Coal

Emits carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and other

pollutants
EPA proposed greenhouse gas emission
guidelines (Clean Power Plan) which would make
new coal-burning power plants illegal without
carbon capture, and require alteration of existing
plants
Would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% from
2005 levels, by 2030
States have a few years to develop plans for reducing
greenhouse gas emissions (else federal plan applies)
Goes into effect in 2020

Coal
Carbon capture and storage (CCS)
Expensive too expensive?
Storage is still uncertain

Can be used to make syngas = methane

Integrated gasification combined cycle
technology turns coal to syngas, which is
burned to run turbines

Coal
1990 Clean Air Act limited amount of sulfur
oxides which could be emitted by power plants
Clean coal can be washed (broken into small
pieces and rinsed through water) to remove
impurities such as sulfur, but not all sulfur gets
removed
Does not change the amount of carbon dioxide
being emitted more than oil or natural gas

Mercury and air toxics standards (MATS,

2011) go into effect in 2015
Upheld by Supreme Court 4/14

Acid Rain
Pyrite blobs
in coal
FeS2 is
released
and
becomes
SO2 when
coal burns,
forms
sulfuric acid
in
atmosphere

Acid Rain
Pure water: neutral pH of 7
Typical rain: pH of 5.6 (carbon dioxide in air)
Automobile battery acid: pH of 1
Vinegar: pH of 3
Coca-cola: pH of 3.5

Acid rain: pH less than 5.6

Forms from sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide
Sulfur dioxide mostly from coal-burning power
plants
Nitrous oxide from power plants, cars and trucks

Acid Rain

Forest in
Vermont

Acid Rain
Breathing problems for children, asthmatic adults
Damage to buildings and monuments (especially
marble)

1908

1969

Acid Rain
Acid rain frees
nutrients and
toxic metals in
soil, so they are
carried away by
runoff or by
groundwater flow
Both substances
would be better left
in soil and not
transported in
water

Acid Rain

pH rain Long

pH rain Long Island ~4.

Mackenzie & Mackenzie, 1995

Acid Rain

1990 Clean Air Act required reduction of

SO2 and NOx emissions to 50% of 1980

Acid Rain
pH rain Long
Island ~4.6

Figure 2c Three-year Mean SO2 Concentrations (g/m3) for 19971999

http://epa.gov/castnet/javaweb/docs/annual_report_2009.pdf

Figure 2d Three-year Mean SO2 Concentrations (g/m3) for 20072009

http://epa.gov/castnet/javaweb/docs/annual_report_2009.pdf

Formation of Hydrocarbons
Also called petroleum or
crude oil and natural gas
Liquid and gas forms,
CxH2x+2
Lightest hydrocarbons
are gas at surface,
heavier hydrocarbons
are liquid and heaviest
hydrocarbons are tar,
asphalt, bitumen

Name
methan
e
ethane
propan
e
butane
pentan
e
hexane
heptan

Formul
a
CH4
C2H6
C3H8
C4H10
C5H12
C6H14