GASEOUS WASTE

Gaseous waste is made up of particulates and gases.

Particulates/Particles

Particulates/Particles are very tiny/minute solid substances. In general particulate matter is

normally airborne and remains suspended in the air for quite a long time unless and until
they are removed either chemically or physically. The particulates/particles can be classified
into three different categories which are;

(i) Smoke - is a flue gas produce as a result of burning a substance. This flue gas will consist
of quite a number of gases and a number of tiny/minutes solid substances ( solids which are
of a diameter less than 1µm)

(ii) Dust - dust are tiny/minutes solid substances with a diameter in the range between 1 to
75 µm

(iii) Grit - grit are tiny/minutes solid substances with a diameter greater than 75 µm

Sources of Particulates

There are various sources of particulates and these depend upon the category in which they
fall and these are;

(i) Smoke – is mainly from the burning of fuels e.g. petrol/diesel combustion in
motor vehicle, fuel combustion in the industry, incineration plants etc.

(ii) Dust – Wind generates particulate matter by blowing dust and other particulates
from places of deposition into the ambient air from various industries such as
construction science, cement manufacturing industries, granulated fertilizer
industries, mining industries during communition etc.

(iii) Grit - is also from the 2 formentioned only that the particulate size will be greater
than 75um.
Effects of Particulates to Health

The particulates of particles are always suspended in the air hence these are normally
inhaled by animals, people etc. when they are breathing. Their presence in the air breathed
by the living organisms is as follows: The exposure by the living organisms such as animals,
people etc. to the surroundings with particulates/particles; they can suffer from;

(i) Short-term exposures can aggravate heart or lung diseases leading to symptoms
such as increased medication use, hospital admissions, ED visits, and premature
mortality;

(ii) Long-term exposures can lead to the development of heart or lung disease and
premature mortality.

Effects of Particulates to the Environment

The presence of the particulates in the air do affect the environment as follows;

(i) Impairs visibility i.e. it causes a misty or cloudy surrounding resulting in the
invisibility/ obscurity upon visualization.

(ii) Adversely affects the ecosystem processes, and damages soils structures and
property.

(iii) Variable climate impacts depending on particle type. Most particles are reflective
and lead to net cooling,

(iv) while some (especially black carbon) absorb energy and lead to warming.

(v) Other impacts include changing the timing and location of traditional rainfall
patterns.

Gases
These are the minute/tiny particles far much less than a micron similar to air which expand
(random movement) to occupy any given volume or space.

There are quite a number of gases which are produced from industry and as a result they
add to the pollutants in the air. These gases are a threat to the environment and health.
Some of the gases are;

(i) Ozone

(ii) Oxides of Sulphur

(iii) Oxides of Nitrogen

(iv) Oxides of Carbon

(v) Volatile Organic Carbon Compounds (VOCs)

(vi) Hydrogen Sulphides

(vii) Hydrocarbons

(i) Ozone

Is a strong oxidizing agent made up of 3oxygen atoms and its chemical formula is O 3.

Sources of Ozone - it is emitted directly from some industrial processes into the atmosphere
and photochemical and chemical reactions between other air pollutants in the atmosphere.
Since ozone comes from chemical reactions among ozone precursors in the atmosphere, the
sources of ozone are actually the sources of the precursors. Ozone precursors come from:

a. Fuel combustion and evaporation associated with cars, trucks, buses and
equipment;

b. Fuel combustion and evaporation associated with large stationary sources such
as power plants, oil refineries, and factories;
 c. Fuel combustion and evaporation from small stationary sources such as gasoline
dispensing facilities, print shops and others;

d. Organic compound evaporation from consumer products such as paints,

cleaners, and solvents; and

e. Fuel combustion and evaporation from off-road engines in aircraft, trains,

construction equipment, agricultural operations, and lawn and garden
equipment.

Effects of Ozone to Health

a. It Decreases lung function and causes respiratory symptoms, such as coughing and
shortness of breath;

b. It aggravates asthma and other lung diseases leading to increased medication use,
hospital admissions, emergency department (ED) visits, and premature mortality.

c. It is an irritant and can damage sensitive tissues in animals (including humans) and
plant tissues

Effects of Ozone to the Environment

a. It Damages the vegetation by visibly injuring leaves, reducing photosynthesis,

impairing reproduction and growth, and decreasing crop yields. Ozone damage to
plants may alter ecosystem structure, reduce biodiversity, and decrease plant uptake
of CO2.

b. It is also a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming

(ii) Oxides of Sulphur –

These are gaseous compounds which contain sulphur and oxygen are normally denoted as
SOx gases. In the gaseous state the x normally ranges from 1 to 3 and these are normally
referred to as monoxides, dioxides and trioxides respectively. The SOx mainly present in the
atmosphere is sulphur dioxide. These normally constitutes the oxidation states of sulphur in
the presence of oxygen.

