Prevention Of Atmospheric Pollution Research Articles

Widespread and persistent ozone pollution in eastern China during the non-winter season of 2015: observations and source attributions

Abstract. Rapid growth of industrialization, transportation, and urbanization has caused increasing emissions of ozone (O3) precursors recently, enhancing the O3 formation in eastern China. We show here that eastern China has experienced widespread and persistent O3 pollution from April to September 2015 based on the O3 observations in 223 cities. The observed maximum 1 h O3 concentrations exceed 200 µg m−3 in almost all the cities, 400 µg m−3 in more than 25 % of the cities, and even 800 µg m−3 in six cities in eastern China. The average daily maximum 1 h O3 concentrations are more than 160 µg m−3 in 45 % of the cities, and the 1 h O3 concentrations of 200 µg m−3 have been exceeded on over 10 % of days from April to September in 129 cities. Analyses of pollutant observations from 2013 to 2015 have shown that the concentrations of CO, SO2, NO2, and PM2.5 from April to September in eastern China have considerably decreased, but the O3 concentrations have increased by 9.9 %. A widespread and severe O3 pollution episode from 22 to 28 May 2015 in eastern China has been simulated using the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled to chemistry (WRF-CHEM) to evaluate the O3 contribution of biogenic and various anthropogenic sources. The model generally performs reasonably well in simulating the temporal variations and spatial distributions of near-surface O3 concentrations. Using the factor separation approach, sensitivity studies have indicated that the industry source plays the most important role in the O3 formation and constitutes the culprit of the severe O3 pollution in eastern China. The transportation source contributes considerably to the O3 formation, and the O3 contribution of the residential source is not significant generally. The biogenic source provides a background O3 source, and also plays an important role in the south of eastern China. Further model studies are needed to comprehensively investigate O3 formation for supporting the design and implementation of O3 control strategies, considering rapid changes of emission inventories and photolysis caused by the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan released by the Chinese State Council in 2013.

Air quality management in Botswana

This paper examines air pollution situation and the history of air quality management in Botswana. The current air quality management in Botswana is still largely underpinned by the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act of 1971, supplemented by the more recently enacted legislations such as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act of 2010 and the Ambient Air Quality - Limits for Common Pollutants of 2012 published by the Botswana Bureau of Standards. Though commendable efforts have been made toward legislating against air and other forms of pollution, these have not yielded expected results in view of the prevailing levels of air pollutants like sulphur dioxide and fine particulate matters in the country’s atmospheric environment. Legislation as a sole measure may not be effective in tackling this challenge. Rather, government should also address some root-causes of the problem by making policies and programmes that will reduce unemployment and increase the earning capacity of citizenry. This will, among other things, effectively check poverty-induced biomass burning in the country. The paper looks at some other challenges of air pollution management and suggestions are made to tackle the identified problems.

Clean Air Journal’s 45th anniversary

The Clean Air Journal celebrates its 45th year in 2016. The first issue started with an article on the problems with the application of the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act in South Africa (Boegman, 1971), and also included an article on Johannesburg's good fortune at having 3 000 acres of mine dumps available to revegetate into City Parks (Cook, 1971). Since 1971, the Clean Air Journal has aimed to report authentic scientific articles on the topic of air quality management and monitoring relevant to southern Africa.

Research on UHV Grid Construction and Development in China

State Grid Company put forward for the first time the building schedule of the 8 ultra-high voltage (HUV) lines included in Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Plan in mid-2014 work conference, which will start construction before the first half of next year. UHV grid in China is in full speed construction phase. This paper analyzed the internal contradiction between energy distribution and social development, and pointed out the center position of electric power in energy development, finally gave a detailed analysis of the necessity of the construction of UHV power grid.

