Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a direct environmental impact of SO2 emissions?
What is a direct environmental impact of SO2 emissions?
What is the result of the reaction between SO2 and water?
What is the result of the reaction between SO2 and water?
What is the normal pH of rainwater before it is affected by pollutants?
What is the normal pH of rainwater before it is affected by pollutants?
Which of the following is NOT an impact of acid rain?
Which of the following is NOT an impact of acid rain?
Signup and view all the answers
What process can help mitigate the effects of acid rain on the environment?
What process can help mitigate the effects of acid rain on the environment?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary purpose of fuel desulphurization?
What is the primary purpose of fuel desulphurization?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a method used in source control for SO2 emissions?
Which of the following is a method used in source control for SO2 emissions?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the highest temperature used in the catalytic step of the Claus process?
What is the highest temperature used in the catalytic step of the Claus process?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the pH of a solution if the hydrogen ion concentration is $1 imes 10^{-4}$ M?
What is the pH of a solution if the hydrogen ion concentration is $1 imes 10^{-4}$ M?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary byproduct of the thermal step in the Claus process?
What is the primary byproduct of the thermal step in the Claus process?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following has the highest emissions of sulfur dioxide per billion Btu of energy input?
Which of the following has the highest emissions of sulfur dioxide per billion Btu of energy input?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of removing sulfur between stages in the Claus process?
What is the purpose of removing sulfur between stages in the Claus process?
Signup and view all the answers
How much sulfur is produced in the catalytic step of the Claus process, given the reaction?
How much sulfur is produced in the catalytic step of the Claus process, given the reaction?
Signup and view all the answers
Which compound is formed when sulfur dioxide reacts with oxygen?
Which compound is formed when sulfur dioxide reacts with oxygen?
Signup and view all the answers
Which sulfur concentration indicates a need for SO2 removal from waste gases?
Which sulfur concentration indicates a need for SO2 removal from waste gases?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one of the roles of hydrocarbons in hydrodesulfurization?
What is one of the roles of hydrocarbons in hydrodesulfurization?
Signup and view all the answers
How much sulfur dioxide (SO2) is generated per year during copper production from CuFeS2?
How much sulfur dioxide (SO2) is generated per year during copper production from CuFeS2?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the approximate conversion rate of SO2 in a single absorption process?
What is the approximate conversion rate of SO2 in a single absorption process?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the molecular weight of sulfuric acid (H2SO4)?
What is the molecular weight of sulfuric acid (H2SO4)?
Signup and view all the answers
What is flue gas desulphurization primarily used for?
What is flue gas desulphurization primarily used for?
Signup and view all the answers
What reaction occurs to convert SO2 into H2SO4?
What reaction occurs to convert SO2 into H2SO4?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following pollutants has the lowest emission level when comparing natural gas, oil, and coal?
Which of the following pollutants has the lowest emission level when comparing natural gas, oil, and coal?
Signup and view all the answers
When smelting chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), what is one of the key emissions produced?
When smelting chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), what is one of the key emissions produced?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary purpose of flue gas desulfurization (FGD)?
What is the primary purpose of flue gas desulfurization (FGD)?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary goal of the Claus process?
What is the primary goal of the Claus process?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following processes is NOT mentioned as a method for SO2 removal from waste gases?
Which of the following processes is NOT mentioned as a method for SO2 removal from waste gases?
Signup and view all the answers
Which nitrogen oxide is predominant in combustion processes?
Which nitrogen oxide is predominant in combustion processes?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the common term for the mixture of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide?
What is the common term for the mixture of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following nitrogen oxides is NOT mentioned as present in significant amounts in the atmosphere?
Which of the following nitrogen oxides is NOT mentioned as present in significant amounts in the atmosphere?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the 16th most abundant element in the atmosphere, as mentioned?
What is the 16th most abundant element in the atmosphere, as mentioned?
Signup and view all the answers
What reaction results in the formation of nitrogen dioxide (NO2)?
What reaction results in the formation of nitrogen dioxide (NO2)?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary compound used in the Limestone Wet Scrubbing process for SO2 removal?
What is the primary compound used in the Limestone Wet Scrubbing process for SO2 removal?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a significant operational problem associated with limestone wet scrubbing?
Which of the following is a significant operational problem associated with limestone wet scrubbing?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one of the advantages of using lime instead of limestone in the wet scrubbing process?
What is one of the advantages of using lime instead of limestone in the wet scrubbing process?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the major disadvantage of lime scrubbing compared to limestone scrubbing?
What is the major disadvantage of lime scrubbing compared to limestone scrubbing?
Signup and view all the answers
What is formed as a byproduct when limestone reacts with SO2 in the wet scrubbing process?
What is formed as a byproduct when limestone reacts with SO2 in the wet scrubbing process?
Signup and view all the answers
Why is the Dual Alkali process utilized for SO2 removal?
Why is the Dual Alkali process utilized for SO2 removal?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the efficiency range of the Limestone Wet Scrubbing process in terms of SO2 removal?
What is the efficiency range of the Limestone Wet Scrubbing process in terms of SO2 removal?
Signup and view all the answers
Which reaction represents the initial step of the limestone wet scrubbing process?
Which reaction represents the initial step of the limestone wet scrubbing process?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Air Pollution Control Engineering - Week 12
- Oxides of sulfur and nitrogen are discussed, along with their characteristics and control methods.
- A quiz on topics 8-12 is scheduled for November 15, 2024, at 9:30 AM.
