Comparative Analysis of

Methods of Removing
Air, Water and Soil
Pollutants
Group 5

Panel
Group # 5
2012-MS-EM- 16

Furqan Ahmed Khan

2012-MS-EM-

22 Ahmed Sattar

2012-MS-EM-

22 Jahangir ul Hassan

2012-MS-EM-

25 Muhammad Usman

Tariq

Sequence of Presentation
Introduction
2012-MS-EM-16
Air pollutants removal methods and comparative
analysis
Water pollutants removal methods and
comparative analysis
2012-MS-EM-22
Soil pollutants removal methods and comparative
analysis
Conclusion
2012-MS-EM-16
Question

Introduction
Man is the architect of his environment and has to
accept full responsibility for his environment
He is responsible for air, water and soil pollution and all
its effects on man, fauna, flora, and all kinds of
buildings
To meet this responsibility, man has to observe
following general rules:
1. Stop the production of pollutants, or
2. Reduce the production of pollutants to the lowest possible
level

Introduction
3. Produce the unavoidable amount of pollutants in
such a way, that the properties of the pollutants will
guarantee easy separation from the carrier fluid, or
effective conversion into harmless products
4. Develop processes and equipment for effective
separation of the pollutants from the carrier fluid or
conversion into harmless products

In our presentation we have tried to bring out the

comparative analysis of air, water and soil pollutants
removal methods

Air Pollution
Definition
Any undesirable substance mixed with open air
The definition is not limited to gaseous substance
only
Particles or droplets less than 0.001 diameter
thats remains in suspension for a long period of
time

Forms of Atmospheric Contamination

Mist
Fumes
Dust
Smoke
Particulate Material
Vapors

Atmospheric Contaminants
Fine Particles
Oxides of Sulphur and Nitrogen
Airborne carcinogens
Sulfates
Volatile
Fugitive

Air Pollution Control

Application of control technology requires
knowledge of source, effluents from the source,
air pollution regulations and waste generated
from the technology
Some times it is possible to develop a successful
air pollution control technology which leads to
the problem of disposing the waste
Purpose is to prevent pollution rather than
control it at the point of release
The techniques for controlling air pollution can
be either
Without an air pollution control device
With air pollution control equipment

Air Pollution Control

Without Control Device
The general methods for this techniques include:

Process change
Change in fuel
Improve dispersion
Good operating practices
Plant shutdown/relocation

With Control Device

Control equipment remove the pollutant, convert to
less harmful contaminant or recover a valuable
material for further use

Without Control Device

Process Change
Modification of an existing process or the
introduction of a new process
Also known as Pollution Prevention
Painting operations in automobile industry
Large quantities of volatile organic compounds and
hazardous air pollutants released
Many operations have substituted water based, low
HAP (hazardous air pollutant) paints for oil based
paints
New implemented processes such as electrodeposition, dip tank and powder coating

New oxy furnaces are being developed to reduce

ozone emissions during glass manufacturing

Process Change
Changes in industrial processes to reduce raw
materials and fuels also lead to reduction in
air emissions
Use energy savers/LED and Conduct energy
audits are examples of less electricity demand
Results in less fuel use at the power plant and
hence less air pollutants are emitted
The use of wind energy, geothermal energy,
hydroelectric power and solar energy is
increasing and is helping in reducing air pollution

Change in Fuel
This technique involves the use of
less polluting fuel to reduce air
pollution
Use of low sulfur fuel instead of high
sulfur fuel by electric or natural gas is
an example of this method
Low sulfur fuel is more expensive than
high sulfur fuel

Improve Dispersion
This approach is based on the concept
that dilution of air contaminants
before they reach ground will lower
the concentrations to which the
population is exposed
The use of this approach for industry
is discouraged by the US EPA
However, local and state agencies use
the concept to develop air pollution
control strategies for their area

Air Quality Prediction System

This approach attempts to control
source emission rate during the periods
of high ground level concentrations
Production curtailments, a plant shutdown,
fuel switching, or other strategies achieve
the reduction in source emission rate

The critical periods are determined

from weather related data in the area
Many cities in Canada and US have
regulations to curtail industrial and other
activities during times of observed poor air
quality

