AIR QUALITY

Geographic boundaries are not recognized by the winds. Air quality issues are
complicated by the fact that they are usually of multinational concern. Significant
issues such as acid rain, strastopheric ozone depletion, and the greenhouse
effect require a degree of international cooperation that is difficult to archieve
(see figure 2-4). Technologies available today can have a positive and
measurable impact on this issues. Several chapters in this handbook describe
technologies that increase boiler and industrial cooling efficiency. In paper mills,
generating plants, steel mills, refineries, and other major energy consumers,
each incremental increase in energy efficiency represents a reduction in required
fuel. As a result of reduced fuel consumption, less carbon dioxide is produced,
and where coal- or other sulfur- coantaining fuels are use there is also a decrease
in sulfur oxide emissions. Fluidized bed boilers are being used increasingly to
reduce the presence of acidid gasses (So x and Nox) in the boiler flue gas.
One of the problems faced by goverments is the amount of energy required to
accomplish wet scrubbing (to remove acid gases) and electrostatic precipitation
of particulates, the processes, combined, consume up to 30 % of the energy
released by the burning of coal (see figure2-5). While these processes reduce the
contaminants thought to cause acid rain, they increase the amount of coal
burned and thereby increase the production of carbon dioxide, one of the gases
thought to cause the greenhouse effect.
Many of the air pollutants of the concern could be greatly reduced through to use
of alternative energy sources, such as nuclear fission ( and at some point,
probably nuclear fusion), geothermal, wind, hydroelectric, photovoltaic, biomas
and solar. At this time, many of the alternatives are significantly more
ekspensive than the use of fossil fuels, and each has its own problems. There are
no clear and simple solutions, no source of energy has been developed that is
both economically attractive and without environmental drawbacks.
Over the past several years, most industrialized countries have passed laws
addressing air pollution concerns and industrial and power plant emissions.
Nations have begun to come together in a cooperative fashion to formulate
agreements and protocols to deal with global atmospheric concerns. There has
been a multinational agreement to phase out the use of certain
chlorofluorocarbon compounds (used as refrigerant gases and for other
purposes) because they have been linked with a reduction of ozone in the
stratosphere. There is reason to believe that a reduction in stratospheric ozone
will allow a higher level of UV radiation to reach the earths surface, and this is
expected to cause an increase in the incidence of skin cancer along with other
undesirable effects.
There are movements to establish multinational agreements that provide
incentives to allow economic progress to occur in developing countries without
the destruction of their rain forests. The rain forests should be preserved not only
for the sake of conservation but also because they remove vast quantities of

atmospheric carbondioxide through photosynthesis and thus have a favorable

effect on global warming and the greenhouse effect.
Human understanding of atmospheric chemistry is far for complete. As our
understanding grows there will undoubtedly be many changes in direction and
emphasis regarding atmospheric pollutants. Because a sizeable amount of
atmospheric pollution result from industrial activity and power generation, the
scope and stringency of industrial air pollution regulations will continue to
increase.

INDUSTRIAL WASTE REDUCTIONN AND ENERGY CONVERSATION

In the 20th century, industrialized nations evolved from exploiters of bountiful
natural resources to conservators of scarce resources. In the early 1900s, the
consumption of industrial products was modest and natural resources appeared
to be limitless. As the demand for electric power and industrial products grew,
the limitatios of the Earths natural resources bacame in increasing concern.
Today, even developing countries are very interested in the controlled
development and utilization of their resources.
In addition to producing a desired output at a certain cost, industrial producers
must now consider the following objectives:
1.
2.
3.
4.

To consumse a minimum of raw materials and energy

To minimize waste through efficient use of resources
To recover useful materials from production waste
To treat any residual waste so that it can be converted to an
environmentally acceptable form before disposal
In addition to concerns about the depletion of natural resources, there are
widespread concerns about waste disposal practicees. The burying of
untreated industrial waste disposal practices. The burying of untreated
industrial wastes, whether classified as hazardous or nonhazardous, is no
longer an acceptable practice. Landfill of stabilized residues from the
incineration, thermal treatment, or biological oxidation/degradation of
industrial wastes is the approach accepted by the most countries today.
Certain materials that are the waste products of one process can be
recovered for reuse in another application. For example, boiler blowdown
may be used as cooling tower makeup in certain instances. Other waste
products may contain valuable componentsthat can be escalated, it has
become economically feasible to use alternative raw materials and to alter
processes so that less waste or less hazardous waste is produced. The
treatment of waste and wastewaster so that it can be succesfully reused
is an increasing need (see figure2-6).
The most efficient driving force for the selection of alternative, wastereducing raw materials and processes is the market place. Because of the
high cost of waste treatment and disposal, certain processes can offset

higher initial costs with reduced operating expenses. For example,

membrane system (reverse osmosis, electrodialysis reversal, etc). Have
been used successfully to treat boiler makeup water and reduce the total
level of contamination in the waste discharge in comparison with ion
exchange system. Membrane treatment of cooling tower blowdown has
also been used to reduce the total quantity of wastewaster. The stripping
of carbon dioxide and ammonia from process condansate streams has
made it feasible to reuse them as boiler feedwater. The reduction of
cooling tower blowdown by the use of side stream softeners and/or filters,
along with effective deposit control and corrosion inhibition programs, is
also increasing.
Although global efforts are being made to ensure that the waste from
industrial processes are properly managed, the cost of remedying the
damage from past practices must also be addressed. Injudicious burial of
industrial wastes in the past has resuled in significant groundwater
contamination ( leaching) problems. Because the underground movement
of chemical leaching from dumping areas is extremely difficult to monitor
and track , this form a pollution is of major concern to the general public. A
large percentage of the worlds population relies on groundwater from
wells or springs for its potable water supply .
Because the turnover of an aquifer can take years, or even decades, any
contamination can be serious. Fortunately, certain natural processes,
incluiding micribiological digestion, may break down leaching pollutants to
nonharmful materials. One remedy that is gaining acceptance is the
addition of certain nutrients and inocolum cultures to contaminated soils
to accelerate the biological degradation of pullutants. This process is
referres to as bioremediation and has many useful variants.
Industrial and commercial producers have an obligation to minimize
consumption of the earths natural resources and to generate a minimum
of Pullutants and waste.
The term zero risk is often used to represent the ultimate goal of
generating products without any possibility of producing environmental
effects. As zero risk is approached (although in most cases it can never be
fully attained), the cost to the producer and to society in general becomes
increasingly larger for each increment of risk avoided( see figure 2-7).
It has become clear to all that the protection of the environment is an
immediate and ongoing concern . it will take a great deal of time and
effort to redesign industrial processes to minimize wastes produced.
Deposit and corrosion control treatments that are effective under
demanding conditions and also environmentally acceptable are
necessary . efficient treatment, handling, feeding, and control systems are
essential to ensure optimum system performance with minimum impact
on the environment.