Air Pollution

We humanity, have finally done it:

disturbed the environment on a global scale.
-Thomas E. Lovejoy
1.Introduction

 
2.Meteorology- fate of pollutants
3.Concentration
  models
                                                                       
 

4.Monitoring & control

5.Scenario in India
                                                                                                                                    

           
               
1. INTRODUCTION
a. History

1930s and 1940s Factory smokestack issuing a thick

plume of smoke - sign of prosperity
1945 Control efforts started
1945-1969 Air pollution problems started
1969-1970 US-great awakening-drastic change
1970 Clean Air act
1980 Global air pollution - acid rain
- O3 destruction
- CO2 build up
 Why-Interest in 1969-1970?

1. Anti-Vietnam war activism

2. Santa Barbara Oil spill
3. Awakening of wealthy people concerned about air pollution
4. Life expectancy increased-effect of air pollution became visible

Air pollution vs Water pollution

Health effects less detected earlier
dramatic
b. General

Undesirable material in air

Quantity large enough to produce harmful effects.

Principal source – Human activities standard of living

Can’t be eliminated
One problem or family of problems?

1. Several problems together

2. Air pollutant emissions = population

x economic activity
x pollutant emissions per person

3. The pollution control steps taken so far are easier and cheaper
than the ones we will have to take in the future
c. Air Pollution is based on What?

Basic Chemical engineering:

1. Stoichiometry
2. Thermodynamics
3. Fluid mechanics
4. Heat transfer
5. Mass transfer
6. Reaction kinetics
d. 2 types of pollutants:

1. Primary
eg. CO

1. Secondary
eg. HC+SOx+NOx fine particulate matter
e. Air pollutant list
Priority pollutants:
• Sulfur oxides
• Fine particulate matter
• Carbon monoxide
• Ozone
• Nitrogen dioxide
• Lead

Air toxics:
• Asbestos
• Benzene
• Beryllium
• Coke oven emissions
• Inorganic arsenic
• Mercury
• Radionuclides
• Vinyl chloride
 f. Pollutants
1. CO
- Colorless, odorless, & poisonous gas

- Product of incomplete combustion of carbon in fuels

- Majority from mobile sources
- Incinerators, wood-burning stoves
- Fires (incomplete combustion of carbon fuels)

- Combines with blood hemoglobin

- Decreases oxygen delivery to body’s organs & tissues
2. PM10 and PM2.5

- Dust, soot, smoke, & liquid droplets

- Fossil fuel combustion sources, construction activities
- Natural windblown dust (fugitive dust, dry goods in bulk)
- Factories, power plants, fires

- Deposition in lower portion of lungs

- Breathing and respiratory symptoms
3. Pb
- Gasoline combustion
- Mining and production of lead products

- Generated similar to particulate matter

- Operations using metal shavings, lead based paint

- Affects central nervous system

- Can result in brain damage/retardation

4. NO2
- Brownish, highly reactive gas
- Nitric oxide combines with oxygen
- Found in many urban/industrial atmospheres
- Fossil fuel combustion
- Mobile sources

- Leads to respiratory illness, ozone formation

- Can cause bronchitis, pneumonia

5. O3
- Photochemical reaction with sources of VOCs & NO2
- Forms from reaction of VOCs & NO2 with sunlight
- Not emitted directly into the air
- Major component of smog

- Respiratory: Throat/Lung irritation, difficulty in

breathing
6. SO2
- Combustion of fossil fuels (oil, coal)
- Steel mills, refineries, pulp & paper mills
- Sulfur trioxide & sulfuric acid

- Damage to respiratory system

- Corrosion to structures, reduced plant growth,
reduced visibility
EFFECTS – PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG
EFFECTS – ACID RAIN
2. METEOROLOGY
Emission: Atmosphere: Effects on:
Sources Transport Human health
Measurement Dilution Materials
control Modification Global climate

Pollutant removal by natural mechanisms

2 parameters of interest:
1. Wind speed and direction-wind rose
2. Atmospheric stability

When is ground level concentration highest?

 Wind rose - % of time wind blows from
a particular direction
                                                         

Wind measurement
Horizontal atmospheric motion:
1. Equatorial heating, polar cooling
2. Effect of earth’s rotation
3. Influence of ground and sea
Vertical motion in atmosphere:
1. Air density change with T, P and humidity
2. Atmospheric stability
3. Mixing height
4. Moisture
Winds:
1. Velocity
2. Direction
3. Temperature inversion
3. Concentration models
Air pollutant concentration models

Play crucial role in Air Quality Management

Source based
•Based on emission rates and meteorology
•Fixed-box simplest-but have severe drawbacks
•Gaussian plume models widely used for point sources
•Multiple cell models demand vast amount of computer time
etc.

