Filtration Properties of Fly Ash from Fluidized Bed Combustion

Some of the features of the fluidized-bed combustion (FBC) process have a direct bearing on the particulate properties that most strongly influence filtering pressure drop. A laboratory program was conducted to experimentally determine the relative pressure drop characteristics of ashes from the TVA-EPRI 20-MW bubbling bed, atmospheric pressure FBC (AFBC) pilot plant and six pulverized-coal combustion (PC) units. The combined influences of measured particle and dust cake properties on filtering pressure drop were estimated with existing filtration theories. These theories predict a higher pressure drop for a dust cake produced with the AFBC ash than for one consisting of any of the PC ashes. Laboratory measurements were made of the flow resistance of idealized, simulated dust cakes to confirm these predictions. Field operating data from the fabric filters collecting some of the tested ashes were available to validate the laboratory results. The laboratory and field data show relatively good agreement. The AFBC ash must be treated as a special case for fabric filters, and careful selection of cleaning method and fabric must be made to minimize the inherently high pressure drop characteristics of this ash.     

Characterization of Particulate Matter in California

ABSTRACT

The size, composition, and concentration of particulate matter (PM) vary with location and time. Several monitoring/sampling programs are operated in California to characterize PM less than 2.5 and 10 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀). This paper presents a broad summary of the spatial and temporal variations observed in ambient PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ concentrations in California. Many areas that have high PM₁₀ concentrations also have relatively high PM_2.5 concentrations, and data indicate that a significant portion of the PM₁₀ air quality problem is caused by PM_2.5. To develop effective plans for attaining the ambient PM standards, improved understanding of these unique problems is needed. Since 1989, pollution control efforts—whether specifically targeted for particulate matter or indirectly via controls on gaseous emissions—have caused annual average PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ concentrations to decline at most sites in California.     

Biofiltration Control of Hydrogen Sulfide 1. Design and Operational Parameters

Laboratory scale biological filter systems for control of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in waste gas have been studied and the optimum design and operating parameters determined. Extensive tests have been conducted to evaluate the effect of various filter bed operating parameters such as temperature, retention time, H₂S concentration, and H₂S loading rate. Variable properties of new and used composts such as sulfate content, acidity, and water content have been studied for their influence on H₂S removal efficiency. The effects of compost particle size distribution on system pressure drop and the maximum H₂S elimination capacity were examined. Biofiltration systems containing various types of yard waste compost as the filter material have been observed to remove hydrogen sulfide with efficiencies greater than 99.9 percent for H₂S inlet concentrations in the range from 5 to 2650 ppmv.     

Ammonia in the atmosphere: a review on emission sources, atmospheric chemistry and deposition on terrestrial bodies

Gaseous ammonia (NH₃) is the most abundant alkaline gas in the atmosphere. In addition, it is a major component of total reactive nitrogen. The largest source of NH₃ emissions is agriculture, including animal husbandry and NH₃-based fertilizer applications. Other sources of NH₃ include industrial processes, vehicular emissions and volatilization from soils and oceans. Recent studies have indicated that NH₃ emissions have been increasing over the last few decades on a global scale. This is a concern because NH₃ plays a significant role in the formation of atmospheric particulate matter, visibility degradation and atmospheric deposition of nitrogen to sensitive ecosystems. Thus, the increase in NH₃ emissions negatively influences environmental and public health as well as climate change. For these reasons, it is important to have a clear understanding of the sources, deposition and atmospheric behaviour of NH₃. Over the last two decades, a number of research papers have addressed pertinent issues related to NH₃ emissions into the atmosphere at global, regional and local scales. This review article integrates the knowledge available on atmospheric NH₃ from the literature in a systematic manner, describes the environmental implications of unabated NH₃ emissions and provides a scientific basis for developing effective control strategies for NH₃.     