- The quiz will consist of 25 multiple-choice questions and will last 50 minutes.
- A calculator is required for the quiz.
- Feedback on the teaching materials will be available online starting November 10, 2024.
Oxides of Sulfur - Characteristics and Control
-
Sulfur compounds:
- Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) is a major component (98%).
- Sulfur trioxide (SO3) is a minor component (2%).
- SOx represents these gases.
-
Source control:
- The primary source of SO₂ is the combustion of sulfur-containing fuels, such as coal and oil
-
Fuel substitution: Switching to cleaner fuels, such as natural gas, to reduce sulfur emissions.
-
Fuel desulfurization: Reducing sulfur content in existing fuels.
-
Fuel modification: Modifying fuel to make it cleaner.
-
Tailpipe control:
- Removing SO2 from the waste gas by absorption to create sulfuric acid for rich waste gases (concentration > 4%).
- SO2 removal from lean waste gases (concentration <4%) uses flue gas desulfurization (FGD).
Oxides of Nitrogen - Characteristics and Control
- Nitrogen compounds: Oxidation-reduction processes.
- Similarity and differences with SOx: Both form acid rain precursors.
- Formation of NOx:
- Thermal NOx (formed at high combustion temperatures)
- Prompt NOx (formed in the presence of hydrocarbons)
- Fuel NOx (formed during the combustion of fuels containing nitrogen).
- Control methods:
- Source control (substituting or modifying fuels)
- Process control (modifying combustion conditions)
- Tailpipe control
SOx (Sulphur Dioxide)
- Forms of Sulfur Oxides: Significant amounts are Sulfur monoxide (SO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), sulfur trioxide (SO₃), sulfur tetroxide (SO₄), sulfur sesquioxide (S₂O₃), and sulfur heptoxide (S₂O₇). SO₂ is the significant one, and SOx is the mixture of SO₂ and SO₃.
- Sulfur (S): The 16th most abundant element on Earth's crust, often found as Gypsum (CaSO₄.2H₂O), which is slightly soluble in water.
- SO₂ and SO₃ Formation: SO₂ can oxidize to SO₃ at high temperatures. SO2 is moderately soluble in water and aqueous liquids, facilitating its removal using wet scrubbers. 50:1 SO₂ : SO₃ ratio.
- Anthropogenic Sources: Combustion of sulfur-containing fuels, industrial processes (smelting and petrochemical).
- Natural Sources: Natural decay of organic matter, volcanoes
-
Impacts of SO₂ Emissions:
- Health impacts: respiratory diseases, heart disease.
- Environmental impacts: acid rain, reduction in visibility (sulphurous smog), injury to vegetation, metal corrosion, attack on building materials.
- Reactions: 2SO₂ + 2H₂O + O₂ →2H₂SO₄ (acid rain formation)
Acid Rain
- Formation of acids SOx and NOx.
- Impacts on environment and aquatic life
- Example of reacting with limestone CaCO3+ H2SO4 → CaSO4 + CO₂ + H₂O.
Nitrogen
-
Most nitrogen is in atmospheric inert gas form. Comparatively low concentration in rocks. Reduction and oxidation states of nitrogen.
-
Forms of Nitrogen Oxides: Nitric oxide (NO), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Nitrogen trioxide (N2O3), and Nitrogen pentoxide (N2O5). NO is the mixture of NO and NO2.
-
Major Nitrogen Oxide Pollutants:
- NO (colorless, prone to oxidize to NO2, a precursor to ozone and photochemical smog)
- NO2 (reddish-brown gas, harms respiratory system, leads to photochemical smog)
- N2O (laughing gas, greenhouse gas, ozone layer destroyer, anesthetic)
-
Sources of NOX: Motor vehicles, combustion processes (coal and oil), industrial processes (chemical and metal processing), and natural sources (lightning strikes, volcanoes).
-
Impacts of NOX Emissions:
- Health impacts: respiratory diseases.
- Environmental impacts: acid rain, damages to trees/lakes, ozone formation (smog), air pollution, and wide-spread pollution.
-
Reactions: NO + 0.5O₂ → NO2
-
Similarities with SOx: Both NOx and SOx form acids and are precursors to acid rain, significant formation of particles , and cause respiratory problems at high doses; both largely emitted from combustion.
-
Differences with SOx: Motor vehicles are largely responsible for NOx emissions; N content in fuel affects NOx emissions more compared to SOx. NOx emissions more susceptible to altering combustion conditions.
-
Chemical reactions of forming NOx. Equilibrium constant changes with temperature. Lower temperatures are favorable for NO2, while higher temperatures favor NO.
-
Formation of NOx: Thermal NOx, Prompt NOx, Fuel NOx
-
Control of NOx: Source control (substituting or modifying fuels)
-
Combustion Modification (reducing combustion temperature, residence time or oxygen concentration).
-
Add-on controls (SNCR & SCR selective catalytic reduction).
-
Control of SO2 and NOx emissions: Fuel substitution (switching fuel types), Fuel modification(changing fuel composition), and Tailpipe/Process control (Removing SO2 from gases/Modifying combustion conditions), Add-on controls/treatment (e.g., using scrubbers or catalytic converters)
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
This quiz covers topics 8-12 in Air Pollution Control Engineering, focusing on oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, their characteristics, and control methods. The assessment includes 25 multiple-choice questions and is scheduled for November 15, 2024. A calculator is required during the quiz for calculations related to pollution control.