Good Operating Practices

Release
of
unnecessary
air
pollutants could be avoided by
maintaining good housekeeping in
the plant and performing proper
maintenance
Liquid chemicals spread over the
floor evaporates rapidly and will
cause an increase in emission rate
for that chemical

Plant Shutdown/Relocation
Most cities develop land-use planning and
industrial zoning regulations to avoid this
situation
Not a pleasant solution for a community
because of economic impact

Comparison of Techniques for Without Control Device

Process

Type

Initial cost

Flexibilit
y

Maintenanc
e

Less costly

Flexible
&
multiple
approac
h

No
recurring/
maintenanc
e
expenditure

Costly

Less
flexible

Routine
maintenanc
e

Rigid

Process
Change

Modificati
on or new
process

Preventi
ve

Change in
Fuel

Normally
at plant
level

Preventi
ve

Improve
Dispersion

Implemen
tation by
Reactive
regulation
s

Cost varies

Air Quality
Prediction
System

Implemen
tation by
Reactive
regulation
s

No direct
but indirect
cost of shut
down

House

Flexible

No
maintenanc
e cost other
may have
charges

With Control Device

With Control Device

The emissions from the plant are
passed through a control device
before releasing to atmosphere
The
pollutants
are
removed,
destroyed or transformed in the
control device before discharging
into ambient air
Must consider other methods as
discussed in previous slide before
deciding to use of control devices

Disposal Solutions for

Gaseous Wastes
Diffusion and dilution
Absorption
Combustion(Chemical Waste Gas
Treatment)
Cleaning the particulate material

Disposal Solutions for Gaseous

Wastes
Gaseous pollutants can be removed from air by
means of gas washing (removal of gas by
dissolving it in a liquid), by adsorption on a solid
or by converting it to other, less damaging gasses
Sometimes certain powders or granule solids can
absorb an air pollutant
The air that needs to be purified is directed through
an active carbon system or through metal oxides
The gasses can be freed again afterwards, by
heating the absorbent

Commonly Used Methods For Air Pollution

Control
Gases
Adsorption Towers
Thermal Incineration
Catalytic Combustion

Thermal Incineration

Adsorption Towers

Catalytic Combustion

Commonly Used Methods For Air Pollution

Control
Particulate Material
Cyclones
Electrostatic Precipitators
Fabric Filter
Wet Scrubbers

Adsorption Towers

Methods For Air Pollution

Control For Some Pollutants

SOX CONTROL

GENERAL METHODS FOR CONTROL

OF SO2 EMISSIONS
Use of Low Sulfur Fuel
Natural Gas
Liquefied Natural Gas
Low Sulfur Oil
Low Sulfur Coal

Use Alternative Energy Sources, such as HydroPower or Nuclear-Power

Use Flue Gas Desulfurization Systems

GENERAL METHODS FOR CONTROL

OF SO2 EMISSIONS

Flue Gas Desulfurization

The most widely used method is scrubbing
The installation and operation of these air pollution
control device is expensive and require large capital
expenditure
SO2 scrubbing, or Flue Gas Desulfurization processes can
be classified in following ways:
Throwaway or Regenerative, depending upon
whether the recovered sulfur is discarded or recycled
Wet or Dry, depending upon whether the scrubber is
a liquid or a solid

Flue Gas Desulfurization Processes

Limestone Scrubbing
Lime Scrubbing
Dual Alkali Processes
Lime Spray Drying
Wellman-Lord Process

Limestone Scrubbing

Limestone Scrubbing
Limestone slurry is sprayed on the incoming
flue gas
The sulfur dioxide gets absorbed
The limestone and the sulfur dioxide react as
follows :
CaCO3 + H2O + 2SO2 ----> Ca+2 + 2HSO3-+ CO2
CaCO3 + 2HSO3-+ Ca+2 ----> 2CaSO3 + CO2 + H2O

