Dec 20th

In Pakistan there are more than 10,000 brick kilns working on old technology (bull trench kiln) which are located at the remote areas of the country but due to rapid urbanization has brought residential areas in near proximity to brick kilns. Out of these 72 brick kilns working within and vicinity of capital city Islamabad. 12 brick kilns located at near the shaheed Benazir Bhutto international Airport Islamabad. Some of the brick Kilns near the Shaheed Benazir Bhuto international Airport and other cities of Pakistan stopped functioning due to not compliance with the emission standard set by the Environmental Protection Agencies and non-availability of cost-effective emission control devices for these large production bricks technology in the Market. Recently a first time a emission control device called Smoke Density Reduction Device (SDR) designed by Mr. Sajid Mahmood (Chemist-Air) under the supervision of Mr. Asif Shujah Khan (Director General) and Mr. Ch. Asad ullah Faiz (Director EIA/Mont) Pak-EPA Islamabad along with the coordination of the brick kiln Owner Mr. Ch. Iqram Ullah. It install on the mouth of stack which work on the principle of sucking (by Axial Fan) the smoke emitted through the mouth of stack, impacts it on the surface of stagnant water in the tank. The particles along with gases mixed with water and settle in it while the smoke with 50- 60% less smoke density emitted out through an Outlet at the roof of closed water tank.
From results of Ringlemann Scale Chart it is found that the with the add on device on the mouth of chimney it decrease the smoke density due to settling of different particles especial carbon black and mixing of CO, CO2, SO2 etc with water in the tank used.This can be observed by the matching the smoke colour when the device was in operational and with the smoke of stack when the device was not in operational.
The Technique use in this device is different from the other techniques like skid mounted wet scrubber using in the reduction of emission of brick kiln. In skid mounted technique same water is use but it is use for showering purpose and also water supply continuous approximately 11 gallon per minute and recirculation of water is 680 gallon per minute in one of water scrubber device in the market. But in this device (SDR) just 16 gallon of water supply to tank through supply valve one time in a 24 hour a day and change after two to three days ( through a drain pipe at the bottom of water Tank) or when the level decrease from required limit. It is very cost effective and environmental friendly and also easy to install at the mouth of already working traditional brick kilns (Fixed-Bull trench kiln) without disturbing the natural mechanism of these brick kilns.
Recently Pakistan Environmental Tribunal (PET), already recommended this device in the presence of Mr. Rashid Cheema, A.D. Pak EPA along with Mr. Sajid Mahmood (Chemist) Designer of this SDR Device, and the Complainant Mr. Taimoor Asghar Radar Facility Chief, CAA. Who was especially called to give his views on the issue involved in this complaint. PET are firmly of the view that an area of 12 kilometers around the Airport shall have to be cleared to facilitate the visibility and quality of air and to make it suitable for the purpose of landing and take-off.
Thus the brick kilns located within a radius of 12 kilometers around the Airport shall have to be shifted else where which will complete shifting within three month from today and the brick kilns located beyond the radius of 12 Kilometer to 20 Kilometer will have to provide smoke control device designed by Mr Sajid Mahmood (Chemist) Pak EPA



This syndicated post originally appeared at on 20 December 2010