VOC is photochemically

active and is a major precursor substance that forms fine particulate matters (PM2.5) after being discharged into the air, causing severe pollution to the environment and air quality.

china-air-quality

In addition, VOC discharged by certain
industrial operations contains, among others, triphenyl, halohydrocarbon,nitrobenzene and aniline that is harmful to human health. Besides, some VOCs have an unpleasant smell and may affect the life of residents around to a certain degree.

The “Made in China 2025” and “Air Pollution
Prevention Action Plan” put forward by the Chinese government aims to reduce
VOC emission by key industries and improve air quality.

Cutting industry VOC emission by

3.3
million tons by 2018

In order to promote sustainable industry
development, the “Key Industry VOC Reduction Action Plan” lasting two years

was
announced by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the
Ministry of Finance in July 2016.

According to released statistics,
industrial operation is the major culprit, which amounted to more than 50% of total VOC emission in China. Meanwhile, oil refining, petrochemical, coatings, printing inks, adhesives, pesticides, automotive and packaging printing as well as rubber products, synthetic leather, furniture and shoe manufacturing were responsible for over 80% industrial VOC emissions.

China’s Action Plan aims to cut industrial
VOC emission by more than 3.3 million tons by 2018 and reduce the use of over 20% of solvents and additives like benzene, toluene, dimethylbenzene, and dimethylformamide (DMF).

Moreover, the proportion of “green” pesticides,
coatings, printing inks, adhesives and tires that has low VOC contents should reach a market share of 70%, 60%, 70%, 85% and 40% respectively.

Technological advancement is the theme of the Action Plan, emphasizing source reduction, process control as well as end-treatment as a comprehensive strategy. Enterprises should play a leading role in reducing VOC emission, it said, with the government offering policy support and guidance to achieve industrial upgrade and transformation by 1. Adopting “greener” materials; 2. Improving processing technology; and 3. Implementing recycling and end-treatment programs.