Improving Environmental and Economic Performances of Clay Brick Industry in Egypt by Using Natural Gas as Alternative Fuel

Inas A. Saleh1 and Ahmed F. Mandour2

1 Department of Air Pollution Research, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
2 Department of Economy, Faculty of Commerce, Ain Shams University, Egypt

Corresponding author: Dr. Inas A. Saleh
    Department of Air Pollution Research, Environmental Research Division,
    National Research Center
    Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
    Fax number: (002) 02 33370931
    E-mail: inas_alisaleh@yahoo.com

CEJOEM 2007, Vol.13. No.3-4.: 311-321

Key words:
natural gas, gaseous pollutants, brick industry, economic cost, emissions

Abstract:
This paper provides data on the potential improvement in environmental and economic performances of the clay brick production in Egypt through the use of natural gas (NG) as an alternative fuel. The present study was designed as a monitoring exercise in a field scale to evaluate the contribution of clay brick industry to air pollution levels. The goal was also oriented towards the identification of gaseous emissions (such as SO2, NO, NOx, CO and aldehydes) in the exhausts from brick-kilns during the production process of clay bricks by using heavy oil and natural gas fuels. Gases and particulate emissions from clay brick industry using heavy oil fuel were measured in the atmosphere of Arab Abou-Saed region - Giza (southern Cairo, Egypt). Natural gas efficiency in improving the air quality in brick making is also discussed. High concentrations of gases and particulates were found in the ambient atmosphere of the studied region some of which exceeded the values indicated by the Egyptian and the international norms of air quality protection. As expected, gas emissions in exhausts from factories operating by heavy oil were in general higher than those from factories operating by natural gas. Fuel oil had the greatest contribution to SO2, CO and aldehyde emissions. It was concluded that the use of a cleaner fuel (natural gas) would substantially reduce the environmental impact of clay production processes. In addition, the use of NG in clay brick industry would result in a lower total cost, saving practically 43% of the production cost compared to using heavy oil fuel.

Received: 2 December 2007
Accepted: 11 July 2008
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