air pollutants - nptel
TRANSCRIPT
Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
MODULE 3.2
Air Pollutants Carbon Oxides 1
Carbon monoxide 1
Sources of CO pollution 1 Industrial processes 1
CO emission from vehicle exhaust 2
Natural processes 2
Sinks 3
Toxicity of CO 4
Control of CO emissions 4
Carbon Dioxide And Global Warming 5 Sulphur Dioxide Sources And Removal 9
Sulphur dioxide reactions in the atmosphere 9
Effects of atmospheric sulphur dioxide 10
Nitrogen Oxides In The Atmosphere 11 Harmful effects of nitrogen oxides 13
Control of NOx emissions 13
Acid Rain 15 Particles In The Atmosphere 16
Particle formation 18
Radioactive particles 19
Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
MODULE 3.2
Air Pollutants
A wide range of chemicals can pollute the air, but only those pollutants
which are generally viewed as needing control measures are discussed in this
chapter and in the next chapter. Air pollutants can be arbitrarily classified
according to chemical composition as (1) inorganic air pollutants and (ii) organic
air pollutants
• The following inorganic air pollutants are discussed in this chapter.
• Oxides of carbon (eg., CO and CO2) even though carbondioxide is
a natural and essential constituent of atmosphere, it may turn out to be
a deadly air pollutant because of it's potential as a green house gas.
• sulphur dioxide (eg., SO2) and
• Oxides of nitrogen(eg., NOx)
• particulates comprising of finely divided solids or liquids and often
exist as colloidal states as aerosols.
Carbon Oxides:
Carbon monoxide:
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless tasteless gas, that is by far
the most abundant of the criteria pollutants.
Sources of CO pollution
Industrial processes:
• Carbon monoxide is formed during the incomplete combustion of carbon
containing compounds.
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Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
+ →22C O 2CO ....................................................................................(1)
• It is also produced in large amounts during the reaction between carbon
containing materials at high temperatures as in blast furnaces.
+ →2CO C 2CO ....................................................................................(2)
• Carbon monoxide is also produced during the dissociation of CO2 at high
temperature.
+ →2CO C 2CO .....................................................................................(3)
CO emission from vehicle exhaust:
Most of the CO in the ambient air comes from vehicle exhaust. Internal
combustion engines do not burn completely to CO2 and water; some unburnt fuel
will always be exhausted, with CO as a component.
CO in vehicle exhaust can be reduced by using partially oxidised fuels like
alcohol and by a variety of after burner devices. It tends to accumulate in areas
of concentrated vehicle traffic.
Natural processes:
Volcanic action, natural gas emission, electrical discharge during storms,
seed germination, marsh-gas production etc, are the natural processes that
contribute to a small measure for the presence of CO in the atmosphere. Forest
fires contribute to 7.2% of CO emissions and agricultural burning contribute 8.3%
of emissions. The atmospheric back ground concentration of CO is 0.1 ppm.
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Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Sinks:
In soil, the major CO sink is by soil microorganisms. The major sink
process in the atmosphere is however is the conversion to CO2 by reaction with
hydroxyl radical. This process is however rather slow and the reduction in CO
level away from the source area is almost entirely a function of atmospheric
dilution processes.
The residence time of CO in the atmosphere is of the order of 4 months
and it is removed from the atmosphere by reaction with hydroxyl radical, HO•:
+ → +i 2CO HO CO H ..................................................................(4)
The reaction of atomic hydrogen with atmospheric oxygen produces
hydroperoxyl radical, as a product:
+ + → +i2O H M HOO M ..........................................................(5)
(M is an energy absorbing third body, usually a molecule of O2 or N2)
HO• is regenarated from HOO• by the following reactions:
+ → +i i 2HOO NO HO NO .........................................................(6)
+ → +i i 2 2 2HOO HOO H O O .......................................................(7)
The hydrogen peroxide formed undergoes photochemical dissociation to
regenerate HO• :
+ υ→ i2 2H O h 2HO ....................................................................(8)
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Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Toxicity of CO:
At levels of CO that occur in urban air, there are apparently no detrimental
effects on materials or plants, but those levels can adversely affect human
health. After entering the blood stream through the lungs, carbon monoxide
reacts with haemoglobin (Hb) to convert oxyhaemoglobin (O2Hb) to carboxy
haemoglobin (COHb).
