Emissions in the heavy clay industry

Environmental issues are of increasing importance in industrial processes world-wide today. The production of gaseous, liquid and particulate emissions is widely monitored and controlled in the major industrial countries. In Ireland, where emissions are still relatively low, awareness is increasing that the development of the industrial base will necessitate the implementation of measures for pollution control. Investigations in the area of traditional ceramics have shown that the major forms of pollution are oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, fluorides, chlorides and particulates. Legislation for the control of the levels of these pollutants is currently under discussion at a European level and will, in some cases, be implemented by the turn of the century. In Ireland, the EPA is evaluating the problem with cooperation from industry. Various methods of reduction of the emissions from the traditional ceramics industry are considered here, including process modification and control. An ongoing research project, involving a number of Irish and other European companies, is addressing these issues. The relationship between the raw materials and the production methods typical of the heavy clay industry are being considered. The work highlights the probable impacts on Irish industry of EU environmental directives.