Sulfur Dioxide Emissions Research Articles

Harmonizing Digital Trade for Sustainable Stride: Unveiling the Industrial Pollution Reduction Effect of China's Cross-Border E-Commerce Comprehensive Pilot Zones

As a key export-oriented economy, China faces significant challenges to its green economic development due to industrial pollution. While digital trade is crucial for sustainable development, its impact on industrial pollution has not been studied. This paper addresses this gap by adopting prefecture-level data from 2005 to 2021 and using a staggered difference-in-differences model to assess the impact of comprehensive pilot zones policy of cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) on industrial sulfur dioxide pollution. The findings indicate that CBEC significantly reduces industrial sulfur dioxide emission intensity, with the effect growing stronger over time. The effect is particularly notable in eastern and western regions, large cities, cities with underdeveloped digital infrastructure, and cities with lower pollution. Mechanism analysis reveals that CBEC lowers industrial emission intensity by driving structure upgrading, fostering green innovation, and advancing digital transformation. This paper emphasizes that the government can expedite the green transformation of the economy by integrating digital trade with industry.

Characterizing Aircraft Exhaust Emissions and Impact Factors at Tianjin Binhai International Airport via Open-Path Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectrometer

The growth of the civil aviation industry has raised concerns about the impact of airport emissions on human health and the environment. The aim of this study was to quantify the emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX), and carbon monoxide (CO) from in-service aircraft via open-path Fourier-transform infrared (OP-FTIR) spectroscopy at Tianjin Binhai International Airport. The results suggest that the CO and NOX emission indices (EIs) for five common aircraft/engine combinations exhibited substantial discrepancies from those reported in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) databank. Notably, during the idling, approach, and take-off phases, the CO EIs exceeded the ICAO’s standard values by (11.04 ± 10.34)%, (56.37 ± 18.54)%, and roughly 2–5 times, respectively. By contrast, the NOX EIs were below the standard values by (39.15 ± 5.80)%, (13.57 ± 3.67)%, and (21.22 ± 4.03)% in the same phases, respectively. The CO and NOX EIs increased by 31–41% and decreased by 23–24%, respectively, as the ambient temperature decreased from −3 °C to −13 °C. This was attributed to lower temperatures reducing fuel evaporation, leading to inefficient combustion and increased CO emissions and lowering the combustion temperature and pressure, resulting in reduced NOX emissions. The CO EIs had a positive correlation with humidity (adjusted R2: 0.715–0.837), while the NOX EIs were negatively correlated with humidity (adjusted R2: 0.758–0.859). This study’s findings indicate that humidity is a crucial factor impacting aircraft exhaust emissions. Overall, this research will contribute to the development of scientifically informed emission standards and enhanced environmental management practices in the aviation sector.

Multisectoral Emission Impacts of Electric Vehicle Transition in China and India.

Transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) is a central strategy for reducing carbon dioxide and air pollutant emissions. Although the emission impacts of reduced gasoline combustion and increased power generation are well recognized, the impacts of growing EV manufacturing activities remain understudied. Here, we focus on China and India, two of the fastest-growing EV markets. Compared to a 2030 baseline scenario, we find that national emissions of air pollutants could increase in certain high EV penetration scenarios as a result of the emission-intensive battery material production and manufacturing processes. Notably, national sulfur dioxide emissions could increase by 16-20% if all batteries have nickel- and cobalt-based cathodes and are produced domestically. Subnational regions that are abundant in battery-related minerals might emerge as future pollution hotspots. Our study thus highlights the importance of EV supply chain decisions and related manufacturing processes in understanding the environmental impacts of the EV transition.

Study on the complex relationship of tourism-economy-ecological environment in arid zones: the case of Xinjiang, China

