Case Study

Air quality monitoring network at Lifeco’s fertiliser plant in Libya

Libyan Fertilizer Company (Lifeco)

Sector: Industry

Need

LIFECO, a leading fertiliser producer in Libya, faced a growing need to implement an environmental monitoring system to ensure both safety and health at its Marsa el Brega plant. Given the potential risks to its workers and surrounding communities, LIFECO required a monitoring solution that not only met high precision standards but could also operate continuously and autonomously in a demanding industrial environment.

To address this, the system needed to provide real-time data on a range of gases and particulate matter, including ammonia (NH₃), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), ozone (O₃), hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and suspended particulates (PM₁, PM_2.5, PM₄, PM₁₀, TSP, TPC). Additionally, LIFECO sought a low-maintenance solution that would enable uninterrupted, comprehensive monitoring without reliance on an electrical network.

Kunak rose to this challenge by deploying four Kunak AIR Pro stations at strategic points within the plant, each equipped with state-of-the-art sensors to measure these pollutants accurately. Thanks to autonomous operation powered by solar panels, the Kunak AIR Pro stations provide LIFECO with real-time, continuous monitoring, effectively protecting employees and enhancing operational safety.

The primary goal of the monitoring system implemented at LIFECO is to provide a detailed, real-time view of air quality at the Marsa el Brega facilities. By obtaining precise, up-to-the-minute data, LIFECO can identify and respond immediately to any rise in contaminant levels, with automatic alerts triggered when pre-set safety thresholds are exceeded. This allows the company to act swiftly, safeguarding worker health and minimising impact on nearby communities.

Additionally, the monitoring network supports proactive environmental management, enabling LIFECO to make informed decisions to optimise processes and reduce emissions. Overall, the system strengthens LIFECO’s commitment to sustainability and industrial safety.

Thanks to Kunak's technology, we now monitor air quality at our facilities with the precision and confidence our employees and communities deserve.

Air quality monitoring network at Lifeco’s fertiliser plant in Libya - Kunak

Solution

To meet LIFECO’s needs, Kunak provided a comprehensive monitoring solution consisting of four strategically placed Kunak AIR Pro stations across the Marsa el Brega plant. These stations continuously and accurately measure levels of ammonia (NH₃), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), ozone (O₃), hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and various suspended particulates. Equipped with high-precision sensors, these stations ensure rapid and reliable detection of critical pollutants at multiple points in the plant.

Powered by solar panels, the Kunak AIR Pro stations operate fully autonomously, even in areas without electricity access. Furthermore, the data collected is integrated into the Kunak AIR Cloud platform, allowing LIFECO to visualise, analyse, and leverage the information in real time. This connectivity ensures continuous monitoring, providing LIFECO with a detailed view of air quality at its plant and enabling faster response and more informed decision-making in the event of contaminant level fluctuations.

Kunak’s monitoring solution reinforces LIFECO’s commitment to environmental control and operational safety. The system delivers real-time visibility of emissions and supports proactive actions to improve processes, reduce risks and maintain a safer environment for both workers and surrounding communities.

Results

The implementation of the Kunak AIR Pro monitoring network at LIFECO’s plant has transformed its environmental control capabilities, providing continuous, real-time visibility of key pollutant levels.

Thanks to the precision and reliability of the Kunak stations, LIFECO now has a continuous and traceable data source for monitoring critical gases and suspended particles. When concentrations exceed predefined safety thresholds, the system triggers automatic alerts, enabling immediate action to protect both worker health and the surrounding community.

In addition, the availability of continuous data has enabled the implementation of preventive strategies, improving emission control and supporting targeted actions to reduce environmental impact. The system has strengthened operational control, contributing to safer, more efficient and environmentally responsible operations.

Benefits

Real-time environmental control: Continuous air quality monitoring across the facility enables better operational oversight and control of emissions.
Prevention and rapid response: Automatic alerts allow immediate action in case of contamination events, reducing risks for workers and nearby communities.
Operational optimisation: Continuous data helps identify patterns and improve process control, increasing efficiency and stability.
Regulatory compliance: Reliable, traceable data supports environmental reporting and simplifies compliance with regulatory requirements.
Improved emission control strategies: Detailed insights enable more effective mitigation measures and continuous improvement of environmental performance.

