Among the hazardous air pollutants specified in the Air Pollution Control Act, we monitor emissions of priority substances that are believed to pose a high risk to human health and strive to reduce the emissions.
The Japanese government set a target of reducing fixed-source volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions in fiscal 2010 by 30% compared with fiscal 2000. VOC emissions at Mitsui Chemicals reached 8,523t in fiscal 2000, so our goal is 5,966 tons/year. However, we intensified the goal to 3,000 tons/year or less and succeeded in making drastic reductions by fiscal 2010. We have continued maintaining emissions at this level.
Because the Mitsui Chemicals Group produces various chemical products, a wide range of VOCs are emitted. We use various methods to reduce VOC emissions into the air, including absorption by activated carbon and other filters, neutralization by acid or alkaline water, combustive decomposition, and Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA).
Further, burning fuel in chemical product manufacturing processes generates SOx, NOx, and soot and dust. We therefore implement a variety of measures to reduce release of these items into the atmosphere by removing them using catalysts, installing dust collectors and washing towers, and using fuels free from nitrogen and sulfur.