The synergistic integration of tourism, the economy, and the ecological environment within a region is crucial for promoting its sustainable development. Tourism acts as a catalyst for green economic growth, yet varying levels of tourism development can intensify the strain on the ecological environment. Thus, achieving a Pareto optimal balance among the benefits of these three entities holds significant theoretical and practical relevance. This research utilizes statistical data spanning from 2000 to 2021 to devise a tourism-economy-ecological environment (TEE) indicator system for Xinjiang. The study employs a coupled coordination model to analyze the spatial and temporal coupling dynamics between subsystems and to classify the types of coupled coordination. The analysis also identifies obstacles that impede the degree of coordination. The findings indicate that during the period under investigation, the TEE system in Xinjiang experienced consistent growth. However, the tourism subsystem exhibited disparate development and pronounced resource monopolization, which stimulated the economic subsystem’s growth, albeit with noticeable developmental lags in the latter stages. Spatially, economic performance demonstrated a declining trend from core urban centers like Urumqi City and Karamay City towards peripheral areas. From an ecological perspective, the distribution of resources exhibited a heterogeneous “M-V-W” pattern, characterized by significant disparities in the availability of natural resources and the occurrence of localized ecological deterioration. There is a notable and increasing degree of coupled coordination in regional synergistic development, which is primarily manifested in the delayed development of tourism. The combined development of the three subsystems is influenced by some factors, including environmental pollution, resources, economic quality, and industrial structure. Soot emissions, green space per capita in parks, and sulfur dioxide emissions are identified as key constraints. This study provides theoretical backing and empirical evidence for economic growth, the optimization of industrial structure, and the preservation of the ecological environment in arid and semi-arid regions globally.

Is Public Participation Weak Environmental Regulation? Experience from China’s Environmental Public Interest Litigation Pilots

Previous studies have generally concluded that public participation lacks substantive constraints and has weak environmental regulation effects. Using China’s environmental public interest litigation (EPIL), implemented in 2015, as a quasi-natural experiment to verify the environmental effects of public participation under judicial norms, the difference-in-differences (DID) estimates in this paper show that industrial wastewater and industrial sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions in the treated cities declined by an average of 2.76 million tons and 2.51 kilotons per year, respectively, which ultimately improved the city’s environmental quality. The results of the mechanism also show that the EPIL was able to mobilize all three parties: the public, government and enterprises. In the context of the environment as an externality product, where the interests of all the parties are difficult to coordinate, the EPIL has the advantage of overcoming conflicts of interest. Our study provides a quantitative justification for the environmental impact assessment of public litigation and contributes empirical references to overcome the weak binding defect of public participatory environmental regulation.

The Tula Industrial Area Field Experiment: Quantitative Measurements of Formaldehyde, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide Emissions Using Mobile Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy Instruments

The Tula industrial area in Central Mexico comprises, among other industries, a refinery and a thermoelectric power plant. It is well known for its constant emissions of gases into the atmosphere and considered an important area where pollutants released into the atmosphere have an influence on local and regional air quality. During March and April 2017, a field campaign was conducted with the objective of quantifying formaldehyde (HCHO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions from this industrial area using mobile differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) instruments. Calculated average emissions of the Francisco Perez Rios Power Plant and the Miguel Hidalgo Refinery were 3.14 ± 2.13 tons per day of HCHO, 362.08 ± 300.14 tons per day of SO2, and 24.76 ± 12.82 tons per day of NO2. From the measurements conducted, the spatial distribution patterns of SO2, NO2, and HCHO were reconstructed, showing a dispersion pattern of SO2 and NO2 towards the southwest of the industrial complex, impacting agricultural and urban areas. Occasionally, and usually during the morning hours, SO2 and NO2 were dispersed towards the north or northeast of the industrial complex. In the case of HCHO, dispersion was observed towards the south and southeast of the industrial complex. The far-reaching implications of this study are that for the first time, formaldehyde emissions were quantified. In addition, a follow-up study was conducted regarding nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide emissions from the Tula Industrial area.

THE ENERGETIC TRANSITION OF SNP

The paper "THE ENERGETIC TRANSITION OF SNP" synthesizes the green strategies that the company must apply, according to the European Green Pact, in order to avoid the expansion of environmental pollution. Regarding strategic strategies and objectives, the paper will focus on presenting strategic directions such as the approach of the sulphur dioxide emission reduction strategy and the digital transformation strategy. As for the environmental policy, it follows the principles of precaution, prevention and correction of pollution at source and on the principle „ the polluter pays”. Also, within the paper we will analyse some graphs and statistics on the financial performance of OMV PETROM, highlighting the success that the company has in recent years precisely due to green investments!