Novel Catalytic Process for Flue Gas Conditioning in Electrostatic Precipitators of Coal-Fired Power Plants

One of the most important environmental protection problems for coal-fired power plants is prevention of atmospheric pollution of flying ash. The ash particles are typically removed from flue gases by means of electro-static precipitators, for which the efficiency may be significantly increased by lowering the resistance of fly ash, which may be achieved by controlled addition of micro-amounts of sulfur trioxide (SO3) into the flue gases. This paper describes the novel technology for production of SO3 by sulfur dioxide (SO2) oxidation using the combined catalytic system consisting of conventional vanadium catalyst and novel platinum catalyst on the base of silica-zirconia glass-fiber supports. This combination provides highly efficient SO2 oxidation in a wide temperature range with achievement of high SO2 conversion. The performed pilot tests have demonstrated reliable and stable operation, excellent resistance of the novel catalytic system to deactivation, and high overall efficiency of the proposed process. The scale of the plant was equivalent to the commercial prototype; therefore, no further scale-up of the oxidation process is required.

Guidelines for the design, installation and operation of incinerators

Incineration of hazardous and medical (clinical) waste crepates an air pollution problem which s at the moment controlled in terms of the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act of 1965. It is exercised by officials from local authorities in accordance with part 3 of the Act and is very specialized. Consequently, officials from local authorities are not always trained to do this, especially at the smaller municipalities. Therefore, this function is dealt with in the wrong manner, or not dealt with at all. Incinirators are to be classified into three categories, namely incinirators where the refuse that is being burnt is also used as fuel or as supplementary fuel, incinerators which are not used for medical and hazardous waste destruction. If halogens like chlorine are present in teh waste, then there is a difinite possibility that dioxins and furans will be emitted during the incineration process. With a halogen content of more than 1% in the waste a minimum tempature of 1100 degree celsius for 2 senconds at the inner wall of the secondary chamber is imperative. For cytotoxic waste teh temperature must be at least 1000 degree celsius.

AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES AND SOME POLICY CONSIDERATIONS FOR SOUTH AFRICA

ABSTRACT The implementation of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970 by the Environmental Protection Agency and State Administrations has led to a remarkable decline in the levels of most “criteria” pollutants in the United States. The nature of the regulatory control imposed by this legislation, together with subsequent amendments, is described. Over the past decade, however, the need to maintain economic growth in the face of the Arab oil embargo, and the economic impact of a national recession in the mid-1970's, led to the grafting of various economic incentive schemes onto the direct control-by-regulation system. The nature of these incentives, together with the political and economic environment in which they were introduced, is examined. With air pollution in South Africa differing from that in the United States in degree rather than in kind, a comparative perspective is offered which may be of use in the consideration of future amendments to the South African Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act 45 ...

Prevention of atmospheric pollution when calcining Dolomite in cupola kilns

Prevention of atmospheric pollution when calcining Dolomite in cupola kilns

Gas cleaning test using a ceramet filter in fluidized bed dewatering and calcining waste solutions

Waste gases from drying and dehydration processes in fluidized bed apparatus contain suspended particles. Concentration (by weight) of these can be as high as 50 g/m/sup 3/. Product loss reduction and atmospheric pollution prevention are the most common reasons for removing the suspended particles. Dewatering and calcining of nuclear power industry waste solutions requires special attention to the second objective. Equipment widely used in drying installations (cyclones, scrubbers, electrostatic precipitators, and bag filters) do not meet the special conditions of these processes and do not provide the required level of contaminant removal. Research and investigation of gas cleaning methods, which meet the more stringent process requirements and conditions, is one of the most important problems in the reprocessing of liquid wastes. Test results are presented of experiments using a 26 m/sup 2/ effective surface ceramet filter. These tests lasted for 1000 h at a dewatering and calcination fluidized bed unit for nitrate--phosphate solutions. Solution composition was: 125 g/liter NaNO/sub 3/, 240 g/liter Al(NO/sub 3/)/sub 3/, 120 g/liter H/sub 3/PO/sub 4/, and 90 g/liter residue. Test results showed that solid particle concentration in the gaseous filtrate did not exceed 9 x 10/sup -3/ g/m/sup 3/ at STP; the average was 5more » x 10/sup -3/ g/m/sup 3/. The calculated coefficient of solid particle removal from waste gases on the ceramet filters was 10/sup 3/ to 10/sup 4/.« less

