AIR POLLUTION

INTRODUCTION :
Air is the important component in the earths atmosphere. All the plants and animals on the earth can live only in the presence of air so much harmful changes in the atmosphere cause damage to plant and animal health. The undesirable change in the air, that causes harmful effects on man, domestic species and natural resources is called air pollution. The moment you stop out of the house and are on the road you can actually See the air getting polluted. Air is never found clean in nature, due to natural and man made pollution. Those substances which are causing air pollution are called air pollutants. Air pollutants are present in the atmosphere and thereby affect man and his environments. Air pollution is created by the some harmful gases such as co 2, so2 and H2s and which are continually released in to the atmosphere through natural activities. In other cases, a cloud of smoke from the exhaust of a bus, car or a scooter, smoke billowing from a factory chimney, fly ash generated by thermal power plants, and speeding cars causing dust to rise from the roads. Natural phenomena such as the eruption of a volcano and oven some one smoking a cigarette can also cause air pollution Air pollution is aggravated because of four developments :- increasing traffic, growing cities, rapid economic developments, and industrialization. The industrial revolution saw the beginning of air pollution which has gradually become a global problem. One of the formal definitions of air pollution is as follows : The presence in the atmosphere of one or more contaminants in such quality and for such duration as is injurious or tents to be injurious, to human health or welfare animal or plants life.
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The gaseous composition of unpolluted air

The Gases Nitrogen Oxygen Water Argon Carbon Dioxide Neon Helium Methane Krypton Nitrous oxide Hydrogen Xenon Organic vapours Parts per million (vol) 756,500 202,900 31,200 9,000 305 17.4 5.0 0.97-1.16 0.97 0.49 0.49 0.08 ca.0.02

MAJOR POLLUTANTS & ITS SOURCES

There are primary pollutants which together contribute more that 90%of global air pollution. There are carbon monoxide (CO) Nitrogen oxides (NOx) sulphur oxides (SO2) Hydrocarbons (HC) Particulates Chlorofloro carbons(CFC's)

The sources of air pollutants are different such as agriculture, dust, industries, automobiles, atomic explosions, The two main source of pollutants in urban areas are transportation and fuel combustion in stationary sources, including residential, commercial, and industrial heating and cooling and coal-burning power plants, cement, steel, mines. The automobiles produce high level of carbon monoxides (CO), and major source of hydrocarbon (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), where as, fuel combustion in stationary sources is the dominant source of sulfur dioxide (SO2).

(1) Carbon Monoxide (CO) :

It is colourless, odourless and tasteless gas above -1920 C that is produced by the incomplete burning of carbon based fuels such as petrol, diesel & wood. It is 96.5 % as heavy as air and it not double in water. Natural process e.g. volcanic action, natural gas emission, electrical discharge during storms seed germination, marsh gas production, etc. contribute in a small measure to co. in the atmosphere. The significant contribution is from human activities. The annual emission on a global scare is 350 million tones (human source 275 and natural 75 million tones). Other source that burns fuel such as automobiles, trucks, heavy construction equipment and farming equipment and residential heaters and stoves. Other carbon compound is carbon dioxide (CO2) which is one of the major pollutants in the atmosphere and major sources of CO 2 are fossil fuels burning and deforestation. The ocean water contain about sixty time more CO 2 than the atmosphere. If the equilibrium is disturbed by externally increasing the of CO2 in the air then the oceans would absorb more and more CO 2. As water warms, its ability to absorb CO2 is reduced. And CO2 is the principle greenhouse gas emitted as a result of human activities.

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Nitrogen Oxide (NOx)

The nitrogen oxide is colorless, odourless gas but No2 has a

reddish brown colour and pungent suffocating odour. Nitrogen oxide causes smog and acid rain. It is comes from burning of biomass and fertilizer and deforestation. Nox represents composite atmostpheric gases, nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O).

The sources of NOx on a global basis originates from microbial action in the earths surface which yields N2O. This N2O is inert in to the troposphere but it reacts with atom in the stratosphere to form No and then enters the O3 destruction cycle. Natural bacterial action discharges about 5 x 103 tonnes of NOx mainly in the form of NO. Every year all over the world, whereas manmade sources annually release 5 x 107 tonnes of NOx. In USA and Canada, the connection of NO and No2 are 2PPb and 4PPb respectively from natural sources, but the same in urban atmospheres may reach 500 ppb. The major manmade source is combustion of coal, oil Natural gas and gas online. Nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) has a role in reducing stratospheric ozone. No2 is an important species in the atmosphere and major sources that burns fuel, heavy construction, residential heating. It absorbs sunlight below 390 nm undergoing photodissociation. Human activities also play a significant rare in the matter of (NO)x. leaf in air. The supersonic aircrafts (SST) fly in the stratosphere because of low air resistance but these discharge large quantities of (NO)x in their exhaust gases directly into the stratosphere. The average residence time of the NO is 4 days and NO 2 3 days in the atmosphere. The ocean water are also super-saturated with N 2O which is released with a global production rate of 100 MT per year.

