Environmental Pollution Control

(ET ZC362)
by
Dr. Raman Sharma
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemical Engineering
Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani

Lecture 18 (Review Session)

16/10/2014

Contents
Recap

Chapter 1- 6 (Air Pollution and its control)

Chapter 7 9 (Water Pollution and its control)
Chapter 10 (Solid Waste Management)
Noise Pollution and EIA

Chapter 1

Environmental Engineering
Environmental engineering is defined as the
application of engineering principles, under
constraint, to the protection and enhancement
of the quality of the environment and to the
enhancement and protection of public health
and welfare.

Environmental Engineering
Environmental engineering is defined as the
application of engineering principles, under
constraint, to the protection and enhancement
of the quality of the environment and to the
enhancement and protection of public health
and welfare.

Various cycles in the environment

Hydrological cycle : Depends on the reciprocity of evaporation &
precipitation

Nutrient cycles

Carbon cycle
Nitrogen cycle
Phosphorus cycle
Sulphur cycle

Nutrient cycle carbon cycle

Biosphere contains complex mixture of carbon
compounds in dynamic equilibrium
Producers through photosynthesis, reduce CO2
from atmosphere to organic carbon

Environmental legislation & regulations

The process of enacting law, developing regulations
that articulate those laws and enforcing the
regulations varies from country to country.
In India, Ministry of Environment and Forest
(MoEF), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The mandate of the Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB) is to set environmental standards for all
plants in India, lay down ambient standards, and
coordinate the activities of the State Pollution Control
Boards (SPCBs)
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Chapter 2

Classification of air pollutants

Divided into 2 categories:
Primary pollutants
Emitted directly from the sources
Include ash, smoke, dust, fumes, mist, spray, etc
Include inorganic gases such that SO2, H2S, olefinic,
aromatic hydrocarbons, CO,CO2, H2F, etc

Secondary pollutants
Formed in the atmosphere by chemical interactions
among primary pollutants and normal atmosphere
constituents
Include SO3, NO2, ozone, aldehydes, ketones, various
sulphates & nitrates salts
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Properties of air pollutants

Particulate matters
Refers to all atmospheric substances that are
not gases
Can be suspended droplets or solid particles or
mixtures of two
Can be composed of inert of extremely reactive
materials (100 m or 0.1 m or less)
Classification include:

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Dust
Smoke
Fumes
Mist
Fog
Aerosols

Emission sources (Classification acc.

to source types)
Classification acc. to source types
1. Natural sources

Wind blown dust

Pollen
Sea salt nuclei
Volcanic ash and gases
Smoke and trace gases from forest fire

2. Anthropogenic sources

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Product of combustion (CO2, CO, NOx, SOX etc.)

Incineration of solid combustible waste
Chemical and metallurgical industry (SO2)
Petroleum refining (Table 2.3 include list of
anthropogenic air pollution sources).

Behavior and Fate of Air Pollutants

Large amount of pollutants are discharged into atmosphere

but there ambient levels remained the same.

Why?

Natural Pathways of exchange of pollutants from atmosphere

to earth surface (Scavenging Processes).

Particulates:

Wet removal by precipitation

Dry removal by sedimentation, impaction and diffusion

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Behavior and Fate of Air Pollutants

Gases:
Wet removal by precipitation.

Chemical reaction in the atmosphere to produce aerosols and /

or absorption on aerosols with subsequent removal.
Absorption or reaction at land and ocean surfaces.

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Chapter 3

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Temperature Lapse Rates and Stability

Air pollutants emitted from anthropogenic sources must
first be transported and diluted in the atmosphere before
these undergo various physical and photochemical
transformations and ultimately reach their receptors.
Otherwise, the pollutant concentrations reach dangerous
levels near the source of emission. Hence, it is important
that we understand the natural processes that are
responsible for their dispersion.
Effective dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere
depends primarily on the degree of stability of atmosphere
and on its turbulent structure.
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Plume Behaviour
The smoke trail or plume from a tall stack located on flat terrain has
been found to exhibit a characteristic shape that is dependent on the
stability of the atmosphere. The six classical plumes are described
below, along with the corresponding temperature profiles.
Fanning
Fanning occurs when the plume is dispersed in the presence of very
light winds as a result of strong atmospheric inversions. The stable
lapse rate suppresses the vertical mixing, but not the horizontal
mixing entirely. If the density of the plume is not significantly
different from that of the surrounding atmosphere, the plume travels
parallel to the ground in a flat, straight ribbon downwind, and on
occasions plumes in a stable layer may be observed for 10 to 20 km
downwind. A fanning plume is often observed at a height and in the
early morning in all seasons.
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Fumigation

