INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What are the processes present in the plant that lead to the release of nitrous oxides into
the atmosphere?

2. Currently in the plant what are the methods in place to treat or control these releases into
the atmosphere?

3. If so what are they and to what extent?

4. Do you have any knowledge about the effects of nitrous oxides on the human beings,
plants and animals or on their habit?

5. Are these nitrous oxides monitored in any measurable way?

6. Are there currently any SOP’s (standard operating procedures) available for employees to
gain knowledge about the effects of nitrous oxides?

7. Are the effects of nitrous oxides a major concern of the plant?

8. Do you think that the release nitrous oxides can affect production on the plant?

9. If so do you think that reducing these nitrous oxides should be of the utmost concern?

10. If a way of efficiently controlling the amount of nitrous oxides has to be implemented do
you think it would be economically feasible to do so?
 QUESTIONNAIRE

The purpose of this questionnaire is to inform employees about the environmental effects
of hot waste water effluent from the company has on the environment. This is being done so that
marine eco-systems in and around the plant area might be able to thrive ensuring an
environmental balance and longevity.

Please tick off the correct option

1. Currently in the quality policy at your company to you think that the control of NOx gases
should be included in this policy?

□ STRONGLY AGREE √

□ AGREE
 □DISAGREE

□ NOT SURE

2. Would you say that a more efficient control system of nitrous oxides has to be
implemented on the plant?

□ STRONGLY AGREE

□ AGREE√

□DISAGREE

□ NOT SURE

3. If so do you think that its’ implementation is of primary concern?

□ STRONGLY AGREE

□ AGREE√

□DISAGREE

□ NOT SURE
4. The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) requires process plants to measure
and record specific properties of effluent gases such as temperature (°C), concentration
(ppm), etc. Do you as a company agree with these monitoring activities?

□ STRONGLY AGREE√

□ AGREE

□DISAGREE

□ NOT SURE

5. Do you think that the implementation of a system to reduce the amount of nitrous oxides
being introduced to the atmosphere will be a costly one?

□ STRONGLY AGREE

□ AGREE√

□DISAGREE

□ NOT SURE

6. If so then could a recovery system be put in place so that NOx gases can be fed back into
the system as recovery seeing that NOx gases are used in the production of nitric acid?

□ STRONGLY AGREE

□ AGREE√

□DISAGREE

□ NOT SURE

7. We as students are currently devising an efficient way to control nitrous oxides. Would
you take of findings into serious consideration?
 □ STRONGLY AGREE

□ AGREE√

□DISAGREE

□ NOT SURE

8. Do you agree that the information of our research should be shared among the
departments of your company in particular those who deal with effluent gases?

□ STRONGLY AGREE

□ AGREE

□DISAGREE

□ NOT SURE√

9. Do you think that this proposal will help improve production in your company?

□ STRONGLY AGREE

□ AGREE

□DISAGREE

□ NOT SURE√

10. Do you agree that environmental depravity affects the process industry?

□ STRONGLY AGREE

□ AGREE√

□DISAGREE
□ NOT SURE
 ANSWERS TO INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

• What are the processes present in the plant that lead to the release of nitrous oxides into
the atmosphere?

The combustion of natural in the plant’s main boiler produces close to 100% of the NOx gases
that are introduced in the atmosphere.

• Currently in the plant what are the methods in place to treat or control these releases into
the atmosphere?

Being a waste gas the NOx gases are sent to the flare to be burned.

• If so what are they and to what extent?

The NOx gases are totally combusted in the flare

• Do you have any knowledge about the effects of nitrous oxides on the human beings,
plants and animals or on their habit?

All information about the effects of the nitrous oxides are available to all employees in MSDS
(material safety data sheets) and quality policy modules that vividly explain all negative effects
of NOx gas exposure
 • Are these nitrous oxides monitored in any measurable way?

Not directly but the physical parameters of the flue gases (temperature, flowrate and pressure)
are monitored

• Are there currently any SOP’s (standard operating procedures) available for employees to
gain knowledge about the effects of nitrous oxides?

Yes they are as before mentioned on MSDS and quality policy modules

• Are the effects of nitrous oxides a major concern of the plant?

Safety and environmental concerns are of primary importance to the company. Locally the EMA
has put in place laws and regulations that each process plant has to conform with regards to flue
gas emissions. Failure to comply with these regulations could mean a immediate plant shut down
and eventually de-commissioning.
 • Do you think that the release nitrous oxides can affect production on the plant?

Well failure to comply with environmental and safety standards can be detriment to the working
force of the company which on who production relies on and if NOx gases affects the working
force then the production of the plant will be affected

• If so do you think that reducing these nitrous oxides should be of the utmost concern?

Very much so

• If a way of efficiently controlling the amount of nitrous oxides has to be implemented do

you think it would be economically feasible to do so?

Of course it would providing the improvement system is designed carefully and effectively and
most importantly economically feasible.