Fauser, P. 2010: Danish Emission Inventory for Solvent Use in Industries and Households. National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University, Denmark. 47 pp. – NERI Technical Report no. 768.
This report presents the Danish emission inventory for Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds (NMVOC), Nitrous oxide (N2O) and Carbon dioxide (CO2) from the use of solvents in industries and households, corresponding to source categories 3A to 3D in the Danish National Inventory Report (Nielsen et al., 2009). The methodology, data sources, activity data, emission factors and emissions are presented for 1985 to 2007 and uncertainties, QA/QC and coming refinements are stated.
Until 2002 the Danish solvent emission inventory was based on questionnaires, which were sent to selected industries and sectors requiring information on solvent use. In 2003 it was decided to implement a methodology that is more complete, consistent and transparent with respect to including the total amount of used solvent, attributing emissions to industrial sectors and households and establishing a reliable model that is easily updated on a yearly basis. The detailed method described in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Emission Inventory Guidebook (EMEP/CORIN-AIR, 2004) where all relevant solvents must be estimated, or at least those that together represent more than 90 % of the total NMVOC emission, was employed. Each chemical (NMVOC) is estimated separately or as groups of similar chemicals, e.g. glycolethers. The sum of emissions of all estimated NMVOCs used as solvents equals the NMVOC emission from solvent use.
Candidates for solvents are found from the criteria in the solvent directive (Directive 1999/13/EC) of the EU legislation: “Volatile organic compound shall mean any organic compound having at 293,15 K (Kelvin) a vapour pressure of 0,01 kPa (kilo pascal) or more, or having a corresponding volatility under the particular condition of use”. This results in 28 specific chemicals, of which five are chemicals groups, each comprising several chemicals. These constitute more than 95 % of the total NMVOC emission from solvent use.
Solvent use constitutes approximately one third of the total NMVOC emissions in Denmark, i.e. 27 940 tonnes in 2007 and represents 87 100 tonnes CO2 equivalents, which constitutes 0.2 % of the total Danish CO2 emissions. NMVOC emissions from solvent use have decreased by 57 % in the period 1985 to 2007. From solvent use ethanol, turpentine (white spirit: stoddard solvent and solvent naphtha) and propylalcohol have the highest emissions.
NMVOC emissions may be of small concern in relation to CO2 emissions but they are fundamental in relation to many human and environmental health issues and to long-range transport of chemically active species. Use and emission patterns of NMVOCs are diverse and complex as many chemicals are categorised as NMVOCs and are present in many different industrial activities and consumer products. Emissions are calculated based on detailed information on chemical use amounts. This information mainly derives from Statistics Denmark (StatBank DK, 2008) and the Nordic database: Substances in Preparations in the Nordic Countries (SPIN) as well as from activity data and emission factors obtained from communication with industries and related institutions in Europe responsible for their respective national inventories and also the international guidebooks (EMEP/CORINAIR 2004 and IPCC 2000).
N2O emissions were included in the solvent emission inventory in 2005. N2O use related to the solvent sector is mainly as anaesthetic and to a smaller extent in the manufacture of electronics and as propellant. There are one producer and five distributors in Denmark. The produced amount is confidential. A reliable estimate of the total N2O emissions is 119 tonnes in 2007.
In December 2008 a joint Nordic project where data and methodological principles were shared was concluded. This resulted in a refinement of emission factors for NMVOCs in household use of solvents, which have been implemented in the reporting of the 2007 emissions. Another outcome of the project was a scheme for coupling the many source codes that are used in the various reporting formats, i.e. SNAP/CORINAIR, CRF/NFR, RAINS/GAINS, NACE (industrial use) and Use Category (UCN). This will lead to a more exact allocation of activity data and emission factors for single chemicals. The scheme is presented in this report and it is planned to be implemented in the reporting of the 2008 emissions.
Full report in pdf (2.3MB)
