Concentration of NO2 and SO2 in Atmospheric Environment Around Oil Refinery: A Case Study in North Khartoum, Sudan, Africa

Abstract

The environment is considered as man’s important asset that must be protected for his life support. Unfortunately, the situation is different where oil refinery and petrochemical plants operate. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentration of NO₂ and SO₂, in atmospheric environment of north Khartoum area as affected by Khartoum oil refinery (KOR) activities. The concentrations of both SO₂ and NO₂ in areas surrounding KOR, recorded high values (0.5, 0.3 mg/m³) during winter season (October, November, December and January) exceeding WHO and local Sudanese standards, while most of the low values (0.0, 0.1 mg/m³) were observed during summer season. The highest values of these gases were detected in areas very close to the high way road. Regarding situations of such gases inside KOR plant, in both of winter and summer seasons the highest reading were observed during the years 2013-2015, while during the years 2016-2018, no gases were detected, moreover, for most of the years the highest values(10,9 mg/m³) were usually observed during the middle and last days of the month. It is so difficult to consider the KOR as only source of the pollutants in area under study since many industrial and traffic activities were present. The study revealed that the government might face a greater challenge in improving the air quality over winter and should pay more attention to reduction of pollutant emission in areas of Khartoum north.

Keywords: Africa air pollution, Khartoum oil refinery, Air quality, NO₂, SO₂