AIR POLLUTION

CONTROL
Lecture 1: Atmosphere and Biochemical Cycle
Atmosphere
• is a dynamic system which is composed of thin layer of
gases that envelops the Earth

Component Concentration
Main Components
Nitrogen 78%
Oxygen 21%
Argon 0.9%
Carbon dioxide 0.03%
Trace Components
CH4, NOx, O3, H2S, SOx, CFC, HC, Aerosols
Layers of the Atmosphere
Temperature Profile of Atmosphere

Source: Vallero, Daniel. Fundamentals of Air

Pollution. 4th edition. figure 2.1, page 53.
Basic Concepts
• Density,  – ratio of mass and volume, kg/m3

• Weight Density or specific weight,  – ratio of weight and

volume, N/m3

• Specific volume,  – reciprocal of density, m3/kg

Basic Concepts
•  Pressure – force divided by the perpendicular cross-
sectional area

• Pressure variation with respect to Altitude in terms of

specific weight

• Temperature – refers to the relative hotness or coldness

of materials
Basic Concepts: Mixtures
•  Mole fraction – ratio of the number of moles of a
component to the total number of moles of the system

• Total mole fraction

• Total mass of mixtures

Basic Concepts: Mixtures
•  Mean molecular weight of the mixture
Basic Concepts: Mixtures
•  Total Pressure of Mixtures

• For ideal gases,

• Total enthalpy of Mixtures

Natural Processes that Removes Materials
from the Atmosphere
• Sedimentation – particles heavier than air settle out as a
result of gravitational attraction to the Earth

• Rain out – precipitation can physically or chemically

remove pollutants from the air

• Oxidation – reaction in which oxygen is chemically

combined with another substance

• Photodissociation – process by which solar radiation can

break down chemical bonds in a chemical process
Biogeochemical cycle
• is a circuit or pathway by which a chemical element or
molecule moves through both biotic ("bio-") and abiotic
("geo-") compartments of an ecosystem.

• Important Cycles
• Carbon
• Oxygen
• Water
• Nitrogen
• Sulfur
Carbon Cycle
Oxygen Cycle
Water Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Sulfur Cycle
Group Activity
• Consider the atmosphere as a system and perform material balances
on the different biochemical cycles. Indicate the possible sources of
inputs and outputs. Based on relevant literatures, discuss whether
each cycle is accumulating or consuming that particular component of
the system.

• Note: To be submitted next meeting

• Report Format:
• Introduction
• Literature Review
• Conclusion

• Grade your individual group mates based on their contributions. Scale

is on the range of 0 to 10, zero is the lowest and 10 is the highest.