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Sulphur Dioxides (SO2)

It is a colourless gas with a pungent odour. It is produced from the

combustion of any sulphur bearing material. It is reactive gas and produced when sulfur containing fuels such as coal and oil are burned and some industrial process, such as production of paper and smelting of metals. Major sources include power plants and industrial boilers. Power plants and factories emit 90% to 95% of sulfur dioxide in the United State. Almost 60% of the SO2 emission are released by tall smoke stakes, enabling the emission to travel long distances. As emission of sulfur dioxide from stationary sources are transported long distances by winds, they form secondary pollutants such as droplet containing solution of sulfuric acid, & sulfate. This is known as acid deposition or acid rain, and also contributor to smog. Natural process e.g. volcanoes, provide 67% of the Sox pollution which is evenly distributed all over the globe. Manmade sources contribute about 33% of SOx pollution which is localize in some urban area. Due to sea water evaporation that time sulfur is release in atmosphere by Natural source. Organic sulfur containing compounds are most dangerous form of SO2.

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Hydrocarbons (HC)
Natural sources particularly trees; emit large quantities of

hydrocarbons in the atmosphere. CH4 is the major naturally occurring hydrocarbons omitted in to atmosphere. It is produced in considerable quantities by bacteria in the an aerobic to composition of organic matter in water, sediments and soil. 2(CH2O) CO2+CH4

Domesticated animals contribute about 85 million tones of CH 4 to the atmosphere each year Due to human activities 15% of the hydrocarbon emitted to the atmosphere each year. Hydrocarbon are involved in photochemical reactions and farming photochemical smog. Automobiles are the major source in this report, an approximate global hydrocarbon emissions is petroleum 55% coal 3-3%, wood 2.2%, incinerators and refuse bussing 28.3%, solvent evaporation 11.3%. Different hydrocarbon were identified and analysed. Among than may be made of ethane and ethylene, acetylene and propane, n-butane, isopentane, toluene etc. Hydrocarbon from human activities are generally found in a rods of high population density where the maximum damage to human beings and plants can occurs. (5) Particulates A mixture of small solid particulates and liquid droplets are collectively called particulates. Some particles are emitted directly others are formed in the atmosphere when other pollutants react. Particles come in a wide range of sizes. Such particles loss than 2.5 and 10 micrometers in diameter are called fine particles, and sources of fine particles include all type of combustion, including motor vehicles, power plants, residential wood burning, forest fires, agricultural burning and same industrial processes. And particles between 2.5 and micrometers in diameter are referred to as coarse sources of coarse particles include crushing or grinding operations and just stirred up by vehicles traveling on roads. In developed countries like USA the annual particulate emission is about 20x106 tonnes.
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Metal oxides comprise a major class of inorganic particles in the atmosphere. They are produced whenever fuels containing metal are burnt. (6) Chloroflorocarbons (CFCs) CFCs are lowering the average concentration of ozone in the stratosphere. CFCs are gases that are released mainly from air-conditioning system and refrigeration and the burning plastic foam products release the CFCs in to the atmosphere. Depending on the type, CFCs stay in the atmosphere from 22 to 111 years. CFCs move up to the stratosphere gradually over several decades, under high energy ultra violet, radiation, they break down and release chlorine atoms, free radical which sped up the breakdown of ozone (O 3) in to O2. CFCS also known as freons, are greenhouse gases that contribute to global warning.

EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution is a major environmental problem affecting the developing and the developed countries a like. Air pollution very severe & worsening rapidly in developing countries. The effects of Air pollution are 2 types. 1. Effects on health 2. Effects on ecology

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Effects on health :
Air pollution is a general form par a variety of substances and

gases in our air that pare risks to health. The effects of air pollution on health are very complex as there are many different sources and their individual effects vary from one to the other. It is not only the ambient air quality in the cities but also the indoor air quality in the rural and the urban areas that are causing concern. Air pollutants that are inhaled have serious impact a human health. Air pollutants are also deposited on soil, plants and in the water, further contributing to human exposure. Most air pollution came from human made sources such as fossil fuel combustion transportation, power plant emissions and emissions from other industrial processes. Fossil fuel combustion produces many pollutants including nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, hydrocarbons, mercury and particulates, these pollutants can cause serious health problem including asthma, irritation of lungs, bronchitis, decreased resistance to respiratory infection and even early health.
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Some air pollutants are toxic which are cause cancer or other serious health effects. Such as reproductive effects or birth defects. Indoor air pollution can be particularly hazardous to health as it is released in close proximity to people. In developing countries a fairly large portion of the population is dependent on biomass for their energy requirements. Open fires uses far cooking and heating are commonly found in the household. Some where using stove but they are not fitted with a chimney to remove the pollutants. The death due to indoor air pollution, mainly particulate matters, in the rural areas of India is one of the highest in the world.

Health impact of specific air pollutants

Some of those gases can seriously and adversely effect the health of the population and should be given due attention by the concerned authority. The gases mentioned below are mainly outdoor air pollutants but some of them can and to occur indoor depending on the source and the circumstances.

Carbon monoxide (CO):

CO combines with hemoglobin to lessen the amounts of oxygen that enters our blood through our lungs. The binding with other haeme proteins causes changes in the function of the affected organ such as the brain and the cardiovascular system.

it is also cause chest pain in heart patients, headaches, nausea, reduced mental alertness, and respiratory system.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx):-

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 Nitrogen oxides have multiple roles in adversely affecting health. Nitrogen dioxide can be directly toxic in the lungs and in the lungs, NO2 combines with water to farm acids that damage the lung tissue. Nitrogen oxides also oxidize in the atmosphere to forms nitric acid at component of acid rain and ozone. This gas can make children susceptible to respiratory diseases in the winters.

Sulphur Dioxides (SO2): SO2 in the air is cause due to the rise in combustion of fossil fuels. It can oxidized and form sulphuric acid mist are rain. It is also cause increases lung disease breathing problems for asthamatics. Very high level, SO2 may cause wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Long term exposure to SO 2 can cause respiratory illness, and aggravate existing cardiovascular disease.

Particulate matter: Particulate materials, such as dust, fumes, mist and smoke are reduces the visibility of air. Smaller particles can cause or aggravate a number of health problems, such as increases respiratory disease, lung & health damage, cancer, premature death. When exposed to particulate pollution, people with heart disease may experience chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue. Workers are exposed to air bone asbestos and toxic metals which are suffer from lung disorders. A recent study by Abt associates which looked at the health effects of particle pollution emitted only from Vs power plants, concluded that

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each year over 30,000 heaths and more that 603,000asthma attacks are attributable to fine particle pollution from these sources.

Volatile organic compounds: Volatile compounds can cause irritation of the eye, nose and throat. In severe cases there may be headaches, nausea and loss of coordination. VOCs are associated with cancer as well as adverse neurological, reproductive and also damage to the liver and other parts of body.

Tobacco smoke: It generates a wide range of harmful chemicals and is a major cause of ill health as it is known to cause cancer. It is not only effects to the smoker but affecting passive smokers too. Smoking effects the passive smoker ranging from burning sensation in the eyes or nose, and throat irritation, to cancer, bronchitis, severe asthma, and a decrease in lung function.

Natural allergens: Natural allergens such as pollens and fungal spores contribute to allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions.

Ozone (O3): Exposure to elevated ozone at ground levels can cause severe coughing, shortness of breath, lung tissue damage, are irritation, bronchitis. It has been associated with increase in respiratory disorders such as asthma

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THE SOURCE, HEALTH, EFFECTS AND THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL FOR THE VARIOUS AIR POLLUTANTS ARE SUMMARIZED IN THE FOLLOWING TABLE

