Toward Effective Monitoring of Diffuse VOC Emissions: A Critical Discussion and Review of the Applications of EN 17628:2022
The estimation and characterization of diffuse emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is a crucial issue for industry and environmental regulators. Compared to channelled ones, diffuse emissions derive from complex (non-point) sources, such as wastewater treatment plants, storage tanks, and...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Luca Carrera Selena Sironi Marzio Invernizzi |
| author_facet | Luca Carrera Selena Sironi Marzio Invernizzi |
| author_sort | Luca Carrera |
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| description | The estimation and characterization of diffuse emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is a crucial issue for industry and environmental regulators. Compared to channelled ones, diffuse emissions derive from complex (non-point) sources, such as wastewater treatment plants, storage tanks, and process unit components. Such sources are typically influenced by dynamic factors such as operational activities and weather conditions. Therefore, this complexity makes the localization and quantification of diffuse VOC emissions a crucial challenge from a technical and regulatory perspective. Recently, the technical standard EN 17628:2022 has been published, which provides a framework to address this issue, proposing five different techniques for the localization, identification, and quantification of diffuse emissions. Nevertheless, while it represents a step forward in this field, the standard shows some shortcomings for a proper implementation, potentially causing divergent interpretations of the guidelines. The accuracy of the measurements is highly dependent on the configuration and morphology of the site, but especially on the meteorological data implemented to calculate the emitted flux. In addition, these techniques, despite being well-established, are particularly complex from both a technical–scientific and logistical–economic point of view. An emerging method, Quantitative Optical Gas Imaging (QOGI) appears to theoretically overcome some issues, but requires further studies to ensure accurate and reproducible quantification of emissions. This review aims to highlight the advantages, disadvantages, and potential developments of the various techniques described in the standard for the characterization of diffuse VOC emissions in the industrial sector. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4e3fe255ebe946e3b0ff1844206bcdbd |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-4e3fe255ebe946e3b0ff1844206bcdbd2025-08-20T02:06:15ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-03-01255156110.3390/s25051561Toward Effective Monitoring of Diffuse VOC Emissions: A Critical Discussion and Review of the Applications of EN 17628:2022Luca Carrera0Selena Sironi1Marzio Invernizzi2Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, ItalyThe estimation and characterization of diffuse emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is a crucial issue for industry and environmental regulators. Compared to channelled ones, diffuse emissions derive from complex (non-point) sources, such as wastewater treatment plants, storage tanks, and process unit components. Such sources are typically influenced by dynamic factors such as operational activities and weather conditions. Therefore, this complexity makes the localization and quantification of diffuse VOC emissions a crucial challenge from a technical and regulatory perspective. Recently, the technical standard EN 17628:2022 has been published, which provides a framework to address this issue, proposing five different techniques for the localization, identification, and quantification of diffuse emissions. Nevertheless, while it represents a step forward in this field, the standard shows some shortcomings for a proper implementation, potentially causing divergent interpretations of the guidelines. The accuracy of the measurements is highly dependent on the configuration and morphology of the site, but especially on the meteorological data implemented to calculate the emitted flux. In addition, these techniques, despite being well-established, are particularly complex from both a technical–scientific and logistical–economic point of view. An emerging method, Quantitative Optical Gas Imaging (QOGI) appears to theoretically overcome some issues, but requires further studies to ensure accurate and reproducible quantification of emissions. This review aims to highlight the advantages, disadvantages, and potential developments of the various techniques described in the standard for the characterization of diffuse VOC emissions in the industrial sector.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/5/1561diffuse VOC emissionsremote gas sensinggas monitoring techniquesenvironmental monitoringEN 17628:2022 standard |
| spellingShingle | Luca Carrera Selena Sironi Marzio Invernizzi Toward Effective Monitoring of Diffuse VOC Emissions: A Critical Discussion and Review of the Applications of EN 17628:2022 Sensors diffuse VOC emissions remote gas sensing gas monitoring techniques environmental monitoring EN 17628:2022 standard |
| title | Toward Effective Monitoring of Diffuse VOC Emissions: A Critical Discussion and Review of the Applications of EN 17628:2022 |
| title_full | Toward Effective Monitoring of Diffuse VOC Emissions: A Critical Discussion and Review of the Applications of EN 17628:2022 |
| title_fullStr | Toward Effective Monitoring of Diffuse VOC Emissions: A Critical Discussion and Review of the Applications of EN 17628:2022 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Toward Effective Monitoring of Diffuse VOC Emissions: A Critical Discussion and Review of the Applications of EN 17628:2022 |
| title_short | Toward Effective Monitoring of Diffuse VOC Emissions: A Critical Discussion and Review of the Applications of EN 17628:2022 |
| title_sort | toward effective monitoring of diffuse voc emissions a critical discussion and review of the applications of en 17628 2022 |
| topic | diffuse VOC emissions remote gas sensing gas monitoring techniques environmental monitoring EN 17628:2022 standard |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/5/1561 |
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