Air Pollution

Control
 PURE AIR
78.1% N2
20.9% O2
0.9% Ar
0.04% CO2
0.002% Ne
0.0005% He
 METEOROLOGY OF AIR
POLLUTANTS

0.1% air

little mixing

well-mixed
80% air
4 Strata based on Temp Profile
 METEOROLOGY OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
global wind patterns - differential warming
and cooling of eart as it rotates (sun)
local winds - differential temperatures
between land and water masses
ex: sea breeze
-progressive warming
of the land during a
sunny day
 METEOROLOGY OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
very
stable air stability -
measure of
verticar air
movement

unstable

• wind - horizontal movement + dispersion of air pollutants

• adiabatic lapse rates - warming and cooling at 1 degC/100 m (dry air)
• prevailing lapse rates - actual T-elevation measurements
 METEOROLOGY OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
• superadiabatic lapse rate - characterized by
great deal of vertical air movement and
turbulence
 METEOROLOGY OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
• subadiabatic lapse rate - dampen out
vertical movement; limited vertical mixing
 METEOROLOGY OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
• inversion - vertical movement is almost nil

night time
 METEOROLOGY OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
• serious air pollutions accompanied by
inversions
fog “tiny droplets of water”
-converts SO3 to H2SO4; screens the sunlight
 METEOROLOGY OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
• EXAMPLE
 AIR POLLUTANTS
CHARACTERIZATION
• Particulates - includes dusts, fumes, mists,
smoke, spray
 AIR POLLUTANTS
CHARACTERIZATION
Dust
 entrained by gases
directly from material
handled/procesed
direct offspring of a
parent material
undergoing a mechanical cement dust 100 µm
operation
entrained materials used
in mechanical operation
(sandblasting)
 AIR POLLUTANTS
CHARACTERIZATION
• fume, 0.03 - 0.3 µm
frequently metallic oxides formed by
condensation of vapors by sublimation,
distillation, calcination
 AIR POLLUTANTS
CHARACTERIZATION
• mist, 0.5 - 0.3 µm
entrained liquid
particle formed by
condensation of
vapors or chemical
reaction

oil mist (metalworking process)

 AIR POLLUTANTS
CHARACTERIZATION
• smoke, 0.05 - 1 µm
entrained solid
particles from
incomplete
combustion of
carbonaceous
materials
 AIR POLLUTANTS
CHARACTERIZATION
• spray
liquid particle
formed from
atomization of a
parent liquid
settle under gravity
 AIR POLLUTANTS
CHARACTERIZATION
Measurement of Particulates
• Total suspended
particulate (TSP)
refers to the totality
of small solid
matter
-primary contributor high-volume
sampler
to air pollution (gravimetric)
 AIR POLLUTANTS
CHARACTERIZATION
Example
 AIR POLLUTANTS
CHARACTERIZATION
Respirable Particulates

PM10- small50% enough to

particle mass assoc
with 4-µ particles
enter the thoracic region of
human respiratory tract;
smaller than 10µm
PM10 sampler (centrifugal)
PM2.5 - smaller than 2.5µm;
so small and light they tend
to stay longer in the air
WHO exposure limits
 AIR POLLUTANTS
CHARACTERIZATION
Gaseous pollutants
Unit: ppm (vol/vol),µg/m3
• Substances that are
gases at normal T&P µg = MW x 100 x ppm
m3 24.5
• Vapors that are L or S
• CO, HC’s, H2S, NO, O3 +
oxidants, SOx, CO2, CH4
 AIR POLLUTANTS
CHARACTERIZATION
Example

Gaseous pollutants
 AIR POLLUTANTS
CHARACTERIZATION
Gas Measurement Techniques
• Wet chemistry method – use of a bubbler and wet
chemical techniques

SO2 + H2O2 = H2SO4

then titration

Gaseous pollutants
 AIR POLLUTANTS
CHARACTERIZATION
Gas Measurement Techniques
• Colorimetric (pararosaniline) method – measurement of
absorbance

