APES Air Pollution Control - Notes

APES Air Pollution Control - NIGHT BEFORE TEST REVIEW

BIG IDEA

  • Reduce air pollution through:

    1. Regulation

    2. Prevention

    3. Removal Technology

REGULATION

  • Clean Air Act (1970):

    • Establishes National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for the following pollutants:

      • Carbon Monoxide (CO)

      • Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

      • Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

      • Ozone (O3)

      • Particulate Matter (PM)

      • Lead

  • Emission Standards:

    • Limits the level of pollution from vehicles and factories.

  • Cap-and-trade system:

    • Sets a cap on total emissions allowed.

    • Companies can trade emissions permits to comply with overall limits.

PREVENTION (Burn Less Fossil Fuel)

  • Strategies to Reduce Fossil Fuel Use:

    • Energy Efficiency:

      • Improvements in energy consumption to use less energy for the same output.

    • Insulation:

      • Reduces energy loss, minimizes heating and cooling requirements.

    • Public Transit:

      • Encourages the use of buses or trains to reduce the number of individual vehicles on the road.

    • Carpooling:

      • Reduces the number of vehicles, increasing commuting efficiency.

  • Alternative Fuels:

    • Natural Gas:

      • Cleaner burning than coal, resulting in lower emissions.

    • Electric Vehicles (EVs):

      • Produce no tailpipe emissions.

    • Hydrogen:

      • By-product is water (H2O), resulting in non-polluting energy source.

    • Biofuels:

      • Produce lower net carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

VOCS (Volatile Organic Compounds)

  • Primary Pollutants:

    • Emitted from sources such as gasoline, paints, solvents, dry cleaning activities, and vehicle exhaust.

  • Formation of Tropospheric Ozone:

    • VOCs react with nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the presence of sunlight to form tropospheric ozone, contributing to photochemical smog.

  • Control Methods:

    • Use of catalytic converters and adherence to emission standards to reduce VOC emissions.

  • Impact of Fossil Fuel Reduction:

    • Lowering the use of fossil fuels can significantly decrease VOC emissions.

REMOVAL TECHNOLOGY

  • Catalytic Converter:

    • Converts harmful pollutants through the following reactions:

      • Carbon Monoxide (CO) to Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

      • Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) to Nitrogen (N2) and Oxygen (O2)

      • Hydrocarbons/VOCs to Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Water (H2O)

    • Involves redox reactions during the conversion process.

  • Wet Scrubber:

    • Utilizes a water or chemical slurry to remove sulfur dioxide (SO2), which helps prevent acid rain formation.

  • Dry Scrubber:

    • Employs lime or limestone to neutralize sulfur dioxide (SO2) in gas emissions.

  • Baghouse Filter:

    • A system where fabric filters trap particulate matter (PM) with a potential capture rate of up to 99%.

  • Electrostatic Precipitator:

    • Charges airborne particles, which are then collected on charged plates to reduce particulate emissions.

FRQ CONNECTIONS

  • Sulfur Dioxide (SO2):

    • Removal through scrubbers results in reduced acid rain.

  • Particulate Matter (PM):

    • Removal via baghouse filters or electrostatic precipitators improves respiratory health outcomes.

  • Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), & VOCs:

    • Managed through catalytic converters for emissions control.

  • VOCs + NOx + Sunlight:

    • Interaction leads to the formation of tropospheric ozone, recognized as a secondary pollutant.

  • Less Combustion:

    • Leads to fewer primary pollutants being emitted into the atmosphere.