Pollutant

Sources

Effects

Prevention and Control

Reduce motor vehicle reactive organic gas (ROG) and nitrogen Formed when reactive oxide emissions through organic gases (ROG) emissions standards, and nitrogen oxides react reformulated fuels, in the presence of Breathing inspections programs, sunlight. ROG sources difficulties, lung and reduced vehicle use. include any source that tissue damage, Limit ROG emissions burns fuels (e.g., Ozone (O3) damage to rubber from commercial gasoline, natural gas, and some plastics. operations and consumer wood, oil);solvents; products. Limit ROG and petroleum processing NOx emissions from and storage; and industrial sources such as pesticides power plants and refineries. Conserve energy Road dust, windblown Control dust sources, Increased dust, agriculture and industrial particulate respiratory disease, construction, fireplaces. emissions, wood burning lung damage, Respirable Also formed from other stoves and fireplaces. cancer, premature pollutants (acid rain, Reduce secondary Particulate death, reduced pollutants which react to Matter (PM10) NOx, SOx, organics). visibility, surface Incomplete combustion form PM10. Conserve soiling. of any fuel. energy Any source that burns fuel such as Control motor vehicle Chest pain in heart automobiles,trucks, and industrial emissions. patients, headaches, Carbon heavy construction Use oxygenated gasoline reduced mental during winter months. Monoxide (CO) equipment and farming alertness equipment, residential Conserve energy. heating. Lung irritation and Control motor vehicle damage. Reacts in and industrial combustion Nitrogen See Carbon Monoxide the atmosphere to emissions.Conserve form ozone and acid Dioxide (NO2) energy. rain Increases lung disease and Reduce the use of high Coal or oil burning breathing problems sulfer fuels (e.g., use low Sulfur Dioxide power plants and for asthmatics. sulfer reformulated diesel industries, refineries, Reacts in the or natural gas). Conserve (SO2) diesel engines atmosphere to form energy. acid rain. 13

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Effects on Ecology
ecology and so many problem generated. In ecological effects, some polluted gas is involved. SO2 and fluorides cause chlorosis in plants SO2 can be oxidized to SO3 which react with water to form sulfuric acid.

When air is polluted with poisonous gases, that time also effects an

Pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogenoxides, and ozone and peroxyacl nitrates, cause direct damage to leaves of crop plants and trees reducing the rate of photosynthesis. But most ecological effects are green house effect (global warming), Acid rain & Ozone depletion.

Green house effect / global warming: The atmosphere contains a mixture of several gases such as argon, neon methane, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons. These gases are called green-house gases. It is produced naturally as well as by the activity of man. The green house gases farm a dens layer in the atmosphere and act as glass pans of greeneries. Among the constituents of the atmosphere, the carbon dioxide and water vapour strongly absorb infrared radiation (14000-25000nm) and effectively block, a large fraction of the earths emitted radiation. The radiation thus absorbed by CO 2 AND H2O vapor is partly re emitted to the earths surface. The net result is that the earths surface and atmosphere heated up by a phenomenon called the green house effect. Atmospheric gases are able to change the energy balance of the planet by absorbing long wave radiation emitted from the earths surface. Without the greenhouse effect life on this planet would probably not exist.
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 As energy from the sun passes through the atmosphere a number of thins take place. This energy is then used in a number of processes, including the heating of the ground surface, the melting of ice and snow and the evaporation of water and plant photosynthesis. The combustion of fossil fuel has little effect on the oxygen stock of the atmosphere, which is relatively large, but it has considerable impact on the carbon dioxide content which is only 356 ppm at present. The temperature effects of carbon dioxide and water vapour combine together to have a long range impact on the global climate. As the surface temperature increases with increase in level of carbon dioxide, the evaporation of surface water increases, thereby raising the temperature further. It has been estimated that this combined effect will bring about a 3oC rise in surface temperature for a doubbng of the carbon dioxide concentration, which may occur around 2050 A.D. A slight increase in surface temperature, say 1 oC, can adversely effect the world food production. Another effects is the rise in sea level. Thus carbon dioxide, which constitutes a fraction of the atmospheric gases, 0.03 per cent of the total plays an important role in changing the global climate without carbon dioxide the earth would be as cold as the moon. By trapping the heat radiating from the earths surface, carbon dioxide regulates global temperature to life-sustaining 15o Celsius. But if its quantity increases too much, the earth may share the fate of its neighbouring planet venus with surface temperature of 450oC.Carbon dioxide is not the only culprit contributing to greenhouse effect and global warming. It is the major greenhouse gas but there are other greenhouse gases methane, chlorofluorocarbons, nitrous oxide and water vapour. The relative contribution of the radiatively active gases.

Problems and Disadvantages: Biodiversity and natural resources will be destroyed

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 Rainfall and monsoon pattern will be changed. Glaciers and ice caps will melt due to the heat. Most of the low lying areas and islands will go under sea water. Most of the ground water will become salt water.