When the lapse rate changes from stable to unstable-a situation

usually arising when an inversion is breaking up in early morning
when the sun comes up- a condition known as fumigation takes place.
Here stable layer of air lies a short distance above the release point of
the plume and an unstable layer lies below the plume. This unstable
layer of air causes the pollutants to mix downward toward the ground
in large lumps, but fortunately this condition is usually of short
duration lasting for about 30 minutes. Fumigation is favored by clean
skies and light winds, and is more common in the summer season.
Looping
It occurs under superadiabatic conditions with light to moderate wind
speeds on a hot summer afternoon when large-scale thermal eddies
are present. These eddies carry portions of the plume to the ground
level for short time periods, causing momentary high surface
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concentration of pollutant near the stack.

Coning
Coning plume can occur under cloudy skies both during day and night when the lapse rate is
essential neutral. The plume shape is vertically symmetrical about the plume line and a
major part of the pollutant concentration is carried downwind fairly far before reaching the
ground level. Coning is often associated with moderate to high wind speeds.
Lofting
The conditions for the lofting plume are the inverse of those for fumigation; the lapse rate in
the upper portion of the plume is unstable and that in the lower portion stable. When the
pollutants are emitted above the inversion layer, they are dispersed vigorously in the upward
direction since the top of the inversion layer acts as a barrier to the movement of pollutants
towards the ground. Lofting is the most favourable plume type as far as ground level
concentrations are concerned and is one the major goals of tall-stack operation.

Trapping
The trapped plume occurs when the plume effluent is caught
between two inversion layers. The diffusion of effluent is severely
restricted to the unstable layer between the two stable reasons.
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Chapter 4

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Particulate Sampling
The common technique employed for sampling particulate-laden
gas streams is the so called isokinetic technique.
Under isokinetic conditions, the static pressure at the tip of the
probe must be equal to the static pressure in the free stream at the
same cross-section.
This implies that when two pressures are equalized then the
corresponding velocities must be equal

up = u

Isokinetic

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 When a sharp-edged probe is introduced into a single-phase fluid

stream, then the flow pattern around the probe may be represented
as in the case of simple pitot tube.
The velocity inside the probe is zero and the pressure at the tip of
the probe becomes equal to the stagnation pressure

If the gas velocity (up), less than the free stream velocity (u), is
maintained inside the probe, then the gas flow pattern at the tip of
the probe may be represented by given figure. In this case the static
pressure at the tip of the probe is greater than the free stream static
pressure at the same cross section

up< u

Gas streamlines

Sub-isokinetic

Prob
e

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 If the gas velocity (up), greater than the free stream velocity (u), is
maintained inside the probe, then the gas flow pattern at the tip of
the probe may be represented by given figure. In this case the
static pressure at the tip of the probe is less than the free stream
static pressure, and too much gas will be sampled in proportion to
the probe area.

Up > u

Super-isokinetic
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Gravitational Settling Chamber

Generally used to remove large, abrasive particles (>50m)
Advantages:

Low pressure drop

Require simple maintenance

Disadvantages:

Low efficiency for particles smaller than 50m

These Devices are normally used as precleaners prior to passing the

gas stream through high efficiency collection devices.

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Settling chamber

Several trays
Efficiency improved
Gas flow velocity constant but shorter settling distance.
Gas inlet Q

Gas outlet
H
v

H Chamber width=W
n =number of trays

L
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Chapter 5

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Cyclone Separators

Cyclone separators utilize a centrifugal force generated by a

spinning gas stream to separate the particulate matter from the
carrier gas. If the particle size is greater than the 10 m, then best
choice is cyclone separator.
There are three general types of cyclones
(1) High-throughput cyclones: are those that process high volumes
of waste air input but are operating at low efficiencies.
(2) Conventional cyclones: are in between high-throughput and
high efficiency cyclones.

