GENERAL NOTES AND DETAILS ON VOLATILE

ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, SULPHUR

SUBMITTED BY:
SATHISH KUMAR SUBRAMANIAN
212ES031
M.TECH-1ST YEAR
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
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VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS:
• Volatile organic compounds, sometimes referred to as VOCs, are
organic compounds that easily become vapours or gases. Along
with carbon, they contain elements such as hydrogen, oxygen,
fluorine, chlorine, bromine, sulphur or nitrogen.
• VOCs are organic chemicals that have a high vapour pressure at
ordinary room temperature. Their high vapour pressure results
from a low boiling point, which causes large numbers of
molecules to evaporate or sublimate from the liquid or solid
form of the compound and enter the surrounding air, a trait
known as volatility.
• Volatile organic compounds are released from burning fuel, such
as gasoline (petrol), wood, coal, or natural gas. They are also
emitted from oil and gas fields and diesel exhaust. They are also
released from solvents, paints, glues, and other products that
are used and stored at home and at work.
• Examples of volatile organic compounds are gasoline (petrol),
benzene, formaldehyde, solvents such as toluene and xylene,
styrene, and perchloroethylene (or tetrachloroethylene), the
main solvent used in dry cleaning.

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 Continuation..
✓The concentrations encountered indoors usually are
sub TLV levels, below airway irritation thresholds, but
they may be above odor thresholds.
✓VOCs measured indoors, therefore, are generally
considered "non-reactive" as single substances, except
for formaldehyde and acrolein. An association between
VOC concentrations and increased SBS prevalence is
not straightforward, probably due to the hypothesized
multi factoral etiology of SBS.
✓Particles, in particular floor dust, can aet as carriers of
VOCs and SVOCs (Gebefiigi., 1989; Wolkoff and Wilkins,
1994) thus making resuspension of deposited dust on
the skin an alternative exposure pathway to inhalation.
✓Water soluble WOCs like formaldehyde may also be
carried by dust (Kirchherr et al., 1992; Roehenberg et
al., 1989), in addition to surfactants (Kreiss et al.,
1982).

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Continuation..
✓VOCs are numerous, varied, and ubiquitous. They
include both human-made and naturally occurring
chemical compounds. Most scents or odours are of
VOCs.
✓VOCs play an important role in communication
between plants, and messages from plants to
animals. Some VOCs are dangerous to human
health or cause harm to the environment.
✓Anthropogenic (originating in human activity) VOCs
are regulated by law, especially indoors, where
concentrations are the highest.
✓Harmful VOCs typically are not acutely toxic, but
have compounding long-term health effects.
Because the concentrations are usually low and the
symptoms slow to develop, research into VOCs and
their effects is difficult.
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PRODUCTS USED AT HOME WHICH CAN PRODUCE
VOC’S

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COMMON VOC’S IN HOME:
➢ The most common indoor VOC emission sources include
consumer products (e.g., cleaners, solvents, mothballs),
building materials (e.g., floor and wall coverings, carpet,
insulation, paint, wood finishing products), combustion
processes (e.g., smoking, cooking), personal care products (e.g.,
shampoo, soaps), attached garages, dry-cleaned clothing, and
municipal tap water. Products can release
➢ VOCs while using them, and, to some degree, when they are
stored. The indoor sources of VOCs mentioned above produce
a range of VOCs. Building materials, such as hardwood,
plywood, laminate floorings, adhesives, paints and varnishes
are most commonly associated with formaldehyde, benzene,
toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes emissions.
➢ Consumer products such as, laundry products and cleaners
release, on average, 15 different VOCs, with the ethanol,
acetone, and acetyaldehyde being among the dominate
chemicals.
➢ Fragranced products (e.g., products that smell like lemons or
pine), give off VOCs called terpenes (e.g., limonene, α-pinene)
among other VOCs. Terpenes chemically react with ozone (also
found in indoor air) and can generate a range of secondary
pollutants, including formaldehyde and ultrafine particles.

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HARMFUL VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS:

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HEALTH EFFECTS:
• Health effects may include:
• Eye, nose and throat irritation
• Headaches, loss of coordination and nausea
• Damage to liver, kidney and central nervous system
• Some organics can cause cancer in animals, some are suspected or
known to cause cancer in humans.