SO2 + TCM (tetrachloromercurate)

= complex

Gaseous pollutants
 AIR POLLUTANTS
CHARACTERIZATION
Gas Measurement Techniques
• Emerging techniques

Gaseous pollutants
 AIR POLLUTANTS
CHARACTERIZATION
Gas Measurement Techniques
Emerging techniques

 Non-Dispersive Infrared Photometry (NDIR)

-preferential absorption of infrared radiation by a
constituent, e.g., carbon monoxide (CO)
-difference between the amounts of energy reaching the
detector via the reference cell and that via the sample cell
would be proportional to the CO concentration

Chemiluminescence Technique
-pollutant reacted with a specific reactant (in large excess)
the product molecules formed would be at a higher state of
excitation and subsequently release light (energy)
-intensity of the emitted light would be directly proportional
to the concentration of the pollutant

Gaseous pollutants
 AIR POLLUTANTS
CHARACTERIZATION
Gas Measurement Techniques
Emerging techniques

 Conductometric Technique
-change in conductivity of the sample (when absorbed in a
suitable liquid) would be proportional to the concentration of
the pollutant

 Coulometric Technique
-reacting the gaseous sample with an KI or KBr solution in
an electrolytic cell
-current proportional to oxidants present

Electrochemical Technique
-consist of a semi-permeable membrane, an electrolyte film, a
sensing electrode and a reference electrode immersed in the
electrolyte; voltage difference

Gaseous pollutants
 HOMEWORK#1 02/20/2019

• ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS
1. The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999
(RA8479) – salient features and agency
mandates
2. DAO 2013-26 – AT LEAST 5 SENTENCES
3. IRR – REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8749 – AT
LEAST 10 SENTENCES
4. MONTREAL PROTOCOL
CHARACTERIZATION OF AIR
POLLUTION EMISSIONS
QUIZ

• True/False: The darker the smoke, the

more pollution it brings.
CHARACTERIZATION OF AIR
POLLUTION EMISSIONS
Measurement of Smoke
 CHARACTERIZATION OF AIR
POLLUTION EMISSIONS
Measurement of Smoke

• In-line capture - sample is sucked through

a filter; gravimetric; for slight concentrations
• Filter/dilution tunnel - smoke sample is
drawn through a tube where it is diluted
with air; gravimetric (international method)
• Optical scattering – amount of light
reflected by particle ~ concentration
CHARACTERIZATION OF AIR
POLLUTION EMISSIONS
Visibility – reduction in visibility is one of the
obvious effects of air pollutants

Loss of visibility – condition when it is just

possible to identify a large object in bright
daylight, or
- Just possible to see a moderately bright
light at night
- Vague… but defines limits of visibility
 CHARACTERIZATION OF AIR
POLLUTION EMISSIONS
Visibility

Small particulates – with the most effective

reduction in visibility
Adsorbs light
Scatters the light – reduces contrast
between light and darker objects
 CHARACTERIZATION OF AIR
POLLUTION EMISSIONS
Visibility

Approximate expression for visibility:

Limit of visibility

*Lv, km = 1.2 x 103 *for atmospheres <70% MC

C, µg/m3
Particulate
concentration
 SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
1. Natural sources - smoke particles from forest fires, HC’s
from terpenes, H2S from amino acids break down

2. People-made sources
Stationary combustion processes – oil and coal
combustion

Transportation sources – smoke, CO, NOx, HC’s,

smoke, Pb particles

Industrial process
Solid waste disposal – backyard burning, incinerators,
landfills
 SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
• HOMEWORK #2
1. Enumerate and discuss the 4 most
difficult problems encountered relating air
pollution to health.
 SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
• Air Pollution to Health correlation
threshold - dose response curves mostly
non-linear, some unknown
total body burden - account for other
intake sources (food, water); e.g., Pb
time vs dosage - max allowable
concentrations for a given time
synergism - collective effect; e.g., black
lung disease (coal mining + cigarette smoking)
 SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
• HOMEWORK
SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTANTS

0.1 µm

Particulates
 H2SO4 droplets
 Pb particles
 SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
• SO2
-Irritant, restricts air flow, slows action of cilia
Highly soluble mucous membrane
(adsorption to tiny particles)
Deep lung
SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
 SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
• SOx, NOx, Acid Rain
fuels

High-T combustion

 Aquatic effect
 Pollution across political
boundaries (USA, Brit)
 SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
• Photochemical smog
Primary pollutants
Secondary pollutants

Ozone, aldehydes, organic acids, epoxy compounds

 SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
Photochemical smog
 SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
• Ozone depletion
ODS: CFCl3, CF2Cl2 (Montreal 1987)

Polar vortex
 SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
Global Warming
 SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
Global Warming
 SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
Homework #3: Read and discuss Gaia hypothesis
in at least 5 sentences.
 SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
Indoor Air quality – a ventilation factor
 SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
Indoor Air quality – a ventilation factor

 Secondary smoke (high CO, particulates)

 “Sleepy driver” syndrome

 Radon – naturally emitted gas entering homes

through basements, water, building
materials (natural decay chain)

Lung
cancer
Po, Pb, Bi
 SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
Indoor Air quality – a ventilation factor
 SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
Indoor Air quality – a ventilation factor
 SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
Indoor Air quality – a ventilation factor
 Reading Assignment
• Homework#4: CONTROL OF AIR
POLLUTANTS (Intro to Envi Engg,
Vesilind, et.al p.455-475)

• For 02/25-03/01/2019
• problems to follow
 CONTROL OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
• Treatment of Emissions
- vs elimination of pollution source
- compatibility to
size and nature
 CONTROL OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
• Treatment of Emissions
-

IN
OUT
 CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTANTS

• Control of Particulates
 settling chambers - very large sizes (>100 μ)
cyclone - 5-40 μ; 50-99%efficiency,
centifugal and inertia
 bag/fabric filters - T,RH-sensitive
impingement, Brownian diffusion; submicron sizes
spray tower/scrubber - large sizes; air-H2O contact
electrostatic precipitators - submicron; in power
plants
Treatment of Emissions
CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTANTS
• Control of Gaseous Pollutants
-involves
 the removal of the pollutant from the
gaseous emissions,
a chemical change in the pollutant, or
 a change in the process producing the
pollutant

Treatment of Emissions
CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTANTS

• Control of Gaseous Pollutants

wet scrubbers - dissolving in water; w/ or
w/o chemical (rxn)=>SO2 removal
adsorption - activated carbon
incineration or flaring -organic
oxidized to CO2, H2O
catalytic combustion - Trxn lowered

Treatment of Emissions
CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTANTS
QUIZ

Treatment of Emissions
 CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTANTS
• Control of SOx
-techniques for reducing SO2,SO3 emission
Change to low-sulfur fuel = oil, nat.gas
Desulfurize the coal
-inorganic iron pyrite thru washing
-organic sulfur (60%) thru chemical rxn
Build tall stacks = acid rain
Desulfurize the flue gas.

Treatment of Emissions
CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTANTS
Briggs Model
• Dispersion of Air Pollutants
atmospheric
instability

no vertical
dispersion

no vertical
mixing and
high ground
level
Dispersion - process of
concentrations spreading the emission over a
large area, thereby reducing the
conc. of the specific pollutants.
 CONTROL OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
• Dispersion of Air Pollutants
 CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTANTS
• Dispersion Equation

simplifications:

effective ht H = stack ht. plus Δh

Dispersion of Air Pollutants

 CONTROL OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
• Dispersion Equation

Dispersion of Air Pollutants

CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTANTS
• Control of Moving Sources

60% of the HC and almost

all the NOx and CO

 cylinder, fuel injection

CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTANTS
• Control of Moving Sources - TUNEUP

other alternatives:
 electric cars - carbon footprint
 fuel cell technology
 diesel-powered vehicles