+ → +2O Hb CO COHb O2 .......................................................(9)
Carbon monoxide, infact, has a much greater affinity for haemoglobin than
does oxygen, so that even small amounts of CO can seriously reduce the
amount of oxygen conveyed throughout the body. With this blood stream carrying
less oxygen, brain function is affected and heart rate increases in an attempt to
offset the oxygen deficit.
Control of CO emissions:
As mentioned earlier since major contribution to CO pollution is from
transportation sources and gasoline fed internal combustions are primarily
accountable for it, control measures have been concentrated on the automobiles.
Carbon monoxide emissions may be lowered by using a relatively low air-fuel
mixture, that is one in which the weight ratio of air to fuel is relatively high. At air
fuel ratios (weight : weight) ratios exceeding approximately 16 : 1, an internal
combustion engine emits virtually no carbon monoxide.
Modern automobiles use catalytic exhaust reactors to cut down on carbon
monoxide emissions. Excess air is pumped into the exhaust gas and the mixture
is passed through a catalytic converter in the exhaust systems, resulting in
oxidation of CO to CO2.
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Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
The greatest problem with catalytic reactors at present is lack of
sufficiently durable (50,000 driven miles) catalytic material. The catalysts now in
use are subjected to poisoning (deactivation) by the adsorption of materials on
their surfaces. One of the most effective catalytic poisons is lead and this is one
reason for the development of lead free gasoline.
Carbon Dioxide And Global Warming:
It may be recalled that our atmosphere is made of almost nitrogen, oxygen
and other gases and particles. If we focus our attention on other gases, Carbon
dioxide is a relatively insignificant non - pollutant species (present level 356ppm)
in the atmosphere. However its increasing concentration in the atmosphere is of
serious environmental concern.Among the constituents of the atmosphere
methane, chloro fluorohydrocarbons, nitrous oxide, water vapour and carbon
dioxide contribute to global warming. The relative contribution of radiatively active
gases is shown in the following Table 1.
Table.1 Relative contribution of radiatively active gases to
temperature rise
Active gas % Contribution to temperature rise
CO2 50
CH4 19
CFC 17
O3 8
N2O 4
H2O 2
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Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
The figure shows that the main influence is by CO2 but the contribution of
other green house gases, specially by CH4 cannot be ignored.
Fig. 1 Influence of H2O and CO2 on the absorption of IR radiation
emitted from the earth’s surface
IR radiation emitted from earth's surface
Fig.1 shows that most of the long-wavelength energy radiated by
the earth is affected by a combination of radiatively active gases most importantly
H2O and CO2. The watervapour strongly absorbs thermal radiation with
wavelengths less than 8 µm amd greater than 18 µm. CO2 shows a strong
4 8 12 16 20 24Wavelength (µm)
H2O absorption
CO2 absorption
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Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
absorption band centered at 15 µm and extending from 13 to 18 µm, as well as
band centered at 2.7 and 4.3 µm. Between 7 and 12 µm there is relatively clear
sky for outgoing thermal radiation indicated as atmospheric window.
Radiatively active gases that absorb wavelengths longer than 4 mm are
called green house gases. As the fig.2 suggests, CO2 and watervapour trap good
portion of the outgoing thermal radiation attempting to leave the earth's surface.
Thus these green house gases act as thermal blanket around the globe raising
the earth's surface temperature beyond the equivalent temperature.
Although the relative share of the radiatively active gases such as
chlorofluorocarbons, nitrousoxide, CO2 and methane has been significantly
increasing each year, the largest effect is still due to CO2. Anthropogenic
production of CO2 from burning fossil fuels exceeds that of the other green house
gases. Although the natural flux of CO2 to the atmosphere due to the constant
respiration of the biosphere is much greater, this flux is in balance with
photosynthesis. Every year the CO2 declines to a minimum concentration in
summer when photosynthesis in forests of northern hemisphere converts CO2 to
biomass and it rises to a maximum in winter when the dead vegetation days,
releasing its stored carbon as CO2 . The oscillatory pattern is regular from year to
year but it is super imposed on a rising background average CO2 concentration,
which increased from 314 ppm in 1958 to 365 ppm in 2000, a 17.5 percent
increase in four decades.