Development of Models for Predicting the Distribution of Indoor Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations

Extensive data on residential indoor and outdoor NO₂ levels have been collected in a limited number of U.S. locations. To date, researchers have analyzed these data sets individually, but have not analyzed them in the aggregate. Results have not, therefore, been suitable for application in a nationwide exposure assessment. This paper presents an analysis of indoor and outdoor NO₂ field measurements from five U.S. metropolitan areas for homes with gas-fueled ranges and discusses potential applications of the results. Using linear regression analysis, the relationship between indoor NO₂ and various predictor variables was explored. Results indicated that ambient NO2 levels alone explain an estimated 37 percent of the variability in indoor NO₂ levels, that the relationship between indoor and outdoor NO₂ concentrations differs significantly from summer to winter months, and that homes with range pilot lights have indoor levels approximately 7 ppb greater than homes without pilot lights. A logistic regression model which predicts the distribution of indoor NO₂ levels based on ambient NO₂ concentrations was developed. Estimation and testing of the logistic model indicated good model performance. The model is particularly useful for addressing policy-oriented questions that involve the concept of "acceptable" threshold levels for human exposure to NO₂.     

Kinetic study of reactions of some organic sulfur compounds with oh radicals

The reactions of OH radicals with the following organic sulfur compounds CH₃SCH₃, CH₃SH, C₂H₅SH and C₄H₄S, have been studied by the discharge flow reactor technique associated to EPR and mass spectrometric detection. The products of the reactions of OH with CH₃SH and C₂H₅SH have been studied mass spectrometrically. The results indicate that for both reactions the initial step would be equivalent to an H atom transfer.     

Trends in vehicular emissions in China's mega cities from 1995 to 2005

Multiyear inventories of vehicular emissions in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou from 1995 through 2005 have been developed in this paper to study the vehicle emissions trends in China's mega cities during the past decade. The results show that the vehicular emissions of CO, HC, NO_x and PM₁₀ have begun to slow their growth rates and perhaps even to decline in recent years due to the implementation of measures to control vehicular emissions in these cities. However, vehicular CO₂ emissions have substantially increased and still continue to grow due to little fuel economy improvement. Passenger cars and large vehicles (including heavy duty trucks and buses) are the major sources of vehicular CO₂ and CO emissions while large vehicles were responsible for nearly 70% and 80% of the vehicular NO_x and PM₁₀ emissions in these mega cities. Motorcycles are also important contributors to vehicular emissions in Guangzhou and Shanghai.     

Anthropogenic emissions of SO2 and NOx in Asia: Emission inventories

The anthropogenic emissions of SO₂ and NO_x for 25 Asian countries east of Afghanistan and Pakistan have been calculated for 1975, 1980, 1985, 1986 and 1987 based on fuel consumption, sulfur content in fuels and emission factors for used fuels in each emission category. The provincial- and regional-based calculations have also been made for China and India. The total SO₂ emissions in these parts of Asia have been calculated to be 18.3 and 29.1 Tg in 1975 and 1987, respectively. The calculated total NO_x emissions were 9.4 and 15.5 Tg in 1975 and 1987, respectively. The SO₂ and NO_x emissions in East Asia (China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea and Taiwan) were 23.4 and 10.7 Tg in 1975 and 1987, respectively.Keyword: Emission inventories, sulfur dioxide emissions, nitrogen oxide emissions, Asian emissions, anthropogenic emissions.     

Infrared absorption cross section,radiative forcing,and GWP of four hydrofluoro(poly)ethers

Quantitative infrared cross-sections of the unbranched hydrofluoro(poly)ethers CHF₂OCHF₂, CHF₂OCF₂OCHF₂ and CHF₂OCF₂CF₂OCHF₂ have been obtained at 298 K in the region 25–4000 cm⁻¹. Radiative forcing calculations have been performed for these compounds and for CHF₂OCF₂OCF₂CF₂OCHF₂, and the values found per molecule are high compared to those of other CFCs and CFC replacements. Atmospheric lifetimes, calculated on the basis of experimental reaction rates with OH radicals, and global warming potentials are presented for all four compounds.     