Lime Scrubbing

Lime Scrubbing

Lime Scrubbing
The equipment and the processes are similar to those in
limestone scrubbing but Lime Scrubbing offers better
utilization of the reagent
The operation is more flexible
The major disadvantage is the high cost of lime
compared to limestone
The reactions occurring during lime scrubbing are :
CaO + H2O -----> Ca(OH)2
SO2 + H2O <----> H2SO3
H2SO3 + Ca(OH)2 -----> CaSO3.2 H2O
CaSO3.2 H2O + (1/2)O2 -----> CaSO4.2 H2O

Dual Alkali System

Dual Alkali System

Dual Alkali System

Lime and Limestone scrubbing lead to deposits
inside spray tower
The deposits can lead to plugging of the
nozzles through which the scrubbing slurry is
sprayed
The Dual Alkali system uses two regents to
remove the sulfur dioxide
Sodium sulfite / Sodium hydroxide are used
for the absorption of sulfur dioxide inside the
spray chamber

Dual Alkali System

The resulting sodium salts are soluble in water,
so no deposits are formed
The spray water is treated with lime or
limestone, along with make-up sodium
hydroxide or sodium carbonate
The sulfite / sulfate ions are precipitated, and
the sodium hydroxide is regenerated

Lime Spray Drying

Lime Spray Drying

Lime Slurry is sprayed into the chamber
The sulfur dioxide is absorbed by the slurry
The liquid-to-gas ratio is maintained such that
the spray dries before it reaches the bottom of
the chamber
The dry solids are carried out with the gas,
and are collected in fabric filtration unit
This system needs lower maintenance, lower
capital costs, and lower energy usage

Wellman Lord Process

Wellman Lord Process

The flue gas is pre - treated to remove the particulate
This process consists of the following sub processes:
Flue gas pre-treatment
Sulfur dioxide absorption by sodium sulfite
Purge treatment
Sodium sulfite regeneration
The concentrated sulfur dioxide stream is processed to a
marketable product

The sodium sulfite neutralizes the sulfur dioxide :

Na2SO3 + SO2 + H2O -----> 2NaHSO3

Wellman Lord Process

Some of the Na2SO3 reacts with O2 and the SO3
present in the flue gas to form Na 2SO4 and NaHSO3
Sodium sulfate does not help in the removal of
sulfur dioxide, and is removed
Part of the bisulfate stream is chilled to precipitate
the remaining bisulfate
The remaining bisulfate stream is evaporated to
release the sulfur dioxide, and regenerate the
bisulfite

Comparison of Methods For Control Of SO 2

Mainten
Process
Re-agent Initial cost ance
End product
type
cost
Limeston
e
Scrubbin
g

lime
stone

Large

High

Wet

Throw away by-produ

Lime
Scrub
bing

Lime

Higher

High

Wet/dr
y

Throw away by-produ

Dual
Alkali
Processe
s

Sodium
sulfite /
Sodium
hydroxi
de

Higher

Low

Wet

Regenerative

Lime
Spray
Drying

Lime
stone

Low

Low

Dry

Throw away by
productive

CARBON DIOXIDE CONTROL

Sources of Carbon Dioxide

Human-Related Sources
Combustion of fossil fuels: Coal, Oil, and Natural Gas
in power plants, automobiles, and industrial facilities
Use of petroleum-based products
Industrial processes: Iron and steel production,
cement, lime, and aluminum manufactures
Natural Sources
Volcanic eruptions
Ocean-atmosphere exchange
Plant photosynthesis

CO2 Emissions from Fossil Fuel

Combustion by Sector and Fuel Type

(y-axis units are teragrams of CO2

equivalent)

Source: USEPA

General Methods For Control of CO2

Emissions
Reducing energy consumption, increasing the
efficiency of energy conversion
Switching to less carbon intensive fuels
Increasing the use of renewable sources
Sequestering

CO2

through

chemical, or physical processes

biological,

PARTICULATE MATTER CONTROL

Industrial Sources of Particulate Emissions

Iron & Steel Mills, the blast furnaces, steel making furnaces.

Petroleum Refineries, the catalyst regenerators, air-blown

asphalt stills, and sludge burners.