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Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
CO2
Fig. 2 Sources of sinks of carbon dioxide
The major important sink for CO2 is ocean (Fig.2). Because sea water is
alkaline and CO2 is acidic, the oceans are vast reservoir of CO2. However only
the surface layer of ocean, the top 75 meters, is in equilibrium with the
atmosphere and its capacity to absorb CO2 is limited. Exchange of surface layer
with deep oceans takes hundreds of years. The location of the remaining carbon
dioxide has been a subject of considerable debate, but it is now widely accepted
that vegetation absorbs much of the CO2. But even with this natural sink sources,
the CO2 level is continuously increasing resulting in global warming. Global
warming can shift the climate zones and the existing forests may not be able to
adapt, especially if the shift is rapid and again the result may be loss of biomass.
Global warming may also lead to increased evaporation of water thereby
reducing water available for agricultural, municipal, and industrial use.
CO2 HCO3-
CO32-organiccarbon
(Bio-mass)
CO2CO2
CO2
IndustriesPlants
AutoOcean
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Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Sulphur Dioxide Sources And Removal :
The two natural sources of SO2 are volcanic eruptions and sulphur-
containing geothermal sources like geysers and hot springs.
Some important industrial sources of SO2 are (1) nonferrous smelters (2)
oil refining and (3) paper and pulp manufacture.
Nonferrous smelters: With the exception of iron and aluminium, metal ores are
sulphur compounds. When the ore is reduced to the pure metal, its sulphur is
ultimately oxidised to SO2. Thus when Cus ore is reduced to copper, its sulphur
is oxidised to SO2 .
Oil refining: Sulphur and hydrogen sulphide are constituents of crude oil and
H2S is released as a gas during catalytic cracking. Since H2S is considerably
more toxic than SO2 it is burned to produce SO2 before release to the ambient
air.
Pulp and paper manufacture: The sulphite process for wood pulping uses hot
H2SO3 and thus emits SO2 in air. The kraft pulping process produces H2S, which
is then burned to produce SO2.
Sulphur dioxide reactions in the atmosphere:
Sulphur dioxide once released can convert to SO3, in a series of reaction
which, once again, involve a free radical such as OH•
2SO OH HOSO+ →i 2 i
2 i
…………………………………….(10)
2 2 3HOSO O SO HO+ → +i …………………………....(11)
Sulphur trioxide react quickly with H2O to form sulphuric acid, which is the
principal cause of acid rain.
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Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
3 2 2SO H O H SO+ → 4 …………………………………………………..(12)
Sulphuric acid molecules rapidly become particles by either condensing
on existing particles in the air or by merging with water vapour to form
H2O - H2SO4 droplets. Often significant fraction of particulate matter in the
atmosphere consist of such sulphate aerosols.
The formation is promoted by the presence of hydrocarbons and nitrogen
oxides, which are key components of photochemical smog.
(b) In relatively humid atmospheres, SO2 is probably oxidized by reactions
occurring inside water aerosol droplets, which proceed faster in the presence of
ammonia and catalysts such as manganese (II), iron (II), nickel (II), copper (II),
etc.
+ −+ + → +3 2 2 4NH SO H O NH HSO3
−3
.............................................(13)
− ++ → + 23 3 4NH HSO NH SO ...................................................(14)
Effects of atmospheric sulphur dioxide:
When sulphur is entrained in an aerosol, it is possible for sulphur oxides to
reach far deeper into the lungs. The combination of particulate matter and
sulphur oxides can then act synergistically, with the effects of both together being
much more detrimental than either of them separately. Sulphur dioxide is one of
the serious air pollutants which is responsible for smog formation, which has
resulted in several incidents of loss of human lives.
Atmospheric sulphur dioxide is harmful to plants and leaf tissue is killed
with exposure to high levels of gas.
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Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Sulphurous pollutants can discolour paint, corrode metals, and cause
organic fibres to weaken. Airborne sulphates significantly reduce visibility and
discolour the atmosphere.
