Environmental Chemistry

air: d.1 primary air pollution; d.2 & d.9 ozone depletion; d.3 greenhouse effect and global warming; d.4 acid rain; d.8
smog
Pollutant Natural source Human source Health effect Ozone Solution
Greenhouse
Acid rain
Smog
carbon monoxide CO incomplete oxidation of incomplete combustion prevents -- catalytic converter:
methane: of fossil fuels: haemoglobin from CO + NO CO2 + N2
CH4 + 1O2 CO2 + C8H18 + 8O2 8CO + carrying oxygen (lean burn engine)
2H2O 9H2O (carboxyhaemoglobin) (thermal exhaust reactor)
carbon dioxide CO2 respiration of animals combustion of fossil global warming: greenhouse effect -
aerobic decomposition fuels & biomass extinction of species (50%)
-rising sea levels (naturally acidic rain)
-melting of polar ice
water vapour H2O evaporation of ocean/lake -- as above greenhouse effect -
nitrogen oxides NOx lightning internal combustion respiratory irritant, ozone depletion catalytic converter
biological processes engine (high respiratory tract greenhouse effect lean burn engine (low air:fuel)
(aerobic bacteria) temperature): infections acid rain EGR (lower temperatures)
N2 + O2 2NO photochemical smog
N2O bacteria/lightning -- as above greenhouse effect as above
(6%)
NO bacteria (80%) car/jet engines (20%) as above ozone depletion as above
NO2 from NO from NO as above acid rain as above
photochemical smog
sulfur oxides SO2 volcanoes combustion of coal respiratory irritant, acid rain alkaline scrubbing:
oxidation of H2S: (containing FeS/FeS2 respiratory tract reducing smog CaO + SO2 CaSO3 (dry)
2H2S + 3O2 2SO2 + /amino acids) infections: Ca(OH)2 + SO2 CaSO3 + H2O
2H2O smelting of sulfide ores: SO2 + H2O H2SO3 removal of S compounds in coal
(CuS/Ag2S/PbS/ZnS) + skin irritation (wash in solvent eg CS2)
O2 metal oxide + SO2 limestone based fluidised beds
(coal burnt on bed: S CaSO3/4)
SO3 SO2 + O2 SO3 SO2 + O2 SO3 as above acid rain as above
reducing smog
particulates dust storms asbestos affects respiratory reducing smog electrostatic precipitation
By Stephanie saint_steph_@hotmail.com
 Environmental Chemistry
forest fires soot from combustion system, lung diseases (high voltage ionises gas particles
volcanoes dust electrons collect onto particulates
pollen/fungal spores metallic particles attract to + plates)
hydrocarbons CxHy plants rice unburnt fuel / solvents benzene derivatives: greenhouse effect catalytic converter
CH4 (emit terpenes) cows / sheep coma/brain, cancer (18%) (heat burns unburnt hydrocarbons)
photochemical smog
chlorofluorocarbons CCl2F2 -- refrigerants more UV: (greenhouse effect) ban CFCs / find alternatives
propellants sunburn / skin cancer ozone depletion (eg hydro(chloro)fluorocarbons,
foaming agents cataracts / blindness hydrocarbons)
solvents -must have low reactivity/toxicity,
-phytoplankton die non-flammable, no weak C-Cl bond
-inhibits plant growth -HCFCs decompose; but still deplete
& photosynthesis ozone
-stratospheric -HCs: flammable, greenhouse gases
convection currents -HFCs: best alternative, expensive
altered

By Stephanie saint_steph_@hotmail.com
 Environmental Chemistry
water: d.5 water suitable for drinking; d.6 dissolved oxygen in water; d.7 waste water treatment; d.10 toxic
substances in water
Pollutant / Annoying thing Source Health effect Environmental effect Removal method
Salt NaCl seawater undrinkable water -- distillation
reverse osmosis
ion exchange columns
Oxygen sewage / sewage -- BOD > 5 ppm (normally 1 ppm) see Organic waste, Phosphates
demanding detergent / detergents/fertilisers cannot support aquatic life and Nitrates
wastes fertiliser some industries eutrophication (anaerobic decay)
Solids -- domestic sewage -- -- Primary treatment: filtration with
rivers mechanical screens; flocculant
Organic waste -- domestic sewage disease causing bacteria high BOD (see above) Secondary treatment: aeration of
water aerobic bacteria break
down matter (activated sludge
process)
Heavy metal Cd zinc mining effluent toxic: interferes with enzymes fish die Tertiary treatment:
ions rechargeable batteries kidney damage birth defects in mice -precipitation by bubbling H2S
metal plating destroys red blood cells crops (rice) dont grow into water insoluble sulfates
orange pigment in paints/enamels Itai-itai disease / brittle bones Cd2+ + H2S CdS + 2H+
Hg batteries neurotoxin: accumulates in liver kills fish
fungicide in seed dressings & kidneys biological magnification Other heavy metal ions removed
industrial electrolysis forms organomercury effect on animals similar to by addition of Ca(OH)2 or
compounds: affect blood/brain humans Na2CO3
Minamata disease Cr3+ + 3OH- Cr(OH)3
Pb leaded petrol poisoning: kidney failure/death... toxic to plants / domestic animals
old paints mental retardation in children biological magnification
car batteries hypertension & heart disease
lead water pipes
Phosphates PO43- artificial fertilisers -- eutrophication Tertiary treatment:
detergents (kills species) -precipitation by addition of
Al2(SO4)3 or Ca(OH)2
Al3+ + PO43- AlPO4
3Ca2+ + 2PO43- Ca3(PO4)2
Nitrates N2O artificial fertilisers blue baby syndrome eutrophication ion exchange (zeolite) columns

By Stephanie saint_steph_@hotmail.com
 Environmental Chemistry
NO intense animal farming (methaemoglobinaemia) (kills species) anaerobic bacteria N2
NO2 acid rain form nitrosamines (carcinogenic) algal ponds
pesticides DDT -- -- -- --
insecti-/
herbi-/
fungicides
dioxins see below -- -- -- --
polychlorinated see below -- -- -- --
biphenyls

example of a dioxin

example of a polychlorinated biphenyl

By Stephanie saint_steph_@hotmail.com