Portland cement industry

Asphalt batching plants

Production of sulfuric acid

Production of phosphoric acid

Soap and Synthetic detergent manufacturing

Glass & glass fiber industry

Instant coffee plants

General Methods For Control Of

Particulate Emissions
Basic Types of Dust Collectors :
Gravity and Momentum collectors

Settling chambers, louvers, baffle chambers

Centrifugal Collectors
Cyclones
Mechanical centrifugal collectors

Fabric Filters
Bag houses
Fabric collectors

General Methods For Control Of

Particulate Emissions
Electrostatic Precipitators

Tubular
Plate
Wet
Dry

Wet Collectors

Spray towers
Impingement scrubbers
Wet cyclones
Peaked towers
Mobile bed scrubbers

General Methods For Control Of

Particulate Emissions

Particulate Collection Mechanism

Gravity Settling

Centrifugal Impaction

Inertial Impaction

Direct Interception

Diffusion

Electrostatic Effects

Tubular Dust Collector Arrangement

Cyclones
Principle, Construction and Operation

The particles are removed by the application of a centrifugal

force
The gas enters through the inlet, and is forced into a spiral
The polluted gas stream is forced into a vortex
The motion of the gas exerts a centrifugal force on the particles,
and they get deposited on the inner surface of the cyclones
At the bottom, the gas reverses direction and flows upwards
To prevent particles in the incoming stream from
contaminating the clean gas, a vortex finder is provided to
separate them. the cleaned gas flows out through the vortex
finder

Cyclones

Cyclones
Advantages of Cyclones

Cyclones have a less capital cost

Reasonable high efficiency for specially designed
cyclones
They can be used under almost any operating
condition
Cyclones can be constructed of a wide variety of
materials
There are no moving parts, so there are no
maintenance requirements

Disadvantages of Cyclones

They can be used for small particles

High pressure drops contribute to increased costs of
operation

Fabric Filters
Principle
The filters retain particles larger than the mesh size
Air and most of the smaller particles flow through
Some of the smaller particles are retained due to
interception and diffusion
The retained particles cause a reduction in the mesh
size
The primary collection is on the layer of previously
deposited particles

Filter Cloth

Fabric Filters

Fabric Filter

Advantages of Fabric Filters

Very high collection efficiency
They can operate over a wide range of
volumetric flow rates
The pressure drops are reasonably low.
Fabric Filter houses are modular in design, and
can be pre-assembled at the factory

Disadvantages of Fabric Filters

Fabric Filters require a large floor area
The fabric is damaged at high temperature
Ordinary fabrics cannot handle corrosive gases
Fabric Filters cannot handle moist gas streams
A fabric filtration unit is a potential fire hazard

Electrostatic Precipitator
Principle

The particles in a polluted gas stream are charged by passing

them through an electric field
The charged particles are led through collector plates
The collector plates carry charges opposite to that on the particles

The particles are attracted to these collector plates and are thus
removed from the gas steam

Construction
Precipitator

and

Operation

of

Electrostatic

Charging Electrodes in the form of thin wires are placed in the path
of the influent gas
The charging electrodes generate a strong electric field, which
charges the particles as they flow through it
The collector plates get deposited with the particles
The particles are occasionally removed either by rapping or by
washing the collector plates

Electrostatic Precipitator

Electrostatic Charging of Dust Particles

Cutaway of Electrostatic Precipitator

Electrostatic Precipitator
Advantages of Electrostatic Precipitators

Electrostatic precipitators are capable very high efficiency,

generally of the order of 99.5-99.9%
Can handle higher loads with lower pressure drops
Can operate at higher temperatures
The operating costs are generally low

Disadvantages of Electrostatic Precipitators

The initial capital costs are high

Although they can be designed for a variety of operating

conditions, they are not very flexible to changes in the
operating conditions, once installed
Particulate with high resistivity may go uncollected

Wet Scrubbers
Principle
Wet scrubbers are used for removal of particles which
have a diameter of the order of 0.2 mm or higher
Wet scrubbers work by spraying a stream of fine liquid
droplets on the incoming stream
The droplets capture the particles
The liquid is subsequently removed for treatment

Wet Scrubbers
Construction and Operation

A wet scrubber consists of a rectangular or circular chamber in which

nozzles are mounted
The nozzles spray a stream of droplets on the incoming gas stream
The droplets contact the particulate matter, and the particles get sobbed
The droplet size has to be optimized