Prolonged exposure to sulphates causes serious damage to buildings
made of marble, limestone and mortar, as the carbonates of these materials are
replaced by sulphates,
3 2 4 4 2 2CaCO H SO CaSO CO H O+ → + + …………………………………(15)
which are water soluble.
Nitrogen Oxides In The Atmosphere:
Although there are seven oxides of nitrogen known to occur, the only two
that are important in the study of air pollution are nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen
dioxide (NO2). The most abundant oxide is nitrous oxide. This is however
chemically rather unreactive and is formed from the natural biological processes
in the soil. Nitrous oxide first undergoes photochemical reaction. The formed
atomic oxygen reacts with another molecule of N2O to give NO. The formed nitric
oxide reacts with ozone, thereby causing ozone depletion. They can be
represented by the following equations.
+ υ→ +2N O h N O2
2
.................................................................................(16)
+ → +2N O O NO NO ..............................................................................(17)
3 2NO O NO O+ → + ...............................................................................(18)
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Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Nitric oxide is formed by the combustion of nitrogen-containing compounds
(including fossil fuels) by the thermal fixation of atmospheric nitrogen.
1210 17652 2N O 2NO
−⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯→+ ←⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ……………………………………………..….(19)
Thus all high temperature processes produce NO, which is then oxidised to NO2
in the ambient air.
22NO O 2NO⎯⎯→+ ←⎯⎯ 2 …………………………………………….………(20)
Nitrogen dioxide is very reactive and significant species in the atmosphere. At
wavelengths below 398nm it undergoes photodissociation to oxygen atoms,
2NO h NO O+ υ→ + ……………………………………………………(21)
giving rise to significant inorganic reactions, in addition to host of atmospheric
reactions involving organic species.
The principal reactions among NO,NO2, and HNO3 are indicated below:
Reactions of NO:
2
2
3 2
HOO NO NO HOROO NO NO ROO NO NO O
+ → +
+ → +
+ → +
i ii i
2
Reactions of NO2:
2 3
2
NO HO HNONO h NO O
+ →
+ ν → +
i
Removal of HNO3
3
3 2
HNO (Pr ecipitation)HNO h NO HO+ ν → + i
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Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide are important constituents of polluted air.
These oxides collectively designated as NOx, enter the atmosphere mainly from
combustion of fossil fuels in both stationary and mobile sources.
Harmful effects of nitrogen oxides:
NO, the atmospheric precursor of NO2, is not an irritant gas; infact it is
often used as an anaesthetic. High concentrations of NO2 can produce
pulmonary edema-an abnormally high accumulation of fluid in lung tissue. For
exposures ranging from several minutes to one hour, a level of 50 – 100 ppm
NO2 causes inflammation of lung tissue for a period of 6 – 8 weeks, after which
time the subject normally recovers. Exposure of the subject to 150 – 200 ppm of
NO2 causes bronchititis fibrosa obliterans , a conditions fatal within 3 – 5 weeks
after exposure. Death generally results within 2 – 10 days after exposure to 500
ppm or more of NO2.
NO2 also causes extensive damage to plants through its secondary
products such as peroxy acyl nitrate formed in smog. Exposure of plants to
several parts per million of NO2 in the laboratory causes leaf spotting and break
down of plant tissue. It also causes fading of dyes and inks used in some
textiles. Much of the damage to materials caused by NOx, such as stress –
corrosion cracking of electrical apparatus, comes from secondary nitrates and
nitric acid.
Control of NOx emissions:
NOx emissions are difficult to control because efficiency energy
conversion requires high combustion temperatures, whether in cars or
powerplants. Moreover there is a trade_off between NOx and unburned gases as
the ratio of air to fuel in the combustion chamber is varied. The NO production
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Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
rate is maximum near the stoichiometric ratio (just enough O2 to completely
oxidise the fuel), where the highest temperature is reached. If less air is admitted
to the combustion zone ("fuel-rich"), the NO production rate falls along with the
temperature, but the emission of CO and unburned hydrocarbon (HC) increases.
It is possible to lower both NO and HC by carrying out the combustion in
two stages, the first of which is rich in fuel and the second of which is rich in air.
