Acid Rain: The Problem Continues

PRESENTED BY Navjot Singh Roll No. 95222454108 BBA 6th Semester

What Ever Happened to Acid Rain?

In the 1980s, acid rain received a lot of media attention. Although we dont hear about acid rain as much these days, it is still a problem that deserves our attention. Fortunately, acid rain is a problem that we can all help to solve.

Examples

When CO2 reacts with water, carbonic acid is formed. CO2 (g)+H2O(l)-H2CO3(aq) When SO2 reacts with water, sulfurous acid is formed. SO2 (g)+H2O(l)-H2SO3(aq) When NO2 reacts with water, nitric acid is formed. 2NO2(g)+H2O(l)-HNO2(aq)+HNO3(aq)

How does Acid Rain effect us

It kills micro-organisms It poisons plants It damages metals and limestone It kills fish

Formation of Acid Rain

Formation of Acid Rain

When water vapor condenses, or as the rain falls, acidic gases dissolve in the water to form sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3). While the air in cleaned of these acidic pollutants in this way, the resulting precipitation is acidic, and it can have serious negative effects.

Acidic Rain Deposition

Acidic particles and vapors are deposited via two processes - wet and dry deposition.
Wet deposition is acid rain, the process by which acids with a pH normally below 5.6 are removed from the atmosphere in rain, snow, sleet or hail. Dry deposition takes place when particles such as fly ash, sulfates, nitrates, and gases (such as SO2 and NO), are deposited on, or absorbed onto, surfaces. The gases can then be converted into acids when they contact water.

Formation of Acid Rain

Procedures
Record the pH of distilled water by using the pH probe for 1 minute Rinse the probe, and put it back into the buffer solution Record the pH of the same water as you blow into the water for 1 minute

What is Acid Rain? How Does it Form?

Acid rain includes both wet and dry acidic deposits Precipitation with a pH lower than 5.6 is considered acidic Acid rain originates from sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide particles Once these particles are emitted into the air they form sulfate and nitrate particles These particles can travel long distances on wind currents By combining with water vapor, these particles form acids which fall to the earth as acid rain.

Where do Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) Particles Come From?

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide particles are emitted from utility plants, especially coal-fed electric plants Automobiles also emit acid rain causing pollution

How Does Acid Rain Effect Our Lives?

Poor forest health due to acidification of soil: acid rain can kill nutrient-producing microorganisms Acidification of lakes and streams can lead to the death of aquatic life, such as trout and bass Acidity can leach mercury out of the soil, causing toxic levels to build up in the fish we eat Acid rain can erode buildings and monuments and destroy paint finishes

What else needs to be done about Acid Rain ?

In 1990, an amendment to the Clean Air Act called for reductions in sulfur emissions This proved to be less effective than hoped, as acid rain still persists today This is largely due to 2 reasons: 1) reductions in sulfur emissions were not great enough and 2) there were no reductions in nitrogen emissions which are also implicated in forming acid rain

What is Being Done About Acid Rain?

Presently, the New England Governors and eastern Canadian Premieres are working together on a solution An International Acid Rain Steering Committee was formed and is currently discussing joint action to further reduce sulfur emissions by 50% and reduce nitrogen emissions by 30% by the year 2010

Causes of Acid Rain

Burning coal. Oil and natural gas in power stations makes electricity, giving off sulphur dioxide gas. Burning petrol and oil in vehicle engines gives off nitrogen oxides as gases. These gases mix with water vapour and rainwater in the atmosphere producing weak solutions of sulphuric and nitric acids which fall as acid rain.

The Problem!
People probably couldn't live without electricity! Therefore coal will continue to be burnt. Also, electricity and energy are constantly being

overused.

Think of it this way: every time you turn on a light switch or the television set without really needing to, you're indirectly contributing to the acid rain problem.

More problems!!!

Acid rain can travel long distances.

Often it doesnt fall where the gas is produced. High chimneys disperse (spread) the gases and winds blow them great distances before they dissolve and fall to Earth as rain. Eg gases produced in England and Western Europe can result in acid rain in Scotland and Scandinavia.