Smaller droplets provide better cleaning, but are more difficult to

remove from the cleaned stream

The polluted spray is collected

Particles are settled out or otherwise removed from the liquid

The liquid is recycled

Wet scrubbers are also used for the removal of gases from the air
streams

Wet Scrubbers

Aeromix Wet Scrubber

Wet Scrubbers

Floating Bed Wet Scrubber

Wet Scrubbers
Advantages of Wet Scrubbers

Wet Scrubbers can handle incoming streams at high

temperature, thus removing the need for temperature control

equipment
Wet scrubbers can handle high particle loading

Loading fluctuations do not affect the removal efficiency

They can handle explosive gases with little risk

Gas adsorption and dust collection are handled in one unit

Corrosive gases and dusts are neutralized

Disadvantages of Wet Scrubbers

High potential for corrosive problems

Effluent scrubbing liquid poses a water pollution problem

Comparison of Methods For Control Of

Particulate Emission
Settling
Chamber

Type

Efficiency

Initial
cost

Operating
cost

Flexibilit
y

Gravity

Low

Low

Low

Less
flexible
Less
flexible

Cyclones

Centrifugal

High

Low

No
maintenanc
e

Fabric Filters

Mesh/
seive

Very high

Low

Low

Less
flexible

Tubular Dust
collector

Elecrtostatic
Very high
precipitatio
n

High

Low

Inflexible

Spray Towers

Wet
collector

Moder
ate

High

Inflexible

Moderate

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

And Hydrocarbon Control

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) And

Hydrocarbon Control
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
include hydrocarbons such as methane
(CH4), propane (C3H8), and octane
(C8H18),
and
chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) such as dichlorodifluoromethane
(CCl2F2)
Volatile organic compound emissions can
be reduced by using vapor-recovery
gasoline nozzles at service stations and by
burning
oxygenated
gasoline
in
automobile engines

Methods For Control Of VOC &

Hydrocarbon Emissions
Thermal Incineration (Types)
Direct flame incineration
Catalytic incineration

Direct Flame Incineration

Catalytic Incineration

Thermal Incinerator

Catalytic Incinerator with Heat

Recovery

VOC Incinerators
Principle

VOC incinerators thermally oxidize the effluent stream, in the

presence of excess air

The complete oxidation of the VOC results in the formation of

carbon monoxide and water

The reaction proceeds as follows:

CxHy + ( x + y/4 ) O2 x CO2 + (y/2) H2O

Operation

The most important parameters in the design and operation of an

incineration system are what are called the ' three T's ' Temperature,
Turbulence, and residence Time

VOC Incinerators

Comparison of Techniques
Proces Impur Opera
s
ities
ting
can
conce
be
ntrati
recov on
ered

Opera Opera maint

ting
tional enanc
temp cost
e
eratur
e

Direct flame
incineration

Direct
burning

670700 C

Relativ
ely
higher

Catalytic
incineration

Incinera
tion
with
catalyst

370480 C

Low
Relativ
due to
ely
catalyst easier

NonVOC
regener inlet
ative
kept
b/w
Non500regener 7500
ative
ppm for
safety

Difficult

Waste water treatment

Waste water Treatment

methods
On the basis of level of removal of
contaminants, treatment methods
are classified into
Preliminary Treatment
Primary Treatment
Secondary Treatment
Tertiary Treatment

Comparison of treatment
methods
Preliminar Primary
Secondar Tertiary
y
Treatment y
Treatment
Treatment
Treatment
It is a physical
method of
treatment

It includes
physical and
chemical
treatment
method.

Prepares waste
water for
It acts as
further
precursor for
treatment
secondary
treatment.

It is biological
treatment
method.

It is chemical
treatment
method.

Purpose is to
remove
contaminants
which escaped
form primary
treatment.

It is a
treatment that
goes beyond
the level of
conventional
secondary

Classification based of
level of treatment
Preliminary Primary
Treatment Treatment

Secondary
Treatment

Tertiary
Treatment

Removal of
large solid,
rags, abrasive
grits, debris
etc.

