Abstract Gaseous elemental mercury (Hg°) emitted into the ambient air around an Egyptian plant was determined during the different stages and processing of natural gas. Around 34 locations were selected beside the natural gas treatment process (inlet separation, dehydration, sweetening, NGL removal, condensate shipping, water removal and flaring processes). Mercury concentration measurements in the ambient air were performed for a period of one month. The elemental mercury was collected on a gold coated silica trap by amalgamation and then measured with cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry via double amalgam technique. The measured mercury concentrations for all measuring locations were in the range 8.3–212.2 ng/Sm3. The highest average Hg° concentration (212.2 ng/Sm3) was found at the open drain of the condensate storage tank (CSA‒OD); and this concentration is higher than the maximum acceptable level (200 ng/Sm3) according to the U.S. agency for toxic substances and disease registry (ATSDR). However, this concentration still below the maximum limit (300 ng/Sm3) of U.S. environmental protection agency (EPA). The mercury concentration in all other sites (33 locations) have an acceptable level located in the range 8.3–114.9 ng/Sm3. Therefore, all the sites around the Egyptian gas processing facilities were environmentally safe for humans except the CSA‒OD site referenced to ATSDR.

中文翻译：

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监测埃及天然气加工厂周围环境空气中的元素汞

摘要 排放到埃及工厂周围环境空气中的气态元素汞 (Hg°) 是在天然气的不同阶段和加工过程中测定的。除了天然气处理过程（入口分离、脱水、脱硫、NGL 去除、冷凝水运输、除水和燃烧过程）之外，还选择了大约 34 个位置。环境空气中的汞浓度测量进行了一个月。通过汞齐化在镀金二氧化硅捕集器上收集元素汞，然后通过双汞齐技术使用冷蒸气原子吸收光谱法进行测量。所有测量位置的测量汞浓度范围为 8.3–212.2 ng/Sm3。最高平均 Hg° 浓度 (212.2 ng/Sm3) 出现在冷凝水储罐的明渠 (CSA-OD)；并且该浓度高于美国有毒物质和疾病登记机构 (ATSDR) 规定的最大可接受水平 (200 ng/Sm3)。但是，该浓度仍低于美国环保署 (EPA) 的最高限值 (300 ng/Sm3)。所有其他地点（33 个地点）的汞浓度在 8.3–114.9 ng/Sm3 范围内的可接受水平。因此，除了参考 ATSDR 的 CSA-OD 场地外，埃及天然气处理设施周围的所有场地对人类都是环境安全的。所有其他地点（33 个地点）的汞浓度在 8.3–114.9 ng/Sm3 范围内的可接受水平。因此，除了参考 ATSDR 的 CSA-OD 场地外，埃及天然气处理设施周围的所有场地对人类都是环境安全的。所有其他地点（33 个地点）的汞浓度在 8.3–114.9 ng/Sm3 范围内的可接受水平。因此，除了参考 ATSDR 的 CSA-OD 场地外，埃及天然气处理设施周围的所有场地对人类都是环境安全的。