Receptor based
Not predictive
Components of chemical transport model Eulerian box model
Gaussian plume model
 Air Pollution control philosophies

1. Emission standard
2. Air quality standard
3. Emission tax
4. Cost-benefit

India
Air Pollution Act (MoEF website): http://envfor.nic.in/legis/legis.html#B
5. Monitoring & control
Monitoring can be of

1. Ambient air
2.At source
a. Basic problems:
1. Collection of a representative sample
2. Correct analysis of that sample

b. Test methods
Usually colorimetric
Air pollution control strategy:

1. Process change
2. Downstream control device
3. Improved dispersion
Control of:

1.Particulate matter
2.Volatile organic compounds
3.SOx
4.NOx
1.Particulate matter

1. 0.01-10u size
2.Usually:
Coarser particles are primary
Finer particles are secondary
We’re pretty well off, don’t you think?
SHARE OF SPM LOAD (TONNES/DAY) FROM DIFFERENT
CATEGORIES OF INDUSTRIES WITH CONTROL DEVICE

SUGAR CEMENT OTHERS THERMAL POWER PLANTS

Thermal Power Plan 82%

Sugar 10%
Cement 7%
Others 1%
Control of primary particulate
Wall collection devices
Gravity settlers
Centrifugal separators
Electrostatic precipitators (particles less than 5u)

Dividing collection devices

Filters:
Surface filters
Depth filters
Scrubbers:
Crossflow
Counter flow
Coflow
Electrostatic precipitators
2.VOCs
Mainly from motor vehicles
Control by:
1.Substitution
2.Process modification
3.Leakage control
4.Concentration & recovery
Condensation
Adsorption
Absorption
5.Oxidation
Combustion
Biological
3. Control of SOx
Source:
1. Combustion of S containing fossil fuels
2. Melting of metal sulfide ores

Control strategy:
1. SO2 CaSO4.2H2O
2. Reduced sulfur elemental S
3. Above 4% H2SO4
SHARE OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE LOAD (TONNES/DAY)
FROM DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF INDUSTRIES

OIL
REFINERIES OTHERS
STEEL 3% 1%
5% SULPHURIC
ACID PLANTS
2%

THERMAL
POWER
PLANTS
89%
4. Control of NOx
Treatment strategy:
1.By combustion modification to prevent
formation
2. By post flame treatment (NO to NO2)
 NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS (NAAQS)
      Air
Concentration in Ambient Method of Measurement
Time Weighted
Average Industrial Residential, Sensitive
Pollutant Area Rural and Area
  other Areas
Sulphur Dioxide Annual Average* 80 µg/m3 60 µg/m3 15 µg/m3 1. Improved West and Gaeke Method
(SO2) 2. Ultraviolet Fluorescence
24 Hours 120 80 µg/m3 30 µg/m3
Average** µg/m3
Oxides of Nitrogen Annual Average* 80 µg/m3 60 µg/m3 15 µg/m3 1. Jacob & Hochheiser modified (NaOH-
as NO2 NaAsO2) Method
24 Hours 120 80 µg/m3 30 µg/m3 2. Gas Phase Chemiluminiscence
Average** µg/m3
Suspended Annual Average* 360 140 µg/m3 70 µg/m3 High Volume Sampling (Average flow
Particulate µg/m3 rate not less than 1.1m3/minute)
Matter (SPM) 24 Hours 500 200 µg/m3 100 µg/m3
Average** µg/m3
Respirable Annual Average* 120 60 µg/m3 50 µg/m3  
Particulate Matter µg/m3 Respirable Particulate Matter Sampler
(Size less than 24 Hours 150 100 µg/m3 75 µg/m3
10µm) (RPM) Average** µg/m3
Lead (Pb) Annual Average* 1.0 µg/m3 0.75 µg/m3 0.50 µg/m3 AAS Method after sampling using EPM
2000
24 Hour 1.5 µg/m3 1.0 µg/m3 0.75 µg/m3 or equivalent filter paper
Average**
Carbon Monoxide 8 Hours 5.0 mg/m3 2.0 mg/m3 1.0 mg/m3  
(CO) Average** Non dispersive Infrared Spectroscopy
1 Hour Average 10.0mg/m 4.0 mg/m3 2.0 mg/m3
3

Ammonia (NH3) Annual Average* 0.1 mg/m3 -

24 Hour 0.4 mg/m3

Average**
 
* Annual Arithmetic mean of minimum 104 measurements in a year twice a week 24 hourly at uniform interval.
** 24 hourly/8 hourly values should be met 98% of the time in a year. However, 2% of the time, it may exceed but not on two consecutive days.
 
NOTE
1.       National Ambient Air Quality Standard : The levels of air quality necessary with an adequate margin of safety, to protect the public health, vegetation and property.
2.       Whenever and wherever two consecutive values exceed the limit specified above for the respective category, it would be considered adequate reason to institute regular/continuous monitoring and further investigations.
3.       The State Government / State Board shall notify the sensitive and other areas in the respective states within a period of six months from the date of notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
 WORK DONE IN THE FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
 Evolved National Ambient Air quality Standard (1982, 1994)
 Developed Emission Standard for major air polluting Industries such as
Thermal Power Plants, Cement Plants, Iron & steel Industries, Non
Ferrous Metallurgical Industries. Oil Refineries etc.
 Enforcement of Standard in 17 categories of highly polluting industries.
 Developed pollution prevention and control technology for small scale air
polluting industries such as Foundry, Rerolling Mills, Brick Kiln, Lime
Kiln, etc including demonstration of technology.
 Approved fuel for major cities.
 Identification of critically polluted areas with reference to air pollution and
preparation and implementation of action plan.
 Promotion of clean coal programme e.g. coal benefication notification,
IGCC, CFBC Technology etc.
 Promotion of use of fly ash.
 WORK DONE IN THE FIELD OF
VEHICULAR POLLUTION CONTROL
1. Fuel Quality Improvement

a) Unleaded petrol in whole country from 2000.