Chemistry of organic traces in air VII: Bromo- and bromochloromethanes in air over the Atlantic Ocean

Polyhalomethanes (CHBrCl₂, CHBr₂Cl, CH₂Br₂, CHBr₃, CH₂J₂) have been detected in surfacewater of the North and South Atlantic, in air-samples collected in the lower marine and continental troposphere and in rain as well, collected in southern Germany. The biosynthesis of this compounds is investigated for two marine makroalgae, which were collected in the North and South Atlantic.     

Reaction kinetics of waste sulfuric acid using H2O2 catalytic oxidation

The process of recovering waste sulfuric acids using H₂O₂ catalytic oxidation is studied in this paper. Activated carbon was used as catalyst. Main operating parameters, such as temperature, feed rate of H₂O₂, and catalyst dosage, have effects on the removal of impurities from waste sulfuric acids. The reaction kinetics of H₂O₂ catalytic oxidation on impurities are discussed. At a temperature of 90°C, H₂O₂ feeding rate of 50 g (kg waste acid)^?1 per hour, and catalyst dosage of 0.2 wt% (waste acid weight), the removal efficiencies of COD and chrominance were both more than 99%, the recovery ratio of sulfuric acid was more than 95%, and the utilization ratio of H₂O₂ was 88.57%.

Implications: Waste sulfuric acid is a big environmental problem in China. The amount of waste sulfuric acid is huge every year. Many small and medium-sized businesses produced lots of waste acids, but they don’t have an appropriate method to treat and recover them. H₂O₂ catalytic oxidation has been used to treat and recover waste sulfuric acid and activated carbon is the catalyst here. Main parameters, such as temperature, feed rate of H₂O₂, and catalyst dosage, have been investigated. The reaction kinetics are discussed. This method can be economical and feasible for most small and medium-sized businesses.     

Weekday/Weekend Ozone Differences: What Can We Learn from Them?

Abstract

A national analysis of weekday/weekend ozone (O₃) differences demonstrates significant variation across the country. Weekend 1-hr or 8-hr maximum O₃ varies from 15% lower than weekday levels to 30% higher. The weekend O₃ increases are primarily found in and around large coastal cities in California and large cities in the Midwest and Northeast Corridor. Both the average and the 95th percentile of the daily 1-hr and 8-hr maxima exhibit the same general pattern. Many sites that have elevated O₃ also have higher O₃ on weekends even though traffic and O₃ precursor levels are substantially reduced on weekends. Detailed studies of this phenomenon indicate that the primary cause of the higher O₃ on weekends is the reduction in oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) emissions on weekends in a volatile organic compound (VOC)-limited chemical regime. In contrast, the lower O₃ on weekends in other locations is probably a result of NO_x reductions in a NO_x-limited regime. The NO_x reduction explanation is supported by a wide range of ambient analyses and several photochemical modeling studies. Changes in the timing and location of emissions and meteorological factors play smaller roles in weekend O₃ behavior. Weekday/weekend temperature differences do not explain the weekend effect but may modify it.     

Nitrogen Oxides Emission Control Options for Coal-Fired Electric Utility Boilers

Abstract

Recent regulations have required reductions in emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) from electric utility boilers. To comply with these regulatory requirements, it is increasingly important to implement state-of-the-art NO_x control technologies on coal-fired utility boilers. This paper reviews NO_x control options for these boilers. It discusses the established commercial primary and secondary control technologies and examines what is being done to use them more effectively. Furthermore, the paper discusses recent developments in NO_x controls. The popular primary control technologies in use in the United States are low-NO_x burners and overfire air. Data reflect that average NO_x reductions for specific primary controls have ranged from 35% to 63% from 1995 emissions levels. The secondary NO_x control technologies applied on U.S. coal-fired utility boilers include reburning, selective noncatalytic reduction (SNCR), and selective catalytic reduction (SCR). Thirty-six U.S. coal-fired utility boilers have installed SNCR, and reported NO_x reductions achieved at these applications ranged from 15% to 66%. Recently, SCR has been installed at >150 U.S. coal-fired utility boilers. Data on the performance of 20 SCR systems operating in the United States with low-NO_x emissions reflect that in 2003, these units achieved NO_x emission rates between 0.04 and 0.07 lb/10⁶ Btu.     