Acid Rain
One of the major environmental issues facing human society at the national and international level is the problem of acid rain. The rain water is always slightly, acidic due to the presence of dissolved co2 in it, having pH that is usually loss than 5.6. It is caused by polluted air containing NO, SO2 and N2O. Those gases dissolve in water to form sulphuric acid and nitric acid. So the rain water falls as acid rain by generate acidic precipitation which called acid rain. The main source of oxides of sulfur and nitrogen is the combustion of fossil fuels in power units and airs. Automobiles make a substantial contribution in large cities. Ozone is now considered as a factor which favours acid rain. SO2 + H2O H2SO3

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H2SO3

H+ + HSO-3

HSO-3 + O2 H+ + SO42SO2+ O2 + H2O H2SO4 (Sulphuric acid)

Effects of Acid Rain: Acid Rain corrode materials and organism It attacks building material like stones, marble, stool etc. e.g. The Taj Mahal of Agra. Acid Rain causes lakes and rivers to become acidic & kill fishes and other aquatic organism. It is also effects on the forests ecosystem. It acid rain may remove essential nutrients from the soil. The potential effects of acid rain on birds varies depending on position in the food chain. Acid rain directly damages leaves and increases trees susceptibility to disease & insect attack. It is also effects human being like as water become acidic, it react with lead & copper cause diarrhea in young children and damage liver. Mercury in water which is poisonous for human.

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Ozone Depletion
In recent years, the ozone layer in the atmosphere has been deteriorated due to the addition of certain pollutants into the atmosphere. The thinning out of ozone layer is called depletion of ozone. Ozone depletion has been caused by certain environmental pollutants such as CFCS and some nitrogen compounds. These CFCs reach the troposphere of the atmosphere and remain as such far several years. Because of high concentration they again move upwards till reaching ozone umbrella. CFCs are the effective destroyers of ozone layer because they react with ozone (O3) and form oxygen (O2) and chlorine (cl). As a result of this reaction the thickness of ozone umbrella becomes decreased slowly. The thin areas appeared in ozone umbrella due to depletion are called ozone halos. CFCl2 + O3 O2 + Cl

Effects of Ozone depletion: Ozone causes irritation in nose and throat. It combines with other gases and farms killer smog. This smog is dangerous to all kinds of life on the earth. It depressor the growth of plants & seed output U.v. ray penetrate through ozone halos and cause cancer in man & domestic animals. Reduce the photosynthetic capacity of green plants by u.v. rays due to ozone depletion.

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Control of Air Pollution

Control of contaminants at their source is a more desirable and effective method than dilution. Control of pollution at their source can be accomplished by several different mean. The first and obviously the most effective is to prevent the contaminants from coming into being in the first place. In second way, can reduce contaminant emissions and the proper use of existing equipment. Some times contaminant emissions can be greatly reduced by proper operation and maintenance of equipment. E.g. An automobile with a dirty air filter. Similarly industry can decrease emissions from stationary sources of pollutants. One of the most widely used methods of controlling emissions of air pollutants at their sources is install control equipment designed according to some of the same basic principle by which natural removal mechanisms operate.

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Some air pollution control devices are described below. (1) Gravitational setting chambers waste water system, settling chambers in air-pollution. Control system provide enlarged areas to minimize horizontal velocities and allow time for the vertical velocity to carry the particle to the floor. The gravitational setting of particles is similar to settling in water and

(2)

C yc lo ne

Separator Cyclones operate to collect relatively large size particulate matter from a gaseous stream through the use of centrifugal forces. Dust laden gas is made to rotate in a decreasing diameter pathway forcing solids to the outer edge of the gas stream for deposition into the bottom of the cyclone. The efficiency of a cyclone depends on the magnitude of the centrifugal force exerted on the particles, mass, gas velocity and cyclone diameter.
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(3) Spray tower scrubbers

They are low-cost scrubbers that can be used to remove both gaseous and particulate contaminants

During operation, the gas flows upward on trained particles collide with liquid droplets & prayed across the flow passage, and liquid. Droplets containing the particles settle by gravity to the bottom of the chamber. These towers are effective in removing particles in excess of lo um. (4) Wet cyclone scrubbers high pressure spray nozzles located in various places within the cyclone chamber generate a fine spray that intercepts the small particles on trained in the swirling gases. The particulate matter thrown to the wall by centrifugal force is then trained to the collection sump. Particle removal depends on contact with the liquid droplets and is a function of the liquid flow rate and liquid droplet and particle sizes.

In simple wet cyclone scrubbers,

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(5)

Venturi Scrubbers of submicron particulates associated with smoke and fumes.