Sources of Oxides of Sulphur

a. Fuel combustion most sulfur dioxide is produced by burning fuels containing sulfur
or

b. Mining – most sulphur is also produced in the mining industry by roasting metal
sulfide ores which have high contents of sulphur.

c. Volcanoes – this is a natural source from which sulphur is emitted during the
volcanic eruption, and this accounts 35–65% of total sulfur dioxide emissions

d. Power generation – The Thermal power generation stations which are used for
producing steam in order to produce electricity do contribute to large emissions of
anthropogenic sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere due to the combustion of high-
sulphur fossil fuels such as coal and oil used for heating water.

e. Industrial boilers – the coal/oil fired boilers in the industry also contribute to the SOx
emissions into the atmosphere.

f. Metal smelters – the metal smelters in which coal is used as a fuel also contribute to
high emissions of SOx.

g. Vehicles can also contribute to high local ambient concentrations of sulfur dioxide
especially in urban areas.

h. Domestic fires.

Effects of Oxides of Sulphur to Health

 (i) Aggravate asthma, leading to wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath,
increased medication use, hospital admissions, and ED visits; very high levels can
cause respiratory symptoms in people without lung disease.

Effects of Oxides Sulphur to the Environment

(i) It contributes to the acidification of soil and surface water and mercury methylation
in wetland areas.

(ii) It causes injury to vegetation and local species losses in aquatic and terrestrial
systems.

(iii) It corrodes metal, and causes building materials and textiles to deteriorate and
weaken

(iv) It reacts with atmospheric moisture and causes acid rain.

(v) It participates in photochemical reactions in the atmosphere to produce smog.

(i) Oxides of Nitrogen

These are gaseous compounds which contain Nitrogen and oxygen are normally denoted as
NOx gases. In the gaseous state the x normally ranges from 1 to 2 and these are normally
referred to as monoxides, dioxides and respectively. The NOx mainly present in the
atmosphere is nitrogen dioxide. These normally constitutes the oxidation states of nitrogen
in the presence of oxygen.

Sources of Oxides of Nitrogen

(i) Nitrogen oxides occur naturally and also are produced by man's activities. In
nature, they are a result of bacterial processes, biological growth and decay,
lightning, and forest and grassland fires.
 (ii) The primary source of man-made nitrogen oxides is from the burning of fossil
fuels.

(iii) Of the nitrogen oxides emitted, most is nitric oxide, some is nitrous oxide and
less than 10 per cent is nitrogen dioxide. The amount of nitrogen dioxide emitted
varies with the temperature of combustion; as temperature increases so does
the level of nitrogen dioxide.

(iv) Agriculture also plays a role in nitrogen oxide emissions with the use of fertilizers
contributing nitrous oxide to the atmosphere.

Effects of Oxides of Nitrogen to Health

(i) Aggravate lung diseases leading to respiratory symptoms, hospital admissions,

and ED visits; increase susceptibility to respiratory infection.

Effects of Oxides of Nitrogen to the Environment

(i) Contributes to the acidification and nutrient enrichment (eutrophication,

nitrogen saturation) of soil and surface water. Leads to biodiversity losses.

(ii) Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas, it contributes to ozone depletion in the

stratosphere

(iii) Nitrogen oxide is potentially toxic to plants, can injure leaves and reduce growth
and yield. In combination with either ozone (O3) or sulphur dioxide (SO2),
nitrogen dioxide may cause injury at even lower concentration levels.

(iv) It reacts with atmospheric moisture and causes acid rain.

Oxide of carbon –
These are gaseous compounds which contain carbon and oxygen only. There are only two
oxides of carbon in gaseous state namely carbon monoxide which is the product of
incomplete combustion of organic matter, including fossil fuels and carbon dioxide which is
a result of complete combustion of material composed of organic carbon. Their chemical
formula is CO and CO2 respectively.

Sources of the Oxides of Carbon

Sources of Carbon Monoxide

(i) is the product of incomplete combustion (caused by inadequate supply of

oxygen) of organic matter, including fossil fuels

(ii) It is found in exhaust gases of motor vehicles, cigarette smoke etc.

(iii) It is found in the reaction of steam with red coke at 900oC

Sources of Carbon Dioxide

(i) Produced by the respiration of plants, animals, and microorganisms that use
oxygen as an electron acceptor,

(ii) Burning of fossil and other fuels for generation of heat and power.

Effects of Carbon Monoxide to Health

(ii) Reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the body’s organs and tissues; aggravates
heart disease, resulting in chest pain and other symptoms leading to hospital
admissions and ED visits.

Effects of Carbon Monoxide to the Environment

(iii) Contributes to the formation of CO2 and ozone, greenhouse gases that warm the
atmosphere.

Effects of Carbon Dioxide to Health

Effects of Carbon Dioxide to the Environment

(i) Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is its contribution, along with methane, to the
promotion of global warming, caused by the so-called greenhouse effect.
Volatile Organic Carbon Compounds (VOCs)

These are a class of chemicals that are emitted directly to the air as a result of evaporation
or another type of volatilization.