(3) High-efficiency cyclones: cyclones can also be arranged to

operate in multiples to produce higher efficiencies.
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Advantages
Uses Centrifugal force
Occupies less space
Operation
The particle-laden gas upon entering the cyclone cylinder,
receives the centrifugal force.
The gas spirals downward to the bottom of the cone
At the bottom the gas flow reverses to form an inner vortex to
leave through the outlet

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Electrostatic Precipitator
Particles are collected with this are
By-products of combustion
Dust fibers
Acid mists etc

Operation
Particles suspended in gas are charged electrically and then
separated
The particle laden gas enters and is ionized on passing through
the very high voltage
Dust is collected on the electrode
By vibrating the charged plate, the dust is removed
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 Electrostatic forces between particles and fibres increase the

collection efficiency
The generation of electrostatic charges in filter fabrics may be due
to friction between gas and fabrics as well as that between particles
and fabric at high gas velocities (1.5 to 2.0 m/s)

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+ - + -+ -

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Chapter 6

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Desulphurisation of flue gases

These processes are divided into two categories
1) Dry method
2) Wet Method

1) Dry Method: the dry method can be classified

as
A) Adsorption of SO2 by metal oxides to form stable
sulphites or sulphates with subsequent regeneration of
the oxide and recovery of sulphur
B) Adsorption on activated carbon followed by
regeneration and conversion of concentrated SO2 to
sulphuric acid or elemental sulphur.

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Processes Using Metal Oxides

Several metal oxides and oxides mixtures have been
identified as adsorbents or catalysts for SO2 in flue
gases.
a) Aluminium sodium oxide (alkalized alumina)
b) Manganese oxide

a) alkalized alumina process: in this process, the dust

free flue gas is fed to a reactor wherein the adsorbent,
a porous form of sodium aluminate (Na2O.Al2O3)
adsorbes SO2 at a temperature of ~315 C. During the
adsorption the SO2 and O2 in the flue gas react with
adsorbent
Na2O.Al2O3 + SO2 + 1/2O2 Na2SO4+Al2O3
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 The spent material is then contacted with reducing gas

such as H2 in a regenerator at about 680 C to produce
hydrogen sulphide
Na2SO4+Al2O3+1/2O2Na2O3.Al2O3+H2S+3H2O

The sodium aluminate pellets are recycled and the

H2S gas is sent to Claus unit for the production of
sulphur.
b) Manganese oxide process: the activated
manganese oxide reacts with SO2 to produce
manganese suplhate:
MnOx.yH2O+SO2+1/2(2-x)O2MnSO4+yH2O
Here x =1.5-1.8 and y = 0.1-1
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 The regeneration of the spent sorbent is carried out by

reacting the manganese sulphate with air and ammonia
to produce ammonium sulphate in accordance with the
reaction
MnSO4+2NH3+2H2O+(y-1)H2O+1/2(x-1)O2
(NH4)2SO4 + MnOx.yH2O
The activated manganese oxide is filtered from the
(NH4)2SO4 solution and the filtrate is passed through a
cryatallizer where ammonium sulphate is recovered.
The ammonium sulphate can be used as a fertilizer and
the degree of SO2 removal by this process is around
90%
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Processes using activated carbon

Adsorption on a material like activated carbon provides
an attractive method for continuous removal of SO2
from flue gases because of the high surface area and
low cost of activated carbon.
The activated carbon can be produced from wood,
coconut or other types of nut shells or from petroleum
feed stock.
The main limitations with the activated carbon as an
adsorbent in the flue gas desulphurisation are
Its attrition
Tendency towards spontaneous ignition
The problem with thermal regeneration
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Chapter 7

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Classification of water pollutants

1. Oxygen demanding wastes

2. Diseasecausing agents
3. Synthetic organic compounds
4. Plant nutrients
5. Inorganic chemicals and minerals
6. Sediments
7. Radioactive substances
8. Thermal discharges

9. Oil
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Oxygen Demanding Wastes (DO & BOD)

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is essential for sustaining the plant and
animal life in any aquatic system.
For example, warm water fish requires a minimum DO level of at
least 5 mg/l.