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SIGNS ASSOCIATED WITH EXPOSURE OF VOC’S:
• conjunctival irritation
• nose and throat discomfort
• headache
• allergic skin reaction
• dyspnoea (difficult breathing)
• declines in serum cholinesterase levels
• nausea
• emesis (vomiting)
• epistaxis (nose bleeds)
• fatigue
• dizziness

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MEASURES TO REDUCE VOC’C EXPOSURE:

✓Avoid the use of air fresheners and room deodorizers, as these can
result in eye, nose and throat irritation
✓Select products that emit low or no VOCs when choosing new
carpets, flooring, office furniture and paints.
✓Choose low-VOC-emitting cleaners.
✓Do not store chemical products in equipment rooms where they
could contaminate the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning
system.

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OXIDES OF SULPHUR (SOX)

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SULPHUR OXIDES(SOX)
• The oxides of sulphur are inorganic compounds made up entirely of sulphur and
oxygen atoms. In the Earth’s lower atmosphere, the most commonly found oxides
of sulphur are sulphur dioxide (SO2) and sulphur trioxide (SO3). Some other
notable classes of sulphur oxides are listed below.
• The lower sulphur oxides, which have the general formula SmOn (m>2n).
• Sulphur monoxide (SO) and disulphur dioxide (S2O2), which is formed from the
dimerization of sulphur monoxide.
• Disulphur monoxide (S2O)
• The higher sulphur oxides, in which sulphur exhibits an oxidation state of +6.

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PROPERTIES OF SOX:
❖Important Oxides of Sulphur
• While there are many types of oxides of sulphur, the two most important ones are;
1. Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
2. Sulphur trioxide (SO3)

❖Sulphur dioxide
• Sulphur dioxide is one of the most common sulphur oxides that is found on the earth and even in
space. It is a colourless gas and sometimes poisonous also soluble in water. Exposure to this
gas in high concentration can be harmful to living beings. It can cause adverse health effects in
humans.
• Properties of Sulphur Dioxide
• Sulphur dioxide is a colourless, acidic gas with a pungent and suffocating smell.
• It can be easily liquefied.
• It is highly soluble in water and its aqueous solution (H2SO3), is acidic in nature.
• It acts as a strong reducing agent and as such reduces halogens to halogen acids, turns acidified
K2Cr2O7 solution green,

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USES OF SULPHUR OXIDES:

• Sulphur dioxide is used in the manufacture of H2SO4.

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COMPARISON OF SO2 AND SO3

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EFFECTS OF SOX:
✓ 95% of the SOx emitted from the combustion of fossil fuel is sulphur dioxide. SO2 is a toxic gas,
which is directly harmful to human health. It is heavier than air and has a suffocating odour at an
atmospheric concentration of around 500 parts per billion (ppb), at which level it can be fatal.
✓ At lower levels, chest pains, breathing problems, eye irritation and a lowered resistance to heart
and lung diseases can be experienced. At 20 ppb or lower there should be no ill effects to a
healthy person. The normal atmospheric background concentration of SO2 is generally less than
10 ppb.
✓ A secondary effect is the formation of sulphates (and nitrates), in the form of aerosols or very
fine airborne particles, which can comprise a significant proportion of the particulate matter and
have been linked to increased asthma attacks, heart and lung disease and respiratory problems
in susceptible population groups.
✓ A third effect can occur further away from the emission source where the sulphur oxides will
have converted to acids by aqueous phase reactions in the atmosphere. These acidic aerosols
are eventually precipitated as acid rain, snow, sleet or fog but only when they encounter the
right meteorological conditions.
✓ In the absence of man made pollution rain water would be slightly acidic, around pH 5, due to
the presence of carbonic acid from the interaction of water vapour and naturally occurring levels
of CO2. Acid rain on the other hand has been measured with pH levels below 3 corresponding to
vinegar