Sources of Volatile Organic Carbon Compounds (VOCs)

(i) Sources include stored gasoline, stored solvents and other industrial chemicals,
and certain industrial processes.

(ii) Incomplete combustion of fuels of many types is also an important source of VOC
discharge to the ambient air.

Effects of Volatile Organic Carbon Compounds (VOCs) to Health

(i) Some are toxic air pollutants that cause cancer and other serious health
problems. Contribute to ozone formation with associated health effects.

Effects of Volatile Organic Carbon Compounds (VOCs) to the Environment

(i) Contributes to ozone formation with associated environmental and climate

effects.

(ii) Contributes to the formation of CO2 and ozone, greenhouse gases that warm the
atmosphere.

(iii) Possible contribution to smog via photochemical reactions in the atmosphere.

(iv) Hydrogen Sulphides

It is a colourless, flammable gas with a characteristic odour of rotten eggs.

Sources of Hydrogen Sulphide

It occurs in nature and is produced by numerous industrial activities

Effects of Hydrogen Sulphide to Health

(i) It has the ability to desensitize the olfactory apparatus in a few minutes if the
concentration is higher than a few parts per billion by volume. Persons who have
entered confined spaces containing hydrogen sulfide gas have died because soon
after entering the space they were unable to smell the H2S, did not realize they
were breathing it, and were overcome by a fatal dose.

(ii) It is an irritant of the lungs and at low concentrations irritates the eyes and the
respiratory tract. Exposure may result in headache, fatigue, dizziness, staggering
gait, and diarrhoea, followed sometimes by bronchitis and bronchopneumonia
(Sax and Lewis, 1989).

(iii) Very large concentrations result in paralysis of the respiratory centre, causing
breathing to stop and may potentially lead to death

Effects of Hydrogen Sulphide to the Environment

AIR POLLUTION PREVENTION

There are two ways by which pollution prevention can be achieved and these are;

(i) Reduction/Elimination of hazardous pollutants at the source

(ii) Pre-treatment to reduce or eliminate pollutants from the gaseous waste before
discharge into the air or atmosphere.
Reduction/Elimination of hazardous pollutants at the source

Reduction at the source, as an integral part of a pollution prevention program, is the

preferred control method. Reduction at the source can be accomplished by the following;

a. Identifying each and every source within the entire industrial facility. This
must include the full range of air pollutant generation activities, from the
boilers used for hot water and space heating, to each separate manufacturing
process step, to dust blowing around the parking lot.

b. Substituting nonpolluting process materials for those that are hazardous or

otherwise objectionable.

c. Maintaining vigorous maintenance and preventive maintenance programs to

ensure that all process equipment is generating a minimum of pollutants,
that all containment facilities are performing as designed to minimize fugitive
emissions, and that all treatment equipment is operating at top efficiency in
terms of pollutant removal.

d. Ensuring that accident and spill prevention procedures and facilities are up to
date, well known to those that should know them, and reviewed and revised
at regular intervals.

e. Ensuring that emergency response facilities and procedures are up to date

and well known.

f. Maintaining a rigorous program of analyzing past spills and emergencies with

the objective of determining: (1) how to prevent each and every spill event
from ever happening again, and (2) how to improve responses to emergency
events over past responses.

A formal Air Pollution Management Plan (APMP) is a necessity. The APMP must be a living,
active document that is used often and reviewed and revised frequently. The APMP is truly
the key to minimizing the cost for air pollution control.
Gaseous Waste Treatment Technologies

The gaseous waste treatment technologies can be classified into two categories according
to the matter to be removed i.e. Particulates or Gases

The two classes are;

(i) Technologies for the removal/elimination of particulates

(ii) Technologies for the removal/elimination of gases

Technologies for the removal/elimination of particulates from a Gaseous Stream

The technologies for the removal of particulates from industrial gaseous emissions is mainly
only concerned with the removal of particulates/particles emitted from gaseous waste from
an industry. There are several factors which are to be taken into consideration when
selecting a technology for the removal of particles from industrial gaseous emissions. These
factors (characteristics) are;

1) particle size,

2) flow of the exhaust flow ( flow rate)

3) temperature,

4) humidity,

5) explosion limits,

6) pH (acidity/alkalinity)

7) Combustibility.

In general there are 5 technologies for the removal of particulates/ particles and these are;

1) Electrostatic precipitators
 2) Gravity separators

3) Fabric filters (membrane technologies)

4) Inertial separators

5) Wet scrubbers

Technologies for Reduction/Elimination of Gases in a Gaseous Waste.

There are six methods/technologies used for the reduction/elimination of gases in a gaseous
waste produced from an industry. These are;

1) Adsorption

2) Absorption

3) Reduction

4) Oxidation

5) Condensation

6) Incineration

7) Biofiltration