Development of Emission Factors for Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate and Ethylene-Methyl Acrylate Copolymer Processing

Emission factors for selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate emissions were developed over a range of temperatures during extrusion of three mixtures of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers and two mixtures of ethylene-methyl acrylate (EMA) copolymers. A mixture of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) resins was used as a control. EVAs with 9, 18, and 28% vinyl acetate (VA) were used. The EMA mixtures were both 20% methyl acrylate. A small commercial extruder was used. Polymer melt temperatures were run at 340 °F for LDPE and both 18 and 28% EVAs. The 9% EVA mixture was extruded at 435 °F melt temperature. The EMA mixtures were extruded at 350 and 565 °F melt temperatures. An emission rate for each substance was calculated, measured, and reported as pounds released to the atmosphere per million pounds of polymer processed [ppm (wt/wt)]. Based on production volumes, these emission factors can be used by processors to estimate emission quantities from EVA and EMA extrusion operations that are similar to the resins and the conditions used in the study.