In this way the fuel is burned completely, but the temperature is never as high as
it would be for a stoichiometric mixture. This two-stage approach is being
incorporated in power plants; it has been tried in cars but with less success.
The other approach to reducing emissions is to remove the pollutant from
the exhaust gases.
In automobiles, this is accomplished with a threeway catalytic converter
(i.e it reduces emissions of HC, CO and NO).
In order to deal with both NO and unburned gases the converter has two
chambers in succession. In the reduction chamber, NO is reduced to N2 by
hydrogen, which is generated at the surface of a rhodium catalyst by the action of
water on unburned fuel molecules.
2 2hydrocarbons H O H CO+ → + ……………………………….(22)
………………………………………..(23) 2 2 22NO 2H N 2H O+ → +
In the oxidation chamber, air added, and the CO and unburned hydrocarbons are
oxidised to CO2 and H2O at the surface of platinum/palladium catalyst.
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Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
22CO O 2CO+ → 2
2
3
………………………………………………(24)
………………………….(25) 2 2hydrocarbons 2O CO 2H O+ → +
The catalytic converter is quite effective in reducing automotive emissions.
Acid Rain:
We have seen that in polluted regions the main causes for acid rain are
sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere. Acid rain results when
these gases are oxidised in the atmosphere and return to the ground dissolved in
rain drops. SO2 falls as H2SO3 and H2SO4 while NOx falls as HNO3. A night time
route
2 2 2SO H O H SO+ → …………………………………………………………….(26)
2 2 2 2(soot particle metal oxide)1SO O H O H SO2
+ + ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯→ 4 …………………………..(27)
2 2 211NO H O HNO HNO2 2
+ → + 3
3
…………………………………………..…(28)
……………………………………………..(29) X H2 3 3NO O NO HNO−+ → ⎯⎯⎯→
to nitric acid in hydrogen abstraction from some suitable donor X-H by
nitrate free radical. In water droplets ions such as Mn(II), Fe(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II)
catalyse the oxidation reaction. Soot particles are also known to be strongly
involved in catalysing the oxidation of SO2. HNO3 and H2SO4 combine with HCl
emission (both by natural and anthropogenic sources) to generate acidic
precipitation which is known as ACID RAIN.
Acid rain is classified as regional air pollution problem compared to a local
air pollution problem for smog and a global one for ozone-destroying chlorofluoro
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Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
hydrocarbons and green house gases. Acid rain causes major damages to our
environment. They are as follows:
• Direct photo toxicity to plants from excessive acid concentrations
• Phytotoxicity from acid-forming gases, particularly SO2 and NO2 which
accompany acid rain.
• Indirect phytotoxicity such as from Al3+ liberated from acidified soil
• Acid rain causes destruction of sensitive forests.
• It affects the respiratory systems in human and other animals.
• It acidifies the lake water with toxic effects especially to fish fingerlings.
• It corrodes the exposed structures, electrical relays, equipment and
ornamental materials. The hydrogen ions from the acid rain dissolve the
lime stone (CaCO3) and thus cause damage to marble structures.
+ ++ → + +23 22H CaCO (s) Ca CO (g) H O2
4
...................................(30)
• It causes reduction of visibility by sulphate aerosols and the influence of
sulphates aerosols on physical and optical properties of clouds.
...............................................(31) + → +2 2 32CaF 3SiO 2CaSiO SiF
Particles In The Atmosphere:
Particles are important constituents of the atmosphere, particularly in
the troposphere and have a diameter of 0.001µm to 10µm. Aerosol particles from
natural sources have a diameter of less than 100µm. These particles originate
from sea sprays, smokes, dusts and the evaporation of organic materials from
vegetation. Other typical particles of natural origin in the atmosphere are
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Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
bacteria, fog, pollen grains, and volcanic ash. Thus particulate matter may be
both organic or inorganic and both types are very important atmospheric
contaminants.
They are important because of the following reasons.
• They significantly affect the earth's radiation balance. The effect of
atmospheric particles on the heat flux of the atmosphere depends on
particle size and composition. Large dark particles tend to absorb light,
thus warming earth's atmosphere. In contrast very small particles,
regardless of colour and composition, tend to scatter light, thus increasing
the albedo of the atmosphere.