It is makes especially for the removal

Here, contaminated gas passes through a duet that has a ventureshaped throat section. A coarse water spray is injected into the throat. The liquid droplets collide with the particles in the gas stream and the water and particles fall down for later removal. Power costs are relatively high for this device because of high inlet gas velocity. (6) Incinerators Incineration involves the high efficiency combustion of certain solid liquid or gaseous wastes. The reactions may be self sustaining base on the combustibility of the waste or require the addition of fuels. They may be batch operations or continuous as with flares use to turn off methane from landfills. Combustion temperatures, contact time and mass transfer are the major parameters affecting incineration performance.

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(7) Fabric filter (Baghouses filters) Baghouses utilize sieving, impaction agglomeration and electrostatic filtration principles to remove solids from a gaseous exhaust stream. Baghouses maximize the filtration area by configuring the fabric filter media into a series of long small-diameter fabric tubes referred to as bags. They are tightly packed into a housing where in the dust laden air moves across the bag fabric thereby removing it from the gas stream and building up a filter cake which further enhances air cleaning. The filter cake is removed to hoppers by various shaking means. The design of fabric filters is based on filtering rates or air to cloth ratios. (8) Adsorption The pollution control process of gas adsorption involves passing a stream of effluent gas through a porous solid material contained in an adsorption beg. It is attract gas by chemical or physical in nature and is predominantly a surface effect. Certain materials like activates carbon charcoal possess the large internal surface area and the presence of physical attraction forces to absorb large quantities of certain gases within their structure. (9) Absorption Absorption has been used primarily in the control of gases such as SO 2, NO2, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and some light hydrocarbons. Here absorbent is removed the polluted gas and absorbent is liquid. e.g. (water & limestone) Removal of hydrocarbons from a contaminated air stream by absorption has been employed in many industries, asehalt batch plant, coffee roasters.

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Biological Treatment of Air Pollutants

Biofiltration is a relatively new pollution control technology. It consists of the Removal and oxidation of compounds from contaminated air using microorganisms. Biofiltration uses microorganisms to break down organic compounds (or to transform some inorganic compounds) into carbon dioxide, water and salts. When the biofilter is built, the microorganisms are already on the material that is used as a filter bed. Nevertheless, in order to increase the degradation speed in the laboratories, the microorganisms are introduced considering their efficiency in degrading the studied material. The filter material is in general peat, soil, compost or heather, but granular activated carbon and polystyrene can also be used. The choice of the filter material is very important because it has to supply the microorganisms in nutrients, to support biological growth, and to have a good sorption capacity. The biological process is an oxidation by microorganisms, and can be written as follows: Organic Pollutant + Oxygen C02 + H20 + Heat + Biomass The microorganisms live in a thin layer of moisture, the biofilm, which is built around the particles of the filter material. The contaminated gas is diffused in the biofilter and adsorbed onto the biofilm. This is the place where the oxidation process actually takes place. The contaminant is not permanently transferred to the filter material.

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Gas phase biological reactors utilize microbial metabolic reaction to treat contaminated air. Biological treatment is effective and economical for low concentration of contaminant in large quantities of air. The contaminants are absorbed from a gas to an aqueous phase where microbial attack occurs. Through oxidative and occasionally reductive reaction. The contaminants are converted to CO2 water vapours and organic biomass. This are pollutants may be either organic or in organic vapours and are used as energy and some time as a C source for maintenance and growth by micro-organism population. In general, the microbes used for biological treatment are organism that is naturally occurring. This microbial population may be dominated by one particular microbial species or may interact with numerous species to attack particular type of contaminant synergistically. The particular contaminant of interest must be biodegradable and non-toxic for biological air-treatment to be successful. The most successful removal in gas phase bio-reactors occurs for low molecular weight and highly stable organic compounds with sample bond structure. Micro-organism degrade these compounds that are readily available and easier to degrade organic compound. Such as alcohol, aldehydes, kethones and some simple aromatic demonstrate excellent bio-degradability. Some compound that so moderate to slow degradation include phenols, chlorinated hydrocarbon, polyhaloginated hydrocarbon and highly halogenated hydrocarbons. In organic compound such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia are also bio-degraded well. Certain anthropogenic compounds may not bio-degrade at all because microorganism do not possess the necessary enzyme to break the bond structures of compound effectively. Compounds that are biologically treatable can come from a wide array of source.