Residues from the Oil Pressing Process as a Substrate for the Production of Alternative Biochar Materials

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using residues from cooking oil production to produce alternative biochar fuels along with optimizing the pyrolysis process. The work consisted of carrying out the pyrolysis process at varying temperatures and holding times at the final temperature, and then evaluating the energy potential of the materials studied. Taking into account aspects of environmental emissions, the content of selected oxides in the flue gases generated during the combustion of cakes and the biochar obtained from them was evaluated. Plant biomass derived from a variety of oilseeds, i.e., fennel flower (Nigella sativa L.), rapeseed (Brassica napus L. var. Napus), flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), evening primrose (Oenothera biennis L.), milk thistle (Silybum marianum L. Gaertn.) and hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), was used to produce biochar. The experimental data have shown that the obtained biochar can have a calorific value of nearly 27 MJ kg−1. The use of pyrolysis allowed for a maximum increase in the calorific value of nearly 41% compared to non-thermally processed cakes and a several-fold decrease in carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide emissions. According to these results, it can be concluded that the pyrolysis process can be an attractive method for using residues from the production of various cooking oils to produce alternative biofuels, developing the potential of the circular economy.

Research on the impact of manufacturing servitization on environmental pollution: spatial econometric analysis of sulfur dioxide based on 284 prefecture-level cities

Using China’s regional input–output table, the paper constructs indicators of manufacturing servitization, matches manufacturing servitization at the regional level with city data, and uses spatial econometrics to empirically analyze the impact of manufacturing servitization on urban sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions within the classical Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework. The results show that manufacturing servitization can reduce SO2 emissions. Producer servitization and consumptive services can both significantly reduce industrial SO2 emissions. Transportation and warehousing servitization, information servitization, leasing, and commercial servitization, technology research and development servitization significantly reduce SO2emissions; technology research and development servitization, in particular, have the largest influence coefficient, while the reduction effect of servitization in the wholesale and retail and finance sectors is not significant. The study also found that servitization reduced the SO2 emissions through technological innovation and industrial structure upgrading.

Energy production from landfill gas, emissions and pollution indicators–Opportunities and barriers to implementing circular economy

The goal of this research was to test the air emissions resulting from landfill gas combustion in a 250-kW cogeneration unit, in the context of pollutant emission due to the produced electricity. The test results mainly revealed emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, and dust. The volume of emissions of individual pollutants was compared with the emission values reported from the emission balancing database. The highest emission burdens concerned the production of one MWh of electricity for carbon dioxide 579.80 kgCO2∙MWh−1, carbon monoxide 2.57 kgCO2∙MWh−1, and nitrogen oxides 1.77 kgNOx∙MWh−1. It is worth noting that small cogeneration installations are not covered by emission standards and so they are not equipped with a device for reducing gaseous and particulate pollution. The tests revealed a difference between the actual emissions from the tested installation and the values reported to the national database. The innovation of this study is that it demonstrates the real emission burden of renewable energy in the context of sustainable development. The results can be used as input material for discussion to apply gaseous and particulate pollution reduction systems for cogeneration installations powered by landfill gas, including various types of biogases.

Environmental regulation and intermediate imports: Firm-product-level evidence

This study examines the effects of domestic environmental regulations on import activity. Using a panel of firm-product-level data and variations in regulatory stringency across products established by China’s Eleventh Five-Year Plan for Environmental Protection (covering 2006–2010), it reveals that tougher regulations on emission-intensive industries at home led to increases in downstream manufacturers’ imports of emission-intensive intermediate inputs. Specifically, a 1% increase in sulfur dioxide emission intensity resulted in a 0.026% increase in intermediate imports after the implementation of the regulation. A back-of-the-envelope calculation suggests that, although the regulation increased emissions in source countries, it reduced global emissions of sulfur oxides and carbon dioxide. This is because the increases in imports caused by the regulation mainly came from countries with lower emission intensity than China. The regulation did not disproportionately increase imports from or emissions in developing countries.

Relationship between Urban Industrial Land Use Size and Sulfur Dioxide Emissions: Evidence from 294 Cities in China

Relationship between Urban Industrial Land Use Size and Sulfur Dioxide Emissions: Evidence from 294 Cities in China

Aerosol-Induced Changes in Atmospheric and Oceanic Heat Transports in the CESM2 Large Ensemble

Abstract The total poleward energy transport (PET) is set by the top of atmosphere radiation flux, and is therefore sensitive to any process which can alter those fluxes, particularly in the shortwave. One example is the direct and indirect effects of anthropogenic aerosols, which increase the local reflection of solar radiation back to space. The historic emission of sulphur dioxide, which peaked in the northern midlatitudes during the 1980s, has been proposed as a primary contributor to historic anomalies in cross-equatorial energy transport, as well as related processes such as a shift in the tropical rainband. In this study, we analyze simulations from the CESM2 large ensemble and single-forcing projects to better understand the forced response of PET to historical forcings. First, analysis of the single-forcing project reveals that the position of the ITCZ responds in a non-linear manner to greenhouse gas forcing in CESM2. This type of non-linearity has been found previously in the context of the aerosol-only simulations in the CESM2 single-forcing project, but may be the first identification of a similar effect in the greenhouse gas-only simulations. Second, through analysis of the full CESM2 large ensemble simulations, we find that anomalous heat transport occurred in both the atmosphere (through the mean meridional circulation and atmospheric eddies) and in the oceans (through the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific sectors) due to a variety of related processes including the Hadley cells, the midlatitude storm tracks, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), and the Pacific wind-driven subtropical gyre.

