Nitric Acid  Production
Monitoring Checklist
                           &EPA
                               United States
                               Environmental Protection
                               Agency
Final Rule: Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases

What Must Be Monitored for Each Nitric Acid Train?

                            Measure these parameters...

Monthly:	
       Nitric acid production determined
       through sales records or by direct
       measurement using flow meters or
       weigh scales) (tons acid produced,
       100 percent acid basis)
Other parameters:
       Number of operating hours in the
       calendar year
Nitric acid production during which N2O
abatement technology is operating
determined through sales records or by
direct measurement using flow meters or
weigh scales) (tons acid produced,
100 percent acid basis)
Number of times missing data
procedures were followed
                     Annual Emission Factor Determination:

For each nitric acid train, determine a site-specific emission factor by conducting a performance test
annually and whenever the nitric acid production process is  changed. The general procedure is as follows:
        Conduct the performance test under
        normal process operating conditions
        without using N2O abatement
        technology
Conduct at least three one-hour test runs
For each test run:
       Determine N2O emissions from the
       absorber tail gas vent of the nitric acid
       train, using test methods specified in the
       rule
Measure the production rate
(in tons acid produced per hour,
100 percent acid basis) using either
direct measurement (e.g., flow meters) of
production and concentration or existing
procedures used for accounting purposes
(e.g., tank level and acid concentration
measurements)
Nitric Acid Production Monitoring Checklist
Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases
                    40 CFR 98, subpart V
                        September 2009
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Calculate the site-specific emission factor by measuring:	

  n   N2O concentration                         Q    Volumetric flow rate of effluent gas
       (parts per million N2O)                          (dry standard cubic feet/hr)
                          Determine Abatement Efficiency:

For each N2O abatement technology, the destruction efficiency must be determined using one of the
following:

   D   The destruction efficiency specified by
       the manufacturer

   n   Calculate the destruction efficiency using
        process knowledge

   n   Conduct a performance test
See also the information sheet for Nitric Acid Production (EPA-430-F-09-025R) at:
www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/downloads/infosheets/nitricacidproduction.pdf
Nitric Acid Production Monitoring Checklist                                      40 CFR 98, subpart V
Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases                                            September 2009

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