Progress in the application of Part II of the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act

Progress in the application of Part II of the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act

Problems in the application of part II of the atmospheric pollution prevention act (45), 1965

Problems in the application of part II of the atmospheric pollution prevention act (45), 1965

A Discussion on recent research in air pollution - Recent advances in electrostatic precipitators for dust removal

The first essential in the prevention of atmospheric pollution is to remove the pollutant, or at least as much of it as is feasible, at source. Electrostatic percipitation is a well established process for removing dust from gases and careful attention to the many physical processes which are involved has allowed the development of the very large and highly efficient installations now required by the cement, electricity supply and the iron and steel industries. For example, a typical 2000 MW power station burning pulverized coal produces about 9.3 x 106m3 ( 330 x 106ft3) of flue gas per hour, containing about 100 tons of fly ash. The precipitators are specified to have a dust removal efficiency of 99.3 % at full load. They have a collecting electrode area of the order of 0.157 km2 (1.7 x 106ft2, or 40 acres); their cost, together with that of the associated dust handling plant, is about £ 3M, i.e. about 3 % of the complete boiler. The total amount of fly ash removed annually on all the C.E.G.B.’s pulverized fuel stations is between seven and eight million tons.

The ventilation of buildings used for industrial processes giving rise to noxious or unpleasant dust and fumes and the prevention of atmospheric pollution by such dust and fumes.

This paper attempts to show, directly and by implication, that serious dust and fume nuisances are still problems which, in specific cases of steel-making and steel-melting, await a really satisfactory solution which is also an economic proposition. Particular attention is drawn to the increased nuisance caused by oxygen enrichment. In such cases it suggests that the basic design of the buildings is a stumbling-block not easily overcome. An original building lay-out is given. It illustrates how some firms have tackled the problems involved and suggests where there is scope for further investigation and research in furnace design and fume and dust analysis. By way of contrast it states that many small dust nuisances for which the cures are fairly well known are not dealt with efficiently. The broad scientific approach to this problem is outlined. Finally, it calls attention to the dispersion aspect of pollutants, which is becoming of increasing importance, and suggests that recent scientific investigations, carried out primarily for marine application, may be adaptable to land practice.

Engineering and Economics

IN an address to the Society of Engineers on October 4, entitled "Engineering and the New Economics", Dr. H. Chatley suggested that the engineer can contribute to the solution of economic problems of to-day in three ways. In the first place, the engineer can study the problem in terms of realities, such as goods, energy and services, and endeavour to disentangle them from the cobwebs of finance. Secondly, some engineers by entering politics can assist in spreading ideas on the realities of life. Thirdly, the engineer both by speech and by writing can help to explode some old fallacies and to educate the public in newer ideas and especially in that of the impartial application of scientific method to public affairs. Dr. Chatley illustrated his argument in respect of the last point by outlining in some detail the way in which the engineer can assist in the development of a sound fiscal policy in regard to coal and oil as well as in regard to the prevention of atmospheric pollution, the preservation of amenities, the question of values and prices, international debts, and population limits, and concluded by asserting that it is the duty of the engineer to understand the problems which have been raised by the misapplication by others of his skill. Scientific method should play an important part in citizenship since the classification of facts, the recognition of their sequence and significance and the habit of forming an unbiased judgment upon the facts which are characteristic of the scientific frame of mind are also essentials of good citizenship.

Prevention of Atmospheric Pollution

FROM time to time abnormal visitations like the heavy fog in the valley of the Belgian Meuse, Dec. 3—5, 1930, resulting in sixty-five deaths, emphasise the dangers of atmospheric pollution. Although John Evelyn, writing in 1661 in “Fumi-fugium”—the first smoke abatement pamphlet—clearly portrayed the noxious effects of an impure atmosphere, efforts at smoke abatement have not progressed at anything approximating to the rate at which sources of contamination have multiplied during the last two centuries.