If the DO level drops below the level necessary to sustain normal

life, then the aquatic system is classified as polluted.
Process by which the DO content is affected

(a) Reaeration
(b) Photosynthesis
(c) Respiration

(d) Oxidation of wastes

(a) Reaeration: Process by which oxygen transfer takes place from the atmosphere
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to water.

When the DO level falls below the saturation value, oxygen diffuses
from the atmosphere at a rate which is proportional to the deficit.

Interface
Air

water
Cs
CL

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Pollution results when the oxygen demand exceeds the available

oxygen.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Is a measure of the O2 utilized by microorganisms during the
oxidation of organic materials.
On an average, the demand for oxygen is directly proportional to
the amount of organic waste which has to broken down.
Hence, BOD is a direct measure of oxygen requirements and an
indirect measure of biodegradable organic matter.
If a given amount of organic matter is introduced into a water sample
and its decomposition is monitored, one would observe that the
rate of oxidation of organic matter (rate of decline of BOD) can
be approximated as a first-order chemical.
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Chapter 8

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Waste Water Sampling

Waste water sampling and analysis form an
important part of any water pollution control
programme because the identification of the
pollutants and pinpointing their concentrations are
vital to the selection of a proper treatment
process.
The sampling method used should be one that
gives a representative picture of the quality of the
waste stream; otherwise, the time and effort
involved in the analysis will be completely
wasted.
Sampling
The grab sample
The composite sample

The grab sample

It shows only the prevailing conditions at the time
of sampling and cannot represent average
conditions.
Hence it should not be used as a basis for
treatment.
However, grab samples are useful in determining
the effects of extreme conditions of waste during
the time composite samples are being collected or
when the waste water flow is intermittent.

Composite Sample
It provide more meaningful data when the composition of
the waste varies with either time or flow.
A composite sample can be obtained by collecting
individual samples at frequent intervals and mixing them
together.
These samples can be collected manually or with automatic
samplers on the basis of flow and time.
When waste water flow and composition are relatively
uniform, grab samples of a fixed volume can be manually
taken at given time intervals and composite sample
obtained.
If flow rate varies the volume of the grab sample collected
is proportional to the flow.
Usually, the flow rate of waste water at sampling point is
determined with a flow meter each time a portion of the
composite sample is collected.

Chapter 9

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Waste Water Treatment Processes

Treatment

Physical

Screening, Sedimentation,floatation
and filtration

Chemical

Precipitation,Coagulation and
disinfections

Physical &
Chemical
Biological

Air stripping, Carbon adsorption,

Oxidation and reduction, Ion
exchange, and membrane Processes
Biofiltration and Activated Sludge
Process

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Another classification of waste water treatment processes

Primary Treatment
Removes identifiable suspended solids and floating matter
Secondary Treatment
Also known as biological treatment (organic matter that is soluble
or in the colloidal form is removed
Tertiary Treatment
Also known as advanced waste treatment (may involve physical,
chemical or biological processes)
Primary Treatment Process
Pretreatment

Discrete Settling

Sedimentation

Flocculent Settling

Flotation

Zone Settling
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9.3 Secondary or Biological Treatment

This operation leads to the natural biodegradation of organic matter by aerobic
bacteria. The principal requirements of a biological waste treatment process are
an adequate amount of bacteria that feed on the organic material present in
wastewater, oxygen, and some means of achieving contact between the bacteria
and the organics.
Activated Sludge System
Biological Treatment
Trickling Filter (Biological-film System)

Activated Sludge Process

Wastewater after primary treatment enters an aeration tank where the organic
matter is brought into intimate contact with the sludge from the secondary settler
or classifier. This sludge is heavily populated with microorganisms which are in
active state of growth. The microorganisms (in the aeration tank) utilize the
oxygen in the air and convert the organic matter into stabilized, low-energy
compounds such as NO3, SO4, CO2, and synthesize new bacterial cells.
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The effluent from the aeration tank containing the flocculent microbial mass, known
as sludge, is separated in a secondary classifier. In this classifier the separated sludge
exists without contact with the organic matter and becomes activated.
A portion of the sludge is recycled to the aeration tank as a seed; the rest is wasted. If
all the activated sludge is recycled, then the bacterial mass would keep increasing to
the stage where the system gets clogged with solids. It is therefore necessary to
waste some of the microorganisms.

