CONTROLLING POLLUTION

What is Alternative Fuels?

Fossil Fuel as fuel have caused numerous problems over the years to the environment, over the
scientist have been looking at different methods to gain energy by limiting the destruction to the
environment. Alternative fuels are described as a fuel source which can generate energy to
decrease the frequency at which natural resources used, and limit the destruction to the
environment.

TABLE 1 SHOWING THE ALTERNATIVE FUEL SOURCE:

TYPE OF FUEL SOURCE ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

Nuclear Energy: energy is
generated by nuclear fission of
uranium releasing heat which is
then harness and converted to other
forms of energy.
Ocean energy: Energy harness
from the movements of tides and
waves of the ocean
Hydroelectric energy: Energy
generated from flowing water of
river by a dam
Biomass: Energy found stored in
organic materials.
Geothermal energy: This is Heat
energy trapped underneath the
earth.
Fuel Cells: produce Electrical
energy by chemical reaction using
hydrogen and oxygen.
The continuous production of
electrical energy from nuclear
energy reduces the prices of fossil
fuels.
Does not produce any greenhouse
gas in the process of producing
energy
It is renewable source of energy.
Uses waste materials to reduce
landfill disposal.
Geothermal power plants does
not require (minimizes) the
destruction of natural resources
such as energy sources (fossil
fuels).
The combustion of the hydrogen
doesnt produce any carbon
dioxide limits global warming
Nuclear waste takes many years to
be eliminated.
Very expensive to maintain and
install.
Result in death of nearby aquatic
life as water quality diminishes due
to hydroelectric plant.
Land accessibility to harvest
biomass energy is not easily
available.
Large amount of money needed to
research areas which my be
appropriate for production of
geothermal energy.
The production of hydrogen can
result in atmospheric pollution.
Sequestering agents

A sequestering agent is a substance that removes ions from a solution system or from the air
by forming a ring (complexes) which prevents the ion chemical reaction from having
chemical reaction. Sequestering agents are used in treatment of metal poisoning and in
industrial extraction of metals. Some common sequestering agents are sugar acrylates,
polymer acrylates and hydroxyl carboxylates

Scrubbers
Scrubbers aka Chemical Scrubbers or Gas Scrubbers, are apparatus designed to remove gas
pollutants effectively and efficiently. The operation of a scrubber s done by dissolving or
absorbing the pollutant into the scrubbing liquid. The scrubbing liquid used will depend on the
properties of the targeted pollutant. Pollution Systems gas scrubber systems incorporate high
quality design and construction for long-term, continuous operation while minimizing the
equipment maintenance needed. . Scrubbers generally remove pollutants chemicals such as
ammonia, chlorine or sulphur compounds in air.
Flue-gas desulphurisation
Flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) is a specialized scrubber used to remove sulphur dioxide (So2)
from the exhaust flue gases of fossil-fuel power plants, furnaces and from other the emissions of
other sulphur dioxide emitting processes. See chemical reaction below

Filters
Filters are devices used for filtering particles of dust, soot, etc., from the air passing through it.
Filters. Air filters physically trapped the dirt by using the sieves that filer particles of circulating
air.

Catalytic Converter
Catalytic converter are used to reduce the toxic gasses in emission gases
from thee combustion hydrocarbons fuel in a car. The pollutants produce by
the combustion are carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. The platinum
rhodium catalyst in the facilitates proper oxidation for carbon monoxide to
form carbon dioxide and reduces nitrogen dioxide to for nitrogen gas. See
reaction below:
The burning of Hydrocarborns?

Hydrocarbons undergo combustion for several of reasons most cases to be used as a fuel source.
There two type of combustion involved in with hydrocarbon complete combustion and
incomplete combustion. When there is sufficient oxygen (complete combustion) carbon dioxide
is formed, when there is insufficient oxygen (incomplete combustion) carbon monoxide is
formed. Chemical equation shown below.
2C4H10 (g) + 9O2(g) 8CO(g) + 10H2O(l) (incomplete combustion)
2C4H10 (g) + 13O2 (g) 8CO2(g) + 10H2O(l) (complete combustion)
Carbon monoxide is not a greenhouse gas as carbon Dioxide but still has a negative impact on
the environment. Carbon monoxide in large amounts have been proven to be fatal if inhaled.
The effects of carbon dioxide as green gas has been discussed in previous section of this project.
Coal (hydrocarbon) plants has also directly or indirectly produce these gaseous compounds in the
environment:
1. Nitrogen Oxides: Nitrogen oxides (NOx) is a chemical pollutant formed when oxygen
reacts with nitrogen under extreme pressure and heat. Nitrogen oxides contribute too
many hazardous effects in the environment such as contributing greenhouse effect,
formation of photochemical smog, acid rain, and they are known irritants for eyes and
breathing
2. Sulphur Dioxide: Sulphur dioxide is mainly known for causing acid rain when reacting
with nitrogen dioxide.
3. Acid Rain: Acid is indirectly formed from the burning of hydrocarbons. Due to carbon
dioxide in the air rain is naturally acidic (has a pH of 5.6). When nitrogen dioxide reacts
with sulphur dioxide the nitrogen oxide oxidises the sulphur dioxide. To form sulphur
trioxide this reacts with water vapour to form sulphuric acid. This increases the acidic
properties of rain changing the pH of nearby water sources, stopping plants from growing
due the drastic change in soil pH, and destruction of stonework. Chemical equation
shown below.
So2 + NO2(g ) SO3(g) + NO(g) S03(g) +H2O) ) +H2S04(g)
4. Photochemical Smog: Photochemical smog is the product of nitrogen dioxide, ozone and
sunlight. Photochemical smog forms a yellowish brown gas which hampers visibility. It
also causes many respiratory disorders and allergies as it contains polluting gases.
Chemical equation shown below.
hv+ NO2(g ) NO(g ) + O* O2(g ) + O* O3(g ) NO + O3(g ) NO2(g ) + O2(g )
Volatile organic Compounds: Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are emitted as gases from certain
solids or liquids with low boiling point.. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may
have short- and long-term adverse health effects. These effects are headaches, loss of coordination
and nausea, damage to liver, kidney and central nervous system.

