Butadiene Chemical Substance Flow Analysis in South Korea
Abstract
Currently chemical substances and materials are widely used in all kind of industry and household, almost everywhere and in everything. On the other hand, many accidents related with chemicals are also occurring in the world. In South Korea, the accidents related with chemicals are getting increased from 7 cases in 2006 to 104 cases in 2014 (MOE, 2015). Along with establishment of chemical regulations such as EU REACH and Korea REACH - The Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals), many studies should be conducted for sustainable chemical substance’s safety management and prevention of the chemical accidents. In this study, butadiene (1,3-Butadiene, C4H6, CAS NO: 106-99-0) in the important chemicals was selected. The butadiene is flammable, colorless gas with a mild aromatic odor and it is highly reactive. Butadiene is soluble in alcohol and ether, insoluble in water and polymerizes readily, particularly if oxygen is present. One major use of butadiene has been in the making of synthetic rubber. Butadiene is also used extensively for various polymerizations for plastics manufacturing. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to quantify, analyse and make a flow map of the butadiene by applying substance flow analysis (SFA). Our result shows that the amount consumption in each company, location of manufactures using butadiene as well as butadiene’s flow (import, export, stocks and flows) in Korean industrial system (between industries including companies). Finally the result of this study can support for chemical accident prevention system and sustainable chemical management in South Korea.