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Continuation…
• The effects of acid deposition depend on the fragility of the materials,
plants, soils and waters involved. In those instances where there is not the
natural alkalinity to neutralise this acidity or alternatively the capability to
withstand such attack, acid deposition has been linked with the
acidification of ground and surface water, deforestation, reduction – even
elimination – of aquatic life and building decay.
• The exposed surface of limestone (CaCO3) used for the fabric of many
historical buildings turns to gypsum (CaSO4), which has a lower density and
is more water soluble, hence suffers from spalling).
• The impacts on the natural environment can cause further problems for
example, acidic water leeches out heavy metals.
• Soil no longer bound by tree roots, may be washed away, leaving a
denuded landscape and potentially adding to the flood risk downstream
where this soil is subsequently deposited as silt
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TREATMENT OF SOX:
• Sulfur compounds such as sulfur oxides (SOx) are generated and emitted from
operations in the petroleum industry which have negative effects on the
environment.
• This study gives a critical and detailed introduction to the control and treatment
of sulfur compounds specially sulfur oxides (SOx) emissions from the petroleum
industry.
• It begins with the sectors, main sources, and type of operations that generate
SOx emissions; maximum effluent level of them from the petroleum industry;
minimization, control, prevention and treatment techniques of these emissions
from the petroleum industry.
• Among these techniques, sulfur recovery unit (SRU) which most often consists of
a Claus process for bulk sulfur removal and subsequently a tail gas treatment
unit (TGTU) for the remaining H2S removal (SCOT process, Beavon sulfur
removal (BSR) process, and Wellman-Lord process) and flue-gas desulfurization
(FGD) processes (once-through or regenerable) have been discussed in detail;
and removal efficiencies and technical and economical aspects have been
compared.

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OXIDES OF NITROGEN (NOX)

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OXIDES OF NITROGEN (NOX):
• Nitrogen oxides are a mixture of gases that are composed of nitrogen and oxygen.
• Two of the most toxicologically significant nitrogen oxides are nitric oxide and nitrogen
dioxide; both are nonflammable and colorless to brown at room temperature.
• Nitric oxide is a sharp sweet-smelling gas at room temperature, whereas nitrogen dioxide
has a strong, harsh odor and is a liquid at room temperature, becoming a reddish-brown
gas above 70 EF.
• Nitrogen oxides are released to the air from the exhaust of motor vehicles, the burning
of coal, oil, or natural gas, and during processes such as arc welding, electroplating,
engraving, and dynamite blasting.
• They are also produced commercially by reacting nitric acid with metals or cellulose.
Nitrogen oxides are used in the production of nitric acid, lacquers, dyes, and other
chemicals.
• Nitrogen oxides are also used in rocket fuels, nitration of organic chemicals, and the
manufacture of explosives.

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NOX IN ENVIRONMENT:
• Nitrogen oxides are broken down rapidly in the atmosphere by reacting
with other substances commonly found in the air. The reaction of nitrogen
dioxide with chemicals produced by sunlight leads to the formation of
nitric acid, which is a major constituent of acid rain.
• Nitrogen dioxide also reacts with sunlight, which leads to the formation of
ozone and smog conditions in the air we breathe. ‘ Small amounts of
nitrogen oxides may evaporate from water, but most of it will react with
water and form nitric acid.
• When released to soil, small amounts of nitrogen oxides may evaporate
into air. However, most of it will be converted to nitric acid or other
compounds. ‘ Nitrogen oxides do not build up in the food chain.

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HEALTH EFFECTS OF NOX:
✓Low levels of nitrogen oxides in the air can irritate your eyes, nose, throat,
and lungs, possibly causing you to cough and experience shortness of
breath, tiredness, and nausea.
✓Exposure to low levels can also result in fluid build-up in the lungs 1 or 2
days after exposure.
✓ Breathing high levels of nitrogen oxides can cause rapid burning, spasms,
and swelling of tissues in the throat and upper respiratory tract, reduced
oxygenation of body tissues, a build-up of fluid in your lungs, and death.
✓If you were to come into skin or eye contact with high concentrations of
nitrogen oxide gases or nitrogen dioxide liquid, you would likely experience
serious burns.
✓We do not know if exposure to nitrogen oxides will result in reproductive
effects in humans.

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EXPOSURE TO NOX:
• The general population is primarily exposed to nitrogen oxides by
breathing in air.
• People who live near combustion sources such as coal burning power
plants or areas with heavy motor vehicle use may be exposed to
higher levels of nitrogen oxides.
• Households that burn a lot of wood or use kerosene heaters and gas
stoves tend to have higher levels of nitrogen oxides in them when
compared to houses without these appliances.
• Nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide are found in tobacco smoke, so
people who smoke or breathe in second-hand smoke may be exposed
to nitrogen oxides.
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RECOMMENDATIONS BY FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT:
• The EPA has established that the average concentration of nitrogen
dioxide in ambient air in a calendar year should not exceed 0.053
parts of nitrogen dioxide per million parts of air (0.053 ppm).
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a
limit of 25 ppm of nitric oxide in workplace air during an 8-hour
workday, 40-hour work week.
• OSHA has also set a 15-minute exposure limit of 5 ppm for nitrogen
dioxide in workplace air.

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THANK YOU

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