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Air pollution

Air pollution. Common Pollutants. For today we will discuss the pollutants Nitrogen oxides Sulfur dioxide Ozone Hydrocarbons. Nitrogen oxides have several formulas N 2 O NO 2 NO There are more but these are the ones of main concern. Sources

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Air pollution

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  1. Air pollution

  2. Common Pollutants • For today we will discuss the pollutants • Nitrogen oxides • Sulfur dioxide • Ozone • Hydrocarbons

  3. Nitrogen oxides have several formulas • N2O • NO2 • NO • There are more but these are the ones of main concern

  4. Sources • 97% of nitrogen oxides are produced naturally and are not possible for us to regulate • Of the remaining 3% what do you think the largest contributor is?

  5. The chemical reactions that produce nitrogen oxides N2 + O2 2NO + O2 2NO2 + H2O

  6. NO is a primary pollutant, toxic on its own it tends to rapidly react with oxygen to produce NO2

  7. NO2 is responsible for the brown haze seen in many major cities as part of the photochemical smog It is an eye and lung irritant The EPA limits all nitrogen oxide compound exposure to 53 ppb.

  8. Typical day of emissions

  9. Ozone O3 Ozone is useful as a protection layer when found in the stratosphere It is a pollutant in the troposphere

  10. Limiting Ozone creation

  11. Sulfur Dioxide SO2 70% of the emissions of this gas are from human activities Primary source is burning coal which has 1-4% sulfur.

  12. 1 coal burning power plant provides 500-1000MW(enough power for a city the size of Lubbock) 700 tons of coal an hour for power Creates nearly 500,000 tons of SO2 a year.

  13. Purification of Coal • Many of the contaminants can be seperated out of coal by “floating” the coal • This process involves pulverizing the coal and placing it in a solution which allows the coal to float while the contaminants sink to the bottom

  14. Floating removes 90% of iron sulfide but more sulfur remains in the coal • This remaining sulfur is removed during the burning process by scrubbers

  15. These two methods have reduced the amount of sulfur dioxide released by 30% • But this comes at a cost of 3% efficiency in the energy produced by burning coal

  16. Hydrocarbons • Hydrocarbons mean hydrogen and carbon in a compound • The simplest hydrocarbon is methane • Ants, cows, rice, and bacterial decay all produce methane • Other hydrocarbons come from refining petroleum, combustion engines, and trees

  17. Carbon Monoxide CO We all know this is a deadly pollutant, but where does it come from? Colorless and odorless

  18. Engine combustion

  19. The biological effects of CO Binds to hemoglobin

  20. Environmental Protection Agency Regulates much of the controllable emissions from industry and human activity Clean Air Act

  21. Homework 3, which has 1 whole problem to work is due on Sunday by 11:45pm

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