Removal of
large solid and
organic
material

Removal of
Colloidal
organics and
suspended
solids

Removal of
nitrogen,
phosphorus,
heavy metals,
bacteria and
viruses.

Includes
screening,
comminution,
flow
equalization
etc.

Includes
screening,
sedimentation,
pre-aeration,
mechanical
flocculation
with chemical
additions.

It includes
activated
sludge, fixed
film reactors,
lagoons system
and
sedimentation
etc.

Less frequently
used process
includes ion
exchange
methods and
reverse
osmosis etc.

Waste water Treatment

methods
Water treatment methods are also
classified in to three types on the
basis of methods used for treatment.
Physical methods
Chemical methods
Biological methods

Physical methods
Physical methods are those methods
in which physical forces are used to
remove contaminants.
Screening
Comminution
Sedimentation
Floatation

Comparison of Physical
Screening methods
Comminut Sedimenta Floatation
ion
Oldest
To pulverize
method to
large floating
remove gross material
pollutant
Used for
protection of
downstream
equipment's
Consists of
bars, mesh,
wires or
gratings etc.

Used where
handling of
screens is
impractical
Consists of
rotating or
oscillating
cutters or
both.

tion
Gravitational
settling of
heavy
particles, grit
etc.
Fundamental
operation in
treatment
process

Removal of
suspended
matter such
as oil and
solids

Used for
Industry,
petrochemica
l and
chemical
Carried out in plants.
sedimentatio
n tank, also
Carried out in
called settling floatation

Chemical Methods
Chemical methods treatment methods bring
about some form change by means of
chemicals. These are always used in conjunction
with physical and chemical processes.
Chemical precipitation
Adsorption
Disinfection
De-chlorination
Reverse osmosis
Ion exchange method

Comparison of Chemical
methods
Chemical Adsorptio Disinfecti DePrecipitati n
on
chlorinati
on
on
Removal of
suspended
solids using
chemical
treatment.
Helps in
removal of
suspended
solids, BODs
etc.

Removal of
soluble
substances
form solution
Usually follows
normal
biological
treatment

Used in field
and industrial
Can be used on process
small and large

Destruction of
disease
causing microorganisms
To minimize
waterborne
disease from
spreading
Final stage of
treatment is
disinfection

Removal of
free/combined
chlorine.
Protects
aquatic life
from toxic
effects of
residual
chlorine.
Also used at
final stages of
discharge.

Comparison of Chemical
methods
Chemical Adsorptio Disinfecti DePrecipitati n
on
chlorinati
on
on
Chemical
coagulants like
Alum is used for
this purpose

Activated
carbon is used
for this
treatment in
activated
carbon
contactor

Chlorine,
Ozone, UV
radiations etc.
are used for
this treatment

Sulfur dioxide is
most commonly
used for this
purpose.

Comparison of Chemical
methods
Reverse osmosis

Ion exchange
method

Reverse osmosis (RO) is a

Process of replacing a toxic
water purification
ion with some other ionic
technology that uses a
species
semipermeable membrane.
RO can remove many types of Can remove heavy metals
moleculesandionsfrom
found in wastewaters are lead,
solutions
copper, nickel, cadmium, zinc,
mercury, arsenic, and
chromium.
Used for fresh water and
wastewater treatment on small Used for the treatment of
and large scale.
contaminated
wastewater/sludge
Semi permeable membrane is

Biological Methods
The use of bacteria to degrade and
decompose organic materials in waste
water.
Activated sludge process
Aerated lagoon
Trickling filters
Rotating biological contactors
Pond stabilization
Anaerobic digestion
Biological nutrient removal

Comparison of Biological
methods

Activated
sludge
process

Aerated
Lagoons

Trickling
filters

Rotating
Biological
Cont.

Treatingsewagea
nd industrial
wastewater using
air

Aerated
lagoons are
relatively
shallow
lagoons used
for treatment

It is an
economical and
easy biological
treatment
method.

Secondary
treatment
process, waste
water is treated
by biological
medium

Used for
treatment of
distillery and
industrial
wastes

Removing
Used to treat
B.O.D, ammonia sludge waste
from
before dumping
wastewater and
settled
sewerage etc.