b) Low sulphur petrol and diesel (1996, 2000, 2005).
c) Low Benzene Petrol

2. Clean Vehicle Technology

a) Improvement of vehicular exhaust standard (1991, 1996, 1997,

2000, 2005 and 2010)
b) Use of clean fuel (CNG, LPG) vehicles more than 112,000 CNG
vehicles (80,000 in Delhi)
 EMISSION REUCTION FROM VEHICLES
BY INTRODUCING STRICTER NORMS

Norms Year of
Implementation
1996 1996
1998 (Cat. Convertor Norms) 1998
Bharat Stage I (Euro I) 1999
Bharat Stage II (Euro II) 2000/2001
Bharat Stage III (Euro III) April, 2005
Bharat Stage IV (Euro IV) April, 2010
VEHICULAR POLLUTION CONTROL

III. Fuel Quality Improvement

Norms Year of
Implementation
0.5% S – Diesel 1996
0.25% S – Diesel 2000
0.05% S – Diesel 2003
0.035% S – Diesel 2005
Unleaded Petrol 2000
Low Smokes 2 T oil 1998
 IV. APPROVED FUEL FOR U.T. OF DELHI
 Coal with low sulphur (S - 0.4%)
 Fuel oil / LDO/ LSHS / with low sulphur (S – 1.8%)
 Motor gasoline (as per specifications given in the notification dated 2-4-96 of the Ministry of
Environment and Forests, annexed hereto)
 Diesel (as per specifications given in the notification dated 2-4-96 of the Ministry of Environment and
Forests, annexed hereto)
 Liquid petroleum Gas (LPG)
 Compressed Natural Gas(CNG)
 Kerosene
 Naphtha (for power station)
 Aviation turbine fuel (for aircraft)
 Fire wood (only for domestic use in rural areas and crematorium)
 Bio - Gas

Source: Gazette Notification of Delhi Govt.

V. ALTERNATE FUEL USE IN DELHI

 CNG – Norms notified and more than 80,000 CNG

vehicles plying in Delhi
 LPG – Norms notified, LPG kits approved
 Gasoline with 5% ethanol from 2003 in sugar
producing states & UT to be extended to other
states and Union Territories. 10% to be introduced
by 2007
 Bio – diesel (5%) by 2005 & Bio – diesel (10%) by
2011
VI. RESTRICTION ON
GROSSLY POLLUTED
VEHICLES IN DELHI

 15 YEARS OLD COMERCIAL

VEHICLES PHASED OUT IN
DELHI

 CITY DIESEL BUSES PHASED

OUT IN DELHI AND
INTRODUCTED CLEAN FUEL
(CNG) BUSES
 Sources of Indoor pollution
 Efficient insulation
 Bacteria
 Molds and mildews
 Viruses
 animal dander and cat saliva
 plants
 house dust
 Mites
 Cockroaches
 pollen
 weblinks
Biological control of Volatile Organic Compounds - cases
http://www.biowise.org.uk/detail.asp?type=webcontent&menucode=00100007&id=1460

Self-diagnostic chart for VOCs

http://www.biowise.org.uk/core_files/voc.pdf

Air emissions – EPA site

http://www.epa.gov/performancetrack/tools/airemiss.htm

Health effects of air pollutants

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hapindex.html

Greenhouse gas calculation tools

http://www.greenbiz.com/toolbox/tools_third.cfm?LinkAdvID=25207
http://www.greenbiz.com/toolbox/tools_third.cfm?LinkAdvID=42125

Emission calculator
http://www.greenbiz.com/toolbox/tools_third.cfm?LinkAdvID=38983
Climate change corporate strategy tool
http://www.greenbiz.com/toolbox/tools_third.cfm?LinkAdvID=38879

Climate neutral metrics worksheet

http://www.greenbiz.com/toolbox/tools_third.cfm?LinkAdvID=38985

CO2 calculations
http://www.greenbiz.com/toolbox/tools_third.cfm?LinkAdvID=42156

CO2e portfolio builder

http://www.greenbiz.com/toolbox/tools_third.cfm?LinkAdvID=41572

Carbon contracts cornerstones

http://www.greenbiz.com/toolbox/tools_third.cfm?LinkAdvID=40009

Action plan for reducing green house gas emissions

http://www.greenbiz.com/toolbox/tools_third.cfm?LinkAdvID=42158
Fact sheet on ventilation and air quality in offices
http://www.greenbiz.com/toolbox/tools_third.cfm?LinkAdvID=42850

A guide to indoor air quality

http://www.greenbiz.com/toolbox/tools_third.cfm?LinkAdvID=42856

Noel De Denver’s book titled

Air Pollution Control Engineering