air quality: emissions under control

During the production processes in the refineries and the chemical plants, several gasses are released of which certain concentrations exceeding a certain level can be harmful to the quality of air and environment. The most important ones are sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and volatile hydrocarbons. Nitrogen oxides contribute towards ground acidification, ozone generation and eutrophication, or over fertilization, which is the disruption of the ecosystems balance through the addition of excessive amounts of fertilizers. Sulfur dioxide is also an acidifier, while the combination of volatile hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides causes smog.

The cleaner the fuel and the better the burner, the lower the NOx emissions. The lower the sulfur content of fuels, the lower the sulfur dioxide emissions. The more effective the seal on storage tanks and the less product that evaporates into the atmosphere, the lower the volatile hydrocarbons emissions.

Over the years, ExxonMobil has invested huge sums in these areas. New advances are being made every year, thanks to a major focus on safety, health and environmental management, the use of proven environmental management systems in every business unit, new capital expenditures or new technological breakthroughs. All in all, in recent decades the company has provided a considerable contribution towards improving air quality and reducing acidification.

If you want to know more about ExxonMobil's environmental policy, click here for the pdf version of the public annual environmental report for the refinery and chemical plants in the Rotterdam harbor area.