> 5.8.1 Sources of Air Pollution (a) Point sources: These are the sources which cause direct release of gi, pollutants. Example The emission of gases from an industry through a chimney, some substances Which (b) Non-point sources: These are the sources which releas are capable of undergoing chemical reactions in the atmosphere to generate tir pollutants. Example Photochemical smog. (c) Man-made or Anthropogenic sources: These are the sources W hich generate air pollutants by human 2ecté ample Vehicular discharges, burning of fossil fuels. p (i) Vehicular discharges: A mixture of CO, COs, NO, and RH are emitted ay exhaust gases from automobiles. They cause att pollution as such. Moreover, Iso react with oxides of mtrogen in the pre Light to produeg es. opulation explosion ete nce of they highly toxic photochemical smog. (ii) Burning of conventional fossil fuels Burning of coal, lignite, natural gas and combustion of petrol/diese! CNG produces gascous by-products like CO, SO, NO, which are toxic, They pollute the air and make it unfit for breathing. (iii) Population explosion: Wt creates the emission of Greenhouse g warming, destruction and loss of forest cover and wildlife ete ses, global cation of air pollution sources is summarized in Fig, 5.7 The class [Air pollution sources Siationary sources f : [Point sources [Ares sources Examples: Municipal Examples: Ressdennal incinerators, heating, commercial industries, power heating, opex burning plants, ete. sites. ete Fig. 5.7? Cisssficaton of ar paluton sowces Scanned with CamScannerCvecrmertet Potion an Thee eects @2, 482 Air Pollutants air ont for which National Amblent Air Quality Standards have been given in India the = central Pollution Prevention and Control Hoard, New Delhi, has provided the standard for ambient ait quality in India under the Act of 1981, Table 5.2 lists these standards, Table 5.2. Ambient Air Quality Standards in Ina [Concentration g/m} = “a Tipe ae |) Sensitive areas like places with 30 Jon 39 00 monuments, sanctuaries, tourist | resoms | a Residential and rural areas 80 200050 200 | Gil) Industrial and mixed use areas 1205000120 soo | ae j andards gives the maximum limit of a particular pollutant permitted in , ambient air), The air quality the air around us (i The Natural and Man-made (Synthetic) Air Polutants and Their Consequences fi) Carbon monoxide (CO) Sources: Forest fires, agricultural burning, incomplete combustion of fuels, tobacco smoking, automobile exhausts, etc. Effects: Toxicity, blood poisoning leading to death, increased proneness to accidents. {i Sulphur dioxide (SO,) Sources’ Combustion of coal and petroleum products, sulphuric acid plants, power houses, metallurgical operations. Effects: Irritation of throat and eyes, suffocation, aggravation of asthma and chronic bronchitis. (iil) Oxides of Nitrogen (NO,) Sources: Nitric acid plants, automobile exhausts, explosives and fertiliser industries, power stations. Effects: Headache, respiratory irritation, impairment of lung defences, corrosion of teeth, loss of appetite, (lv) Mercury (Hg) Sources: Mining and refining of Hg, industries linked with manufacture of medicinal Products, pesticides which use organic mercurials. Scanned with CamScannerMD xe ceoenet estate Effects: Inhalation of Hg vapours cause toxic effects, highly toxic organo-mercuriay and nervous system, s May cause irreversible damage to brain (v) Lead (Pb) Sources: Automobile emissions, electroplating waste, plumbing, lead paint industry printing etc Effects: Cause liver and kidney dama; Ss, mental retardation in children, abnormalities ;, fertility and pregnancy, gastro intestinal damage. a 5.8.3 The Measures Used for Controlling Air Pollution The most effective method to control air pollution is to prevent the formation of pollutants or to reduce their emission at the source itself. (i) Source correction methods: In case of industrial pollutants, the designing ang development of plants may be so selected so as to have minimum emission of air pollutants. Examples (a) By suitable design modification of the tanks, evaporation from petroleum refineries can be minimized. (b) Use of correct grade of raw material like low-sulphur oil and coal is recommended. (ii) Cleaning of gaseous effluents: These techniques control pollution by the removal of pollutants from the exhaust. These methods are used in combination with source correction methods. (a) For gaseous pollutants: The gaseous pollutants are removed by absorption in a liquid, or adsorption on a solid. Catalytic converters are also used as they convert gaseous air pollutants into harmless gases. (b) For particulates: Following techniques are generally used for control of particulate emissions: © Gravitational settling chambers, © Cyclone separators, e Fabric Filters, Electrostatic precipitators, © Wet scrubber etc. Scanned with CamScannerElectrostatic Precipitators for the Control of Particulate Emission, The electrostatic precipitator is used for controlling particulate emisgi at industrial installations ranging from power plants, cement and Paper mi to oil refineries. Electrostatic precipitation is a physical process by whi particles suspended in gas stream are charged electrically and under 1, influence of electrical field, separated from the gas stream. : The precipitation system consists of a positively charged (grounded collecting surface and a high-voltage discharge electrode wire suspended from an insulator at the top and held in position by a weight at the bottom, Ata very high DC voltage, of the order of 50 kV, a corona discharge occurs close to the negative electrode, setting up an electric field between the emitter and the grounded surface. The particle-laden gas enters near the bottom and flows upward. The gas close to the negative electrode is, thus, ionized upon Passing through the corona. As the negative ions and electrons migrate toward the grounded surface, they in turn charge the passing particles. The electrostatic field then draws the particles to the collector surface where they are deposited. Periodically, the collected particles must be removed from the collecting surface. This is done by rapping or vibrating the collector to dislodge the particles. The dislodged particles drop below the electrical treatment zone and are collected for ultimate disposal. Scanned with CamScannerelectrode \ Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of a wire and pipe precipitator. Collected dust CONTROL OF GASEOUS POLLUTANTS Control of Nitrogen Oxides Pollution. NO, emissions from stationary sources can be reduced by * Minimising the residence time at peak temperature. * Reducing the peak temperature. * Minimising the availability of O2 for reaction with N2. | Eine Scanned with CamScanner