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BIODEGRADABILITY OF VARIOUS CONTAMINANTS IN BIOFILTER

No
1

CONTAMINANT

BIODEGRADABILITY

Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Methane 1 Pentane 1 Isopentane 1 Hexane 2 Cyclohexane 1 Aromatic Hydrocarbon Benzene 2 Phenol 3 Toluene 3 Xylene 2 Ethyl Benzene 3 Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Carbon tetrachloride 1 Chloroform 1 Dichloromethane 3 Vinyl Chloride 1 Nitrogen Containing C Compound Amines 3 Aniline 3 Nitriles 1 Pyridine 1 Sulphur Containing C compound Carbon disulphide 2 Dimethyl disulphide 2 Methyl mercaptane 1 Oxygenated Hydrocarbon Alcohols 3 Methanol 3 Ethanol 3 Butanol 3 Aldehydes 3 Acetyldehyde 3 Carbonic Acid (esters) 3 Vinyl Acetate 2 Ethers 1 Diethyl ether 1 Dioxane 1 Ketons 3 Acetons 3 Inorganic compound Ammonia 3 Hydrogen Sulphide 3 Nitrogen Oxide 1 1 = Some, 2 = Moderate, 3 = Good Biodegradability

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Biofilters:Biofiltration uses microorganisms fixed to porous medium to break down pollutants present in an air stream. The microorganism grow in a biofilm on the surface of a medium or are suspended in their water face surrounding the medium particles. The filter bid medium consist of relatively inert substance which ensure large surface attachment areas and additional nutrient supply. As the air passes through the bed, the contaminants in the air face sorb in to the biofilm and not the filter medium, where they are biodegraded. Biofilters are not filtration units as strictly defined. Instead, they are systems that use a combination of basic processes: absorption, adsorption, degradation and desorption of gas phase contaminants.

Schematic Diagram of Biofilter

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Air Pollutant Accident

(1) The Bhopal Disaster
December 3, 1984. It was a chilly windy December night. The city of Bhopal (population 800,000) was virtually asleep at 11 P.M. In the Union Carbide factory at about 11.30 p.m. workers in the plant (in the night shift) realized that there was MIC leak somewhere, as their eyes were aching intensely. A few of them walked around the MIC structure and spotted a drip of liquid about 50 feet off the ground and some yellowishwhite gas accompanying the drip. One worker noticed that the temperature gauge on one MIC tank had reached 25C, the top of its scale and pressure was rapidly building up to 40 psi. He rushed to the storage tanks of MIC and found that the concrete slab (60 feetl6" thick) above the storage tanks was shakingthere was a messy boiling sound underneath the slab like a cauldron. He ran for safety as the heat was that of blast furnace. He then heard a loud hissing sound and saw gas shooting out of a tall stack connected to the tank and forming a white cloud drifting over the plant and towards the sleeping neighborhood. In the plant he found that the pressure indicator had gone above 55 psi, the top of the scale and the safety valve had opened releasing MIC from the storage tank. The workers present at the site realized that it was a massive MIC leak. The plant supervisor ordered for water spray on the leak. But the water jet failed to reach the top of the 120 feet stack from which "MIC was gushing out. Next the vent gas scrubber was turned on to neutralize the escaping gas. But the scrubber was out of order.

The factory turned on the public siren at I. a.m., about an hour

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after the gas started escaping, but it was only for a few minutes. Most residents around the factory (mostly slum dwellers) got up not due to the siren but due to the irritation caused by the gas. For about two hours the safety valve remained open releasing over 50,000 Ibs of MIC in vapor and liquid form, presumably associated with COCI2, HCN etc. Around 2 a.m. the safety valve reseated as the tank pressure dropped below 40 psi. The public siren was resumed at 3 a.m. after the works manager arrived but by that time there was no need for caution: already hundreds of people were dead and many thousands were doomed to die over the next few hours and days. Biochemical effects of MIC:MIC is invariably accompanied by COCl 2 (2%). The threshold limiting value (TLV) for MIC is 0.02 ppm and COCl 2 0.1 ppm. The toxic effect of MIC is enhanced by COCl2. Exposure to MIC leads to chest tightness, breathing troubles and eyeache and also eyanide generation in the body, which ultimately turns fatal.