Oxidizingcarbona
ceous biological
matter,
nitrogenous
matter and
removing
phosphates etc.

Used for primary Use oxygenor

treated sewerage air and

Consist of Bed

This process is
carried out in

Comparison of Biological
methods

Pond
Stabilization

Anaerobic
Digestion

Biological
Nutrient
Removal

Cost effective natural

treatment method. It
is a shallow manmade basins

Cost effective and

environmentally
sound Process of
treating sludge

Biological pollutant
treatment process
before discharging
into surface or
ground water.

Removal of
pathogenic microorganisms and
suspended particles.

Sludge treatment and

Removal of
Removal biological
microorganisms in
pollutants (bacteria,
the absence of air
etc.) nitrogen and
phosphorus etc. from
Used in tropical and
wastewater.
subtropical countries Used inindustrial or
because the intensity domestic purposes to Used for industrial
of the sunlight and
manage waste and/or and domestic
temperature are key to produce fuel
wastewater

Soil treatment methods

Soil Remediation Method

Physical, chemical, thermal and biological techniques

(In-situ and ex-situ) are used to remove soil pollutants.

Capping
Excavation
Solidification and Stabilization
Incineration
Soil washing
Vitrification
Vapor stripping
Thermal Treatments Methods
Bioremediation
Natural attenuation

Comparison of Techniques
Capping

Cheapest and
above ground
treatment method

Purpose is to
prevent surface
water from
infiltrating the
plume/site

Natural and
synthetic materials
in single/multiple
layers can be used

Excavation

Permanent, rapid
and interim
method but
expensive and
destructive
method

Purpose is to
remove polluted
soil and its
disposal. It can be
treated further at
site or off site

Mechanical system
is used for removal
and disposal
purpose.

Solidification

Easy and Cheap insitu method,

binding waste into
a high-integrity
structure.

chemical or
Binders are used
radiological hazard to stop mobility of
by converting the
contaminants
waste into its least
soluble, mobile, or
toxic form

Incineration

Combustion of
waste in
incinerators at
high temperatures

Effective method
to reduce volume
of contaminants.

Rotary kiln,
infrared furnaces,
liquid injection,
plasma arc etc. are

Comparison of Techniques
Soil washing

Mechanical
process that uses
liquids to remove
chemical
pollutants from
soils.

Removal of Diesel
range organics,
Petroleum range
organics, Volatile
organic
compounds,
Heavy metals,
pesticides etc

Mechanical
systems for
washing purpose
and water
treatment plant
for remaining
mixture of water.

Vitrification

Destructive and
expensive
process. Can be
carried out at site
or off site.
Soil is melted at
high temperature

Used for the

treatment of
organics,
inorganic and
radio nuclides.

Electrodes are
inserted into the
contaminated
area at
sufficiently close
spacing and
energizing with a
high electrical
resistance
heating.

Vapor
stripping

Low
environmental
impact,

Used to remove
Positioning of well
volatile and Semi- through the
volatile organic
contaminated

Comparison of Techniques
Thermal
Treatments

Quick cleanup but

expensive, Cost is
driven by energy,
equipment,
Operation &
Maintenance.

Thermal processes
use heat to
increase the
volatility, to burn,
decompose,
destroy or melt
the contaminants.

Thermal
desorption,
Vitrification etc.
are few examples
of thermal
treatment.

Bioremediatio
n

It is a biological
treatment method
with Low land
requirement, low
capital and
operating costs,
and good process
control.

Biodegradation
generally refers to
the breakdown of
organic
compounds by
living organisms.
Removal of
hydrocarbons,
VOCs, SVOCs and
pesticides.

Involves the
addition of
microorganisms or
nutrients to the
subsurface
environment, in
order to
accelerate the
natural
biodegradation
process.

Sub surface

It is expensive and Removal of

Thermal treatment Volatile and Semi-

Quite similar to
vapor stripping

Comparison of Techniques
Natural
Attenuatio
n
methods

The reduction
of contaminant
concentrations
in the
environment
through
biological
processes and
physical
phenomena

Removal of
contaminants
from soil and
ground water.

