In the bustling heart of China’s industrial landscape, a new study has cast a spotlight on an often-overlooked culprit in the nation’s air quality woes: the printing industry. With an annual output value of over ¥1.43 trillion, this sector is a significant source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), key precursors to ozone formation. A comprehensive meta-analysis, led by Jian Zhai from the Shanghai Publishing and Printing College, has provided a much-needed national-scale assessment of VOC emissions and their ozone formation potential (OFP) from this industry.
The study, published in *Frontiers in Environmental Science* (translated as “前沿环境科学”), encompassed data from 14 major cities across three key regions: the Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta, and Bohai Rim. It revealed that oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) dominated the emission profiles, accounting for a substantial 44.6% to 81.1% of total VOC emissions. Isopropanol and ethyl acetate were identified as the predominant species, contributing 28.7% ± 5.3% and 24.1% ± 4.8% of total VOCs, respectively.
“These findings highlight significant regional variations in emission profiles and OFP, driven by differences in ink types and printing processes,” Zhai explained. For instance, Changsha exhibited the highest OFP, largely due to its prevalent use of gravure printing. The study also evaluated pollution control technologies, revealing that 68% of enterprises relied on granular activated carbon (GAC), which typically achieves only 40%–75% removal efficiency. In contrast, regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) demonstrated superior performance, exceeding 90% efficiency.
The commercial implications of these findings are substantial. Inefficient control technologies like GAC underscore a critical gap in current pollution mitigation efforts, potentially leading to regulatory tightening and increased operational costs for non-compliant enterprises. Moreover, the study’s recommendations—mandating water-based inks in high-emission processes, upgrading to advanced treatment technologies, and implementing real-time VOC monitoring systems—could drive significant investments in green technologies and innovation.
As China continues to grapple with air quality challenges, this research provides a scientific basis for formulating targeted, region-specific VOC control strategies within the printing industry. It also serves as a wake-up call for the energy sector, highlighting the need for collaboration and innovation in developing more efficient and effective pollution control technologies.
In the words of Zhai, “To effectively address VOC emissions and ozone formation, we need a multi-pronged approach that combines regulatory measures, technological upgrades, and real-time monitoring.” This study not only sheds light on the current state of VOC emissions in China’s printing industry but also paves the way for future developments in environmental protection and sustainable industrial practices.