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Trickling Filter
It is generally used to handle peak shock loads and the ability to
function satisfactorily after a short period of time. However, like all
biological units, trickling filters are affected by temperature;
therefore, cold weather slows down biological activity in the filter.

Conventional trickling filters normally consist of a rock bed, 1 to 3

meters in depth, will enough openings between rocks to allow air to
circulate easily. The influent is sprinkled over the bed packing which
is coated with a biological slime. As the liquid trickles over the
packing, oxygen and the dissolved organic matter diffuse into the
film to be metabolized by the microorganisms in the slim layer. End
products such as CO2, NO3, etc diffuse back, out of the slim and
appear in the filter effluent.
As the microorganisms utilize the organic matter, the thickness of the
slim film increases to a point where it can no longer be supported on
the solid media and gets detached from the surface. This process
is
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known as Sloughing.

More recently, plastic filters have been used for trickling filters. The
plastic packing is light and can be stacked many times higher than the
conventional rock bed. It also has a much higher degree of treatment
capability because of the increase in the available surface area.

Conventional Trickling filter

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Chapter 10

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Solid Waste Management

Solid Waste
Material which arises from various human activities and which is
normally discarded as useless or unwanted
It consists of the highly heterogeneous mass of discarded
materials from the urban community as well as the more
homogeneous accumulation of agricultural, industrial and mining
wastes
Classification
Solid wastes may be classified based partly on content and partly on
moisture and heating value
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Garbage
Useless solid waste constituents produced during the preparation or
storage of meat, fruit, vegetables, etc. These wastes have a moisture
content of about 70% and a heating value of around 6106 J/kg.

Rubbish
Non-putrescible solid waste constituents, either combustible or noncombustible. Combustible wastes would include paper, wood, scrap,
rubber, leather etc. Non-combustible wastes are metals, glass
ceramics etc. These wastes contain a moisture content of about 25%
and the heating value of the waste is around 15 106 J/kg.
Pathological Wastes

Dead animals, human waste, etc. The moisture content is 85% and
there are 5% non-combustible solids. The heating value is around
2.5 106 J/kg.
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Industrial Wastes

Chemicals, paints, sand, metal ore processing, flyash, sewage

treatment sludge, etc.
Agricultural Wastes

Farm animal manure, crop residues, etc.

Principal Sources
Domestic
Commercial
Industrial
Agricultural activities

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Noise Pollution
and
EIA
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Noise Pollution and Its Control

Noise is unwanted sound and sound is a form of energy. The
frequency limits of audibility are from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.

A noise problem generally consists of three inter-related

elements- the source, the receiver and the transmission path
Noise may be continuous or intermittent. Noise may be of high
frequency or of low frequency which is undesired for a normal
hearing
The discrimination and differentiation between sound and noise
also depends upon the habit and interest of the person/species
receiving it, the ambient conditions and impact of the sound
generated during that particular duration of time
Sounds of frequencies less than 20 Hz are called infrasonics and
greater than 20,000 Hz are called ultrasonics
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How it is computed?
The intensity of sound is measured in sound pressure levels (SPL)
and common unit of measurement is decibel, dB.

The community (ambient) noise levels are measured in the

A - weighted SPL, abbreviated dB(A). This scale resembles the
audible response of human ear. Sounds of frequencies from 800 to
3000 HZ are covered by the A - weighted scale.
If the sound pressure level, L1 in dB is measured at r1 meters, then the
sound pressure level, L2 in dB at r2 meters is given by,
L2 = L1 - 20 log10 (r2/r1)

If the sound levels are measured in terms of pressure, then, sound

pressure level, LP is given by,
LP = 20 Log10 (P/Po) dB(A)

The Lp is measured against a standard reference pressure, Po = 2 61x 10-5

N/m2 which is equivalent to zero decibels

Environmental Impact Analysis

Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) is a tool used for
decision-making regarding projects, developments and
programmes.
EIA is intended to identify the environmental, social
and economic impacts of a proposed development prior
to decision-making.

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Environmental Impact Analysis

It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early
stage in
project planning and design,
find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts,
shape projects to suit the local environment
and present the predictions and options to
decision-makers.

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THANK YOU

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