Affected Areas

Canada and the USA

Acid rain is a problem in Eastern Canada and the Northeastern USA Large smelters in western Ontario and steel processing plants in Indiana, Ohio historically used coal as a source of fuel The sulfur dioxide produced was carried eastward by the jet stream Acid rain from power plants in the Midwest United States has also harmed the forests of upstate New York and New England. In many areas water and soil systems lack natural alkalinity such as lime base cannot neutralize acid

Affected Areas Europe and Asia

Industrial acid rain is a substantial problem in China, Eastern Europe and Russia and areas down-wind from them. The effects of acid rain can spread over a large area, far from the source of the pollution

How Acid Rain Affects The Environment

Acid rain is an extremely destructive form of pollution, and the environment suffers from its effects. Forests, trees, lakes, animals, and plants suffer from acid rain.
Trees The needles and leaves of the trees turn brown and fall off. Trees can also suffer from stunted growth; and have damaged bark and leaves, which makes them vulnerable to weather, disease, and insects.

All of this happens partly because of direct contact between trees and acid rain, but it also happens when trees absorb soil that has come into contact with acid rain. The soil poisons the tree with toxic substances that the rain has deposited into it.

Buildings
Acid rain dissolves the stonework and mortar of buildings (especially those made out of sandstone or limestone). It reacts with the minerals in the stone to form a powdery substance that can be washed away by rain.

Currently, both the railway industry and the aeroplane industry are having to spend a lot of money to repair the corrosive damage done by acid rain. Also, bridges have collapsed in the past due to acid rain corrosion.

Transport

Humans
Humans can become seriously ill, and can even die from the effects of acid rain. One of the major problems that acid rain can cause in a human being is respiratory problems. Many can find it difficult to breathe, especially people who have asthma. Asthma, along with dry coughs, headaches, and throat irritations can be caused by the sulphur dioxides and nitrogen oxides from acid rain.

Effects of Acid Rain on Human Health

Affects human health

Respiratory problems, asthma, dry coughs, headaches and throat irritations Leaching of toxins from the soil by acid rain can be absorbed by plants and animals. When consumed, these toxins affect humans severely. Brain damage, kidney problems, and Alzheimer's disease has been linked to people eating "toxic" animals/plants.

Acid rain can be absorbed by both plants (through soil and/or direct contact) and animals (from things they eat and/or direct contact). When humans eat these plants or animals, the toxins inside of their meals can affect them. Brain damage, kidney problems, and Alzheimer's disease has been linked to people eating "toxic" animals/plants.

Harmful Effects of Acid Rain

Harmful to aquatic life

Increased acidity in water bodies Stops eggs of certain organisms (e.g. fish) to stop hatching

Changes population ratios Affects the ecosystem

Effects of Vegetation

Harmful to vegetation
Increased acidity in soil Leaches nutrients from soil, slowing plant growth Leaches toxins from soil, poisoning plants Creates brown spots in leaves of trees, impeding photosynthesis

Allows organisms to infect through broken leaves

Research carried America in 1982, sulphur pollution people and about become ill as a pollution.

out in North revealed that killed 51,000 200,000 people result of the

Preventive Measures

Reduce amount of sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen released into the atmosphere
Use less energy (hence less fuel burned) Use cleaner fuels Remove oxides of sulfur and oxides of nitrogen before releasing

Flue gas desulphurization Catalytic Converters

Preventive Measures

Use cleaner fuels

Coal that contains less sulfur "Washing" the coal to reduce sulfur content Natural Gas

Preventive Measures

Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD)

Removes sulfur dioxide from flue gas (waste gases) Consists of a wet scrubber and a reaction tower equipped with a fan that extracts hot smoky stack gases from a power plant into the tower Lime or limestone (calcium carbonate) in slurry form is injected into the tower to mix with the stack gases and reacts with the sulphur dioxide present

Preventive Measures

(continued)
Produces pH-neutral calcium sulfate that is physically removed from the scrubber Sulfates can be used for industrial purposes
Scrubber at work
MSN Encarta

Preventive Measures

Use sources other than coal to generate electricity

nuclear power hydro-electricity wind energy geothermal energy, Issue of cost solar energy
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Nuclear_Power_Plant_Cattenom.jpg

Can We Do Anything About Acid Rain?

YES! We can all take small actions to help solve the problem We can help by:

using our cars less conserving electricity choosing electricity providers that emit lower amounts of air pollution emissions

What are the solutions to acid rain?

Solutions
1. Sulphur dioxide can be removed from power stations chimneys but this process is expensive. 2. Reduce the amount of electricity we use - turn tvs off at the mains, dont leave on standby. - turn off lights when a room is not in use. 3. Use renewable energy like wind power, solar panels, tidal power, HEP schemes and geothermal energy. 4. Fit catalytic converters to vehicle exhausts which remove the nitrogen oxides. 5. Limit the number of vehicles on the roads and increase public transport.

THANK YOU