This study evaluated the emission characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from 29 asphalt concrete (ascon) manufacturing facilities in South Korea. VOC concentrations were measured inside industrial stacks and storage silos and during and after the truck loading process. Based on these measurements, emission factors were calculated according to facility type and fuel consumption rate. Afterward, they were compared with emission factors set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). The major VOCs emitted from ascon manufacturing facilities were identified as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and the xylene isomers (o-xylene, m-xylene, and p-xylene). The emission concentrations of the VOCs were found to be relatively higher inside industrial stacks and storage silos. Emission factors varied depending on the facility type, with lower values observed in manufacturing facilities using recycled ascon compared to conventional ascon facilities. The emission factors derived in this research were found to be lower than those reported by the U.S. EPA. This difference is attributed to the fact that the emission factors in this study were calculated based on VOC concentrations after treatment by pollution control facilities. As the Clean Air Policy Support System (CAPSS) also sets emission factors based on post-treatment concentrations, this study’s findings can serve as fundamental data to enhance the accuracy of VOC emission estimations.

This study measured and analyzed the discharge concentration and characteristics of odor substances emitted from the discharge outlets of asphalt manufacturing facilities in South Korea. Measured factors included flow rate, composite odors, and 22 designated odor substances. After applying the dilution factor of composite odors emitted from 33 asphalt manufacturing facilities located in various regions to the composite odor emission standard of 500 times, it was found that more than half of these facilities exceeded the emission standard. The contribution rate of the designated odor substances from the discharge outlets was the highest for acetaldehyde at over 50%, followed by hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan. The correlation between composite odors and the concentration of major designated odor substances was analyzed, and it was found that methyl mercaptan and acetaldehyde showed some correlation with the composite odor dilution factor. The methyl mercaptan odor intensity corresponding to the odor intensity of 4.5 to 5 ppb, which is the allowable odor dilution multiple emission standard of the odor emission source outlet, was estimated to be approximately 1.6 to 2.2 ppb, and the corresponding methyl mercaptan emission concentration range was estimated to be 0.98 to 2.02 ppb. The composite odor emission coefficient of asphalt concrete manufacturing facilities was estimated to be higher for general asphalt concrete than for asphalt concrete recycling facilities, and the composite odor emission coefficient of newly produced general asphalt concrete was estimated to be greater than that of recycled asphalt concrete. In terms of fuel usage, the composite odor emission coefficient of facilities that used Bunker C fuel oil was estimated to be higher than that of facilities powered by LPG and LNG fuel. It was deemed necessary to select 2 to 3 major designated odor substances that are correlated with the composite odor dilution factor for each major odor emission source, set the designated odor substance concentration corresponding to the composite odor dilution factor emission allowance standard, and review a plan to monitor the designated odor substances at the emission point.