory compliance testing at field sites. To help clients reduce their emissions, the team also works with their clients to refine their processes or test new types of pollution control equipment.
“Helping clients implement process improvements that reduce their air emissions is where our expertise really shines,” says Kent Orosz, SRC’s air quality team lead. “Our expertise is unmatched in Saskatchewan. A lot of companies can come in and do compliance testing, but we are able to take the data and use our air quality expertise and experience to help our clients improve their processes and navigate next steps.”
The potash industry is one place where this expertise has proven valuable.
SRC works with nearly every potash mine in Saskatchewan, conducting stack sampling, compliance testing, and creating or updating environmental protection plans (EPPs) under the Saskatchewan Environmental Code’s Industrial Source (Air Quality) chapter.
“Potash mining requires complex processes related to air emissions,” Orosz says. “We have the skills, expertise, and knowledge to give industry the information and resources needed to help them improve the environmental performance of their operations.”
Beyond testing and providing air quality reports, the team has measured dust from mine ventilation exhaust, sampled particulate and gases in stacks from dryers and other process equipment, and measured airflow, temperatures, and pollutant rates entering and exiting pollution control equipment.
Integrated services for managing air emissions
SRC can deploy customized mobile stations for ambient air monitoring, offering real-time data to clients. These stations can monitor gases like sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide and weather data, such as wind speed and direction, temperature, and more.
With services like trace analysis testing, SRC can measure the amount of volatile organic compounds, total hydrocarbons and metals in emissions. And, when it comes to indoor air quality, Orosz and his team can identify and measure gases, fumes, and biological hazards—like mould or bacteria—that can impact the health and safety of employees.
With decades of experience, SRC’s air quality experts are working with industry to protect the environment, improve the quality of our air, and provide companies operating on the Prairies with the support and resources they need.
The integrated services offered by SRC ensure that clients receive accurate and timely data, and are informed about their operations’ performance. SRC works with clients to provide them with a plan to improve their air emissions processes and help them meet their environmental performance goals.
To learn more about SRC’s air quality services, visit src.sk.ca/services/air-quality-monitoring-services.
—