Biodegradation,
dispersion,
dilution,
diffusion,
volatilization
etc. are some
biological and
physical natural
phenomena

Conclusion
Air, water and soil pollution problem is a function of
amount and type of pollutants emitted to that medium and
the rate and mechanisms of their removal
In any of the method, there are so many factors or the
variables that practically it is impossible to compare any
method with other with ideal similar conditions
In fact, keeping in view the variation in chemical and
physical conditions/properties of pollutants and the
medium itself, each method may have so much variety in
application and thus lot of variation in efficiency, cost and
results that practically comparison becomes less relevant^
Tried to give comparative analysis as nearer as possible

 Physical properties of both air,

pollutants and media incl following:
Temperature
Concentration
Pressure

Chemical properties of both air,

pollutants and media incl following:
No one method is fit for all the
situations

An Example
The SO2 removal efficiency increased from
66.1% to 71.5% when the reactor slurry pH
was changed from 3.5 to 5.5
Addition of Cl (in the form of CaCl22H2O)
to the slurry (25gCl/L) increased the
degree of desulphurisation to above 99%,
due to the onset of extensive foaming,
which substantially increased the gas
liquid contact area
An increase in the inlet flue gas SO2
concentration from 502 to 991 ppm led to
a decrease in the SO2 removal efficiency
from 80.1% to 69.4%

An Example
A temperature increase from 296 to 323
K caused a reduction in the degree of
desulphurisation from 69.4% to 68.1%,
but this result is almost within the
experimental uncertainty
The residual limestone level in the
gypsum
formed
increased
with
increasing values of reactor slurry pH,
inlet flue gas SO2 concentration, and
slurry concentration of Cl

DESULPHURISATION OF WASTE GASES FROM THE INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES by

M.L. Ungurean, E.M. Pic, L. Jntschi (http://lori.academicdirect.org/works/?f=83)

Questions

References
^1 Gas-diffusion separation and flow injection
potentiometry by Wolfgang Frenzel (
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00348508)
^2 Ref: The removal of volatile ketone mixtures from
air in bio-filters by M. A. Deshusses,Prof. Dr. G. Hamer
(http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00389921)
Introduction to baseline source inspection
techniques , chapter 9 (p 95 103)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/oaqps/eogtrain.nsf/ae20
ef1becae534385256b4100770781/86549ba361577a5a85
256da3005cc39c/$FILE/SI%20445_9.pdf
Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and
Technology Volume 24,Issue 3, 1994
http://www.epa.gov/oms/06-clean.htm
http://www.eng.utoledo.edu/~akumar/IAP1/Pollution%
20Control.htm

References
http://www.eugris.info/FurtherDescription.asp?
e=26&Ca=2&Cy=0&T=In%20situ%20treatment%20technologies
http://www.vertasefli.co.uk/soil-washing-c53.html
http://www.egr.msu.edu/tosc/dutchboy/factsheets/what%20is
%20soil%20washing.pdf
http://toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/natural_attenuation.html
http://web.engr.oregonstate.edu/~hambydm/papers/remedrev.pd
f
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_osmosis
http://nptel.iitm.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IITKANPUR/wasteWater/Lecture%2024.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activated_sludge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trickling_filter

References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaerobic_digestion
http://www.rpi.edu/dept/chem-eng/BiotechEnviron/Environmental/Sludge/start.html
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/5323
21/sedimentation-tank
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolved_air_flotation
http://www.cleanh2o.com/ww/chemppt.html
http://water.me.vccs.edu/concepts/disinfect.html

References
^1 Gas-diffusion separation and flow injection potentiometry by
Wolfgang Frenzel (http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00348508)
^2 Ref: The removal of volatile ketone mixtures from air in bio-filters by
M. A. Deshusses, Prof. Dr. G. Hamer
(http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00389921)
Introduction to baseline source inspection techniques , chapter 9 (p 95
103)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/oaqps/eogtrain.nsf/ae20ef1becae534385256b410
0770781/86549ba361577a5a85256da3005cc39c/$FILE/SI%20445_9.pdf
Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology Volume
24, Issue 3, 1994

http://www.epa.gov/oms/06-clean.htm
http://www.eng.utoledo.edu/~akumar/IAP1/Pollution
%20Control.htm