Lead Compounds: Lead is a solid and highly toxic metal. Lead in atmosphere and aqueous form
has proven to be very deadly and have negative effects on the kidneys, heart and nervous system.
 For too long the coal industry has used our atmosphere like an open sewer for its
airborne pollution. These emissions fuel climate change, but they also pose a serious threat
to our health and environment. These threats include smog, acid rain, toxic mercury, and
fine particles that embed deep in our lungs.

By breaking free from coal, we can fight both air pollution and climate change. The shift to
100 percent clean, safe renewable energy will be a huge double win for the health of people
and our planet.

About airborne pollutants from coal plants

Burning coal is the biggest single source of carbon dioxide emissions from human activity. But coal
power plants emit many harmful pollutants into the air, including:

sulphur dioxide (SO2)

nitrogen oxides (NOx)

particulate matter (PM)

various trace metals including mercury (Hg)

Once these pollutants enter the air from coal plant stacks they can disperse and cause harm over
large areas.

Burning coal leads to acid rain and smog

Coal power plants release large amounts of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

Nitrogen oxides are greenhouse gases, but these pollutants also react with organic compounds to form
smog (ground level ozone). Harmful to our health, smog increases risk of asthma, lung damage and
premature death. It also damages plants, making them vulnerable to disease and extreme weather.

Nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide also contribute to acid rain.

When these pollutants mix with water, oxygen, and other chemicals in the air, they form nitric and
sulphuric acid. The resulting acid rain can spread over a wide area, killing fish and plants. In forests,
acid rain damages tree leaves and strips nutrients from soils.
Coal burning releases toxic mercury

Globally, coal-fired power plants are the largest single source of mercury emissions. They release over
half of the mercury pollution from human activity.

Mercury is a neurotoxin; it has harmful effects on the brain and nervous system.

Mercury released from power plants settles into the environment, spreading into groundwater and
entering the food chain via algae. From there it infects all life, from minnows to fish that prey on
them, and on to fish-eating birds and mammals. Passing from lower to higher levels of the food chain,
mercury concentrations increase.

In the USA, forty-nine states have issued fish consumption advisories due to high mercury
concentrations in freshwater bodies.

Particle pollution hurts our lungs

Also called particulate matter, or PM, particle pollution is possibly the most harmful emission from coal
power plants. These very small unburned pollution particles released directly from coal plant
smokestacks cause an estimated 800,000 premature deaths each year.

When inhaled, particle pollution can have wide-ranging and harmful health effects, including asthma
attacks, lung tissue damage, stroke, heart attack and premature death.

Particles 2.5 microns (PM2.5) or smaller can penetrate deep into the lungs, and caused five
percent of global deaths, making this the sixth leading global risk factor in 2013, according to
the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study.

The first analysis on death and disease due to coal power plants in India estimates 80,000 to
115,000 people died prematurely in a single year due to particle pollution 10 microns in size
(PM10).

Research co-authored by Greenpeace in China shows that PM2.5 pollution from the 196 coal-
fired power plants in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei capital region caused 9,900 premature deaths
and nearly 70,000 outpatient visits or hospitalizations during 2011. Seventy-five percent these
premature deaths were caused by Hebei province's 152 coal-fired power plants.
The thermosphere is the fourth layer of earth's atmosphere. The thermosphere is directly above
the mesosphere and below the exosphere. It extends from about 90 km to 700km above our
planet. In the thermosphere the absorption of the X-ray and UV radiation from the Sun tends to
be absorbed in the thermosphere. Finally, the aurora (the Southern and Northern Lights)
primarily occur in the thermosphere. When charged particles (electrons, protons, and other ions)
from space entering the thermosphere, collide with atoms and molecules at high latitudes,
causing these particles to become excited (entering a higher energy state). Once this occurs the
charged particles release their excess energy by emitting photons of light, which we see as
aurora.