Bhopal MIC Plant

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Air Pollution in India

Industrialization and urbanization have resulted in a profound deterioration of India's air quality. Of the 3 million premature deaths in the world that occur each year due to outdoor and indoor air pollution, the highest number are assessed to occur in India. According to the World Health Organization, the capital city of New Delhi is one of the top ten most polluted cities in the world. Surveys indicate that in New Delhi the incidence of respiratory diseases due to air pollution is about 12 times the national average. According to another study, while India's gross domestic product has increased 2.5 times over the past two decades, vehicular pollution has increased eight times, while pollution from industries has quadrupled. Sources of air pollution, India's most severe environmental problem, come in several forms, including vehicular emissions and untreated industrial smoke. Apart from rapid industrialization, urbanization has resulted in the emergence of industrial centers without a corresponding growth in civic amenities and pollution control mechanisms. Regulatory reforms aimed at improving the air pollution problem in cities such as New Delhi have been quite difficult to implement, however. For example, India's Supreme Court recently lifted a ruling that it imposed two years ago which required all public transport vehicles in New Delhi to switch to compressed natural gas (CNG) engines by April 1 , 2001. This ruling, however, led to the disappearance of some 15,000 taxis and 10,000 buses from the city, creating public protests, riots, and widespread "commuter chaos." The court was similarly unsuccessful in 2000, when it attempted to ban all public vehicles that were more than 15 years old and ordered the introduction of unleaded gasoline and CNG. India's high concentration of pollution is not due to a lack of effort in building a sound environmental legal regime, but rather to a lack of
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enforcement at the local level. Efforts are currently underway to change this as new specifications are being adopted for auto emissions, which currently account for approximately 70% of air pollution. In the absence of coordinated government efforts, including stricter enforcement, this figure is likely to rise in the coming years due to the sheer increase in vehicle ownership. The Parliament passed the Air (pollution & control of pollution) Act in the year 1981, with the aim of preserving the quality of air in our country. This Act has laid down anti-pollution control measures for industries and other polluters and has provides for punishment to violators of these rules. The Act has also proposed the NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standard) which is given next page.

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National Ambient Air Quality Standards of India

Concentration in ambient air Time Sensitive of Method of weighted Industrial Residential Rural measurement average Area Area & other Areas 2 3 4 5 6 80 g/m3 Annual 60 g/m3 15 g/m3 Average 1.Improved West and Geake method 120 3 3 24 hours 80 g/m 30 g/m g/m3 Annual 80 g/m3 60 g/m3 15 g/m3 1. Ultraviolet Average fluorescence 2. Jacob & Hochheiser modified(Na3 3 24 hours 120 80 g/m 30 g/m Arsenite)Method g/m3 3. Gas Phase Chemiluminescence 3 Annual 360 70 g/m High Volume sampling Average g/m3 140 g/m3 100 g/m3 500 g/m3 120 g/m3 200 g/m3 (Average flow rate not less than 1.1 m3/minute)

Pollutants

1 Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)

Oxides of Nitrogen as NO2

Suspended Particulate 24 hours Matter(SPM)

Respirable Annual Particulate Average matter (size less than 24 hours 150 10 m)(RPM) g/m3 Annual Average 1.0 g/m3

60 g/m3

50 g/m3 Respirable particulate matter sampler

100 g/m3 75 g/m3

Lead(Pb)

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

AAS Method after 0.75 g/m3 0.50 g/m3 sampling using EPM 2000 or 3 3 equivalent 1.00 g/m 0.75 g/m 24 hours 1.5 g/m3 Filter paper 5.0 8 hours mg/m3 2.0 mg/m3 1.0 mg/m3 Non dispersive infrared 1 hour 10.0 4.0 mg/m3 2.0 mg/m3 spectroscopy mg/m3

Annual Arithmetic mean of minimum 104 measurements in a year taken twice a week 24 hourly at uniform interval.

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 24 hourly/8 hourly values should be met 98% of the time in a year. However, 2% of the time, it may exceed but not on two consecutive days.

References
Literature
V.Kumarasan and N. Hrumugon, Environmental ecology & pollution, Saras publication, 1997, p.p. 91-98. Anil kumar De, Environmental chemistry, 5th edition, p.p. 123-186. Joseph Devinny, Marc A. deshusses, Todd S. Webster, Biofiltration for air pollution control. Rao & Rao, Environment Science-Air pollution monitoring and Control, p.p. 516-562.

Internet
www.agius.com www.croll.com www.meridianeng.com http:// www. Unexplainable.net/artman/publish/artificle 230.shtml www. enviro healthaction.com http:// www.psr.org/home.cfmgid http:// healthandenergy.com/air pollution causes.htm www.physicalgeography.net http:// www.rcf.usc.eful/bfilter.biofil.html www.arb.ca.gov/health.html www.teriin.org http://www.corroison-doctors.org/atmcorros/mapindia.htm http://www.compost.css.cornell.edu/odors/biofilter.gif
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