Linking ship-associated emissions and resource development in the Arctic: Trends and predictions along the Northern Sea Route

Arctic ship traffic has increased significantly due to continuous sea ice loss and resource extraction. The shipping sector is an important contributor to atmospheric emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO2), and an increase in ship activity will lead to significant increases in these emissions. However, there is a lack of studies linking ship activities and the associated emissions with recent Arctic resource development activities. This study aims to assess the relationship between sector-specific developments (fishing, tourism, trade, oil, gas, mining, and “others”) and ship traffic, and the associated emissions from 2013 to 2023 along the Northern Sea Route (NSR), using time series analysis and linear regression. In addition, the relationships were further used to predict future ship-associated emissions by 2030, utilizing a combination of regression models and Holt-Winters’ trend and seasonal forecast. Results showed a 61% increase in distance travelled, 115% increase in NOx emissions, and 68% increase in SO2 emissions from 2013 to 2023. A strong positive linear relationship between oil and gas production and the ship-associated emissions of NOx and SO2 was found, with a coefficient of determination as high as 0.97. The oil sector emerged as the largest contributor to emissions from 2017 onward. Projections indicate that NOx and SO2 emissions will be more than doubled, reaching 12,400 and 1200 tonnes, respectively, by 2030, of which the oil sector accounts for 45 and 61% of the total emissions. This highlights the need for further emissions reduction measures, especially with expanding Arctic oil projects, in order to mitigate the environmental impact of increased resource-driven shipping along the NSR.

Effect of diglyme on diesel engine combustion and un/regulated emission

ABSTRACT The influence of diglyme on diesel engine combustion and emission, including regulated and unregulated emissions, was carried out at various engine modes, in which ultra-low sulfur diesel and diglyme were employed, and diesel-diglyme blends were designed containing specific mass oxygen content varied from 2% to 20% corresponding to 5% to 53% diglyme blended by volume. With the addition of diglyme, actual air/fuel ratio decreased in general, combustion initiated earlier by 5.3% to 14.6% at tested modes but weighted center postponed with short ignition delay and combustion duration, meanwhile maximum in-cylinder combustion temperature reduced by 3 to 30°C, which affected emissions significantly.Consequently, the optimized PM-NOx trade-off was obtained with particulate and NOx decreased simultaneously, but formaldehyde and acetaldehyde increased by the varation from 3% to 190% with the addition of diglyme. Sulfur dioxide emission was much lower with ultra-low sulfur diesel compared that with other fuels including conventional diesel, about one order of magnitude smaller, and diglyme could bring further reduction by maximum of 62.5%. In addition, the oxygen in diglyme promoted CO oxidation and NO2 conversion from NO, leading to an increased NO2/CO ratio by even to 375.9%.

Highly Selective SO2 Capture by Triazine-Functionalized Triphenylamine-Based Nanoporous Organic Polymers.

The emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) from combustion exhaust gases pose significant risks to public health and the environment due to their harmful effects. Therefore, the development of highly efficient adsorbent polymers capable of capturing SO2 with high capacity and selectivity has emerged as a critical challenge in recent years. However, existing polymers often exhibit poor SO2/CO2 and SO2/N2 selectivity. Herein, we report two triazine-functionalized triphenylamine-based nanoporous organic polymers (ANOP-6 and ANOP-7) that demonstrate both good SO2 uptake and high SO2/CO2 and SO2/N2 selectivity. These polymers were synthesized through cost-effective Friedel-Crafts reactions using cyanuric chloride, 3,6-diphenylaminecarbazole, and 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(diphenylamino)-9,9'-spirobifluorene. The resultant ANOPs are composed of triazine and triphenylamine units and feature an ultramicroporous structure. Remarkably, ANOPs exhibit impressive adsorption capacities for SO2, with uptakes of approximately 3.31-3.72 mmol·g-1 at 0.1 bar, increasing to 9.52-9.94 mmol·g-1 at 1 bar. The static adsorption isotherms effectively illustrate the ability of ANOPs to separate SO2 from SO2/CO2 and SO2/N2 mixtures. At 298 K and 1 bar, ANOP-6 shows outstanding selectivity toward SO2/CO2 (248) and SO2/N2 (13146), surpassing all previously reported triazine-based nanoporous organic polymers. Additionally, dynamic breakthrough tests demonstrate the superior separation properties of ANOPs for SO2 from an SO2/CO2/N2 mixture. ANOPs exhibit a breakthrough time of 73.1 min·g-1 and a saturated SO2 capacity of 0.53 mmol·g-1. These results highlight the exceptional adsorption properties of ANOPs for SO2, indicating their promising potential for the highly efficient capture of SO2 from flue gas.