Project details

Customer: Libyan Fertilizer Company (Lifeco)

User: Libyan Fertilizer Company (Lifeco)

Location: Marsa el Brega, Libya

Sector: Industry

Year: 2024

Parameters:

Ammonia (NH₃), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), ozone (O₃), hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Particulate matter PM₁, PM_2.5, PM₄, PM₁₀, TSP (Total Suspended Particles) and TPC (Total Particle Count).
Wind speed and direction
Weather variables such as temperature, humidity and pressure

Solutions

AIR ProProfessional air quality monitoring station
AIR Pro
The most accurate air quality monitoring station

SENSOR-BASED | BEST AVAILABLE ACCURACY

Benefits
- Multi-pollutant
- Smart cartridge system
- Fully autonomous
- Real-time data
- Proven accuracy
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AIR CloudAir quality software
AIR Cloud
Multipurpose air quality software for professionals

REAL-TIME DATA | ALWAYS UPDATED

Benefits
- Secure and condifential
- Air quality reporting
- Advanced data analysis and visualisation
- Reliable data guaranteed
- Data sharing and integration
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AmmoniaReliable real-time data on NH₃
Ammonia
Reliable information about ammonia

GASPLUG TECHNOLOGY | PATENTED DESIGN

Specs
- Electrochemical
- Typical accuracy (MAE): ±0.3 ppm
- Range: 0-50 ppm
- Resolution: 0.01 ppm
- 24 months of operating life
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Carbon monoxideReliable real-time data on CO
Carbon monoxide
Reliable information about carbon monoxide

GASPLUG TECHNOLOGY | PATENTED DESIGN

Specs
- Electrochemical
- R² >0.85
- Range: 0-12,000 ppb (Type A) | 0-500 ppm (Type B)
- Resolution: 1 ppb (Type A) | 0.01 ppm (Type B)
- 24 months of operating life
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Nitrogen dioxideReliable real-time data on NO₂
Nitrogen dioxide
Reliable information about nitrogen dioxide

GASPLUG TECHNOLOGY | PATENTED DESIGN

Specs
- Electrochemical
- R² >0.85
- Range: 0-12,000 ppb (Type A) | 0-500 ppm (Type B)
- Resolution: 1 ppb (Type A) | 0.01 ppm (Type B)
- 24 months of operating life
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Nitric oxideReliable real-time data on NO
Nitric oxide
Reliable information about nitric oxide

GASPLUG TECHNOLOGY | PATENTED DESIGN

Specs
- Electrochemical
- R² >0.9
- Range: 0-5,000 ppb
- Resolution: 1 ppb
- 24 months of operating life
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Hydrogen sulphide sensorReliable real-time data on H₂S
Hydrogen sulphide sensor
Reliable information about hydrogen sulphide

GASPLUG TECHNOLOGY | PATENTED DESIGN

Specs
- Electrochemical
- R² >0.8
- Range: 0-2,000 ppb (Type A) | 0-20 ppm (Type B)
- Resolution: 1 ppb (Type A) | 0.01 ppm (Type B)
- 24 months of operating life
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Sulphur dioxideReliable real-time data on SO₂
Sulphur dioxide
Reliable information about sulphur dioxide

GASPLUG TECHNOLOGY | PATENTED DESIGN

Specs
- Electrochemical
- R² >0.7
- Range: 0-10,000 ppb
- Resolution: 1 ppb
- 24 months of operating life
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Volatile organic compoundsReliable real-time data on VOCs
Volatile organic compounds
Reliable information about volatile organic compounds

GASPLUG TECHNOLOGY | PATENTED DESIGN

Specs
- Photoionization detector
- R² >0.99
- Range: 0-3,000 ppb (Type A) | 0-40 ppm (Type B)
- Resolution: 1 ppb (Type A) | 0.01 ppm (Type B)
- 10,000 hours of operating life
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Particulate MatterReliable real-time data on suspended particles
Particulate Matter
Reliable information about particulate matter

GASPLUG TECHNOLOGY | PATENTED DESIGN

Specs
- Optical particle counter
- Up to R² >0.9
- Range: 0-1,000 | 0-2,000 | 0-10,000 ppb
- Resolution: 1 μg/m³
- 24 months of operating life
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