• Particles in the size 0.1 to 1µm cause serious health hazards. These
particles penetrate the lungs, blocking and irritating air passages and can
have toxic effects. Soot particles pose particular problem because they
can abosrb significant amounts of toxic chemicals on their irregular
surfaces. Coal fires release soot as well as SO2 and in foggy conditions,
the resulting aerosol can combine with soot to produce a toxic smog, with
serious health consequences.
• They provide nucleation bodies for the condensation of atmospheric
water vapour, thereby exerting significant influence upon weather and air
pollution phenomena.
• They are very much involved in several chemical interactions taking place
in the atmosphere such as neutralisation reactions taking place in water
droplets thus providing a surface, and they provide active catalytic surface
upon which heterogeneous chemical reactions can occur.
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Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Particle formation:
Particulates originate from a wide variety of sources and processes
ranging from simple grinding of bulk matter to complicated chemical and
biochemical synthesis. For the most part aerosol particles consist of
carbonaceous material, metal oxides and glases, dissolved ionic species, and
ionic solids.
Metal oxides constitute a major class of inorganic particles in the urban
air. These are formed whenever fuels containing metals are burned. For example
particulate iron oxide is formed during combustion of pyrite containing lignite.
+ → +2 2 3 43FeS 8O Fe O 6SO2
2
4
................................................................(32)
Organic vanadium in residual fuel oil is converted to particulate vanadium
oxide. Part of the calcium carbonate in the ash fraction of coal is converted to
calcium oxide and is emitted to the atmosphere through the stack.
+ → +3CaCO heat CaO CO ..................................................................(33)
The SO2 from different sources in the atmosphere is subsequently
oxidised directly to sulphuric acid.
+ + →2 2 2 22SO O 2H O 2H SO ................................................................(34)
The direct reaction of SO2 with O2 is very slow, and the oxidation is carried
out by more reactive species particularly the hydroxyl radical. Some of the
sulphuric acid in the atmosphere is neutralised by ammonia or calcium oxide.
+ →2 4 3 4 2 4H SO (droplet) 2NH (g) (NH ) SO (droplet) ............................(35)
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Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
+ → +2 4 4 2H SO (droplet) CaO(s) CaSO (droplet) H O .........................(36)
When the humidity is low water is lost from these droplets and a solid
aerosol is formed.Atmospheric particulate matter present a wide diversity of
chemical compositions. Organic matter, nitrogen compounds, sulphur
compounds, several metals and radio nuclides are present in polluted urban
atmospheres.
Radioactive particles:
The source for these radioactive particles arise from mining and
processing of ore to produce usable radioactive substances which can be used in
nuclear reactors, in nuclear weapons and in medicinal and industrial applications.
During the processing of uranium large amounts of uranium tailings are produced
which can give rise to radioactive pollution.
The fly ash introduced into the atmosphere during the combustion of fossil
fuels, contain several radionuclides. For example large coal-fired power plants
lacking ash-control equipment, may introduce upto several hundred millicuries of
radionuclides into the atmosphere each year, far more than either an aquivalent
nuclear or oil-fired power plant.
Nuclear weapon testing whether in the air or underground can give rise to
radioactive fall out. For example 90Sr, which is a longlived component of
radioactive fall out is chemically similar to calcium. The 90Sr mixes with calcium in
the soil and is taken by plants, animals and finally by man. By virtue of its
similarity to calcium it enters into bones and cause disorders in blood cell
formation and other related problems.
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Environmental Chemistry and Analysis Prof. M.S.Subramanian
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Another natural source of radionuclides in the atmosphere is radon.
Radon being a noble gas readily escapes from soil and porous rock and diffuses
into the lower atmosphere. There the nuclides decay with half-lives of 3.8 days
(222Rn) and 55 s (220Rn) producing a series of shortlived daughter products.
These daughter products attach themselves to the aerosol particles in the
atmosphere which are efficiently deposited in the lungs if inhaled. Their
subsequent α and β emissions can irradiate and damage the lung tissue.
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