Study on photovoltaic combined air source heat pump heating system under typical meteorological conditions

Abstract This paper proposes a photovoltaic (PV) combined air source heat pump heating system for rural areas in severe cold regions of northern China, where the current clean heating methods have high costs and low efficiency. The paper uses meteonorm8 and TRNSYS software to derive the typical meteorological parameters and simulate the system performance in a guard room in Shenyang city. The paper analyzes the heat pump power consumption, PV cell power generation, and economic and environmental benefits of the system under different outdoor temperatures in the heating season. The results show that the system can meet the heating demand and maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, with an annual cost of 1603 RMB, which is 61.33% lower than a single heat pump system. The system can also reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and dust by 2619.43 kg, 10.78 kg, and 6.91 kg per year, respectively, demonstrating its economic feasibility and environmental contribution.

Estimates of Sulfur Dioxide Emissions from Lignite Power Plants in Kosovo

Estimates of Sulfur Dioxide Emissions from Lignite Power Plants in Kosovo

City-level green growth accounting: Evidence from China's thirteen urban agglomerations

Cities play a pivotal role in achieving 'Carbon Peak' and 'Carbon Neutrality' objectives through the implementation of strategies aimed at mitigating environmental risks. While the environmental impacts of industrial production activities have been widely examined, the nuances of their internal structures remain obscure. This study delves into the industrial sector across the 'thirteen urban agglomerations (TUAs)' in mainland China, covering the years 2006–2016, by developing a comprehensive (source-specific and variable-specific) decomposition framework for Malmquist productivity index. The framework is utilized to discern whether efficiency changes or technological advancements drive productivity growth, considering input/output variables such as capital and labor. Findings show that the average annual environmental productivity gain during the examined period was 2.6 %, suggesting a general enhancement in productivity within TUAs' industrial sectors. A detailed breakdown of productivity changes indicates that a combined contribution of 1.8 % to environmental productivity growth stemmed from energy use and pollutant variables, with emissions of industrial sulfur dioxide being the most significant at 0.9 %. Conversely, the 'catch-up effect,' or environmental efficiency change, was negative (−0.2 %), indicating the TUAs' inability to emulate the productivity levels of more advanced areas. Industrial energy use and capital inputs were the primary contributors to this negative trend, each accounting for a −0.2 % impact. The results underscore the importance of facilitating technology transfers from more developed to less advanced regions, especially regarding renewable energy and capital investment, to bolster environmental performance and productivity in the TUAs' industrial sectors.

Unraveling the hydropower vulnerability to drought in the United States

Abstract Drought, a potent natural climatic phenomenon, significantly challenges hydropower systems, bearing adverse consequences for economies, societies, and the environment. This study delves into the profound impact of drought on hydropower generation (HG) in the United States, revealing a robust correlation between hydrologic drought and hydroelectricity generation. Our analysis of the period from 2003 to 2020 for the Contiguous United States (CONUS) indicates that drought events led to a considerable decline in hydroelectricity generation, amounting to approximately 300 million MWh, and resulting in an estimated loss of $28 billion to the sector. Moreover, our findings highlight the adverse environmental effect of drought-induced HG reductions, which are often compensated by increased reliance on natural gas usage, which led to substantial emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen oxide (NO X ), totaling 161 700 kilotons, 1199 tons, and 181 977 tons, respectively. In addition to these findings, we assess the state-level vulnerability of hydropower to drought, identifying Washington and California as the most vulnerable states, while Nevada exhibits the least vulnerability. Overall, this study enhances understanding of the multifaceted effects of drought on hydropower, which can assist in informing policies and practices related to drought management and energy production.