Positive interference of nitrous acid in the determination of gaseous HNO3 by the NOx chemiluminescence-nylon cartridge method: Applications to measurements of ppb levels of HONO in air

Gaseous nitrous acid in air has been simultaneously monitored in environmental chambers by an absolute method, differential optical absorption spectroscopy, and by a nylon cartridge-chemiluminescence NO_x technique originally developed by Spicer and co-workers for gaseous HNO₃. In the absence of HNO₃, the latter technique proved to be a simple and accurate method for measuring ppb levels of HONO in air. However, the positive interference by HONO in the nylon cartridge-chemiluminescence technique may have important ramifications due to possible artifacts in measurements of gaseous HNO₃ by removal on nylon surfaces. Thus, previous observations in night-time atmospheres or environmental chambers attributed entirely to gaseous HNO₃ may have been, at least in part, due to the presence of gaseous HONO.     

A new technique for collection,concentration and determination of gaseous tropospheric formaldehyde

This article describes an improved technique for making in situ measurements of gaseous tropospheric formaldehyde (CH₂O). The new technique is based on nebulization/reflux principles that have proved very effective in quantitatively scrubbing water soluble trace gases (e.g. CH₂O) into aqueous mediums, which are subsequently analyzed. Atmospheric formaldehyde extractions and analyses have been performed with the nebulization/reflux concentrator using an acidified dinitrophenylhydrazine solution that indicate that quantitative analysis of CH₂O at global background levels (∼ 0.1 ppbv) is feasible with 20-min extractions. Analysis of CH₂O, once concentrated, is accomplished using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet photometric detection. The CH₂O-hydrazone derivative, produced by the reaction of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine in H₂SO₄ acidified aqueous solution, is detected as CH₂O.     

A Combustion Method for the Determination of Solvent Vapors at Low Concentrations in Air

The nitrogen-containing products of smog chamber reactions have been the subject of much controversy. Concern has arisen over nitrogen products because of the almost universally poor nitrogen balance reported for irradiated mixtures of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. Some possible nitrogen-containing products, such as molecular nitrogen, nitrous oxide, and nitroolefins have been investigated and shown to be unimportant. The nitrogen products most often measured are peroxyacetyl nitrate and residual nitrogen dioxide. These two products rarely comprise more than 70% of the initial nitrogen at the end of an experiment, and often account for less than 50%. Previous experiments in which total nitrate was determined in the gas phase and on the vessel walls at the end of irradiation have shown very good nitrogen balances. The assumption has been made that the nitrate arises from nitric acid formed on the walls by adsorbed N₂O₅.

In the work reported here, all major nitrogen-containing compounds have been monitored continuously for the first time. Nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide have been monitored by chemilumines-cence and automated Saltzman techniques. Methyl, ethyl, and peroxyacetyl nitrate have been determined by gas chromatogra-phy. Two methods, one continuous and one integrated, have been specially developed to measure nitric acid both in the smog chambers and in the atmosphere. Continuous determination of these compounds yields good nitrogen balances throughout the irradiations.

Profiles of the nitrogen-containing species from irradiated HC/ NO_x mixtures are discussed in terms of nitrogen products and nitrogen balance. Differences in product distribution for different hydrocarbon systems are also considered. Using rate information from the nitrogen compound profiles, important reactions leading to nitrogen-containing products are identified. Interference with the chemiluminescent technique by HON0₂, PAN, and C₂H₅ONO₂ is discussed.     

Measurement of surface ozone and its precursors in an urban area in South Brazil

Weekly and seasonal variations of surface ozone and their precursors – nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide-associated with meteorological parameters (wind direction, temperature, solar radiation) – are reported. Measurements were performed continuously during 2006 at two sampling stations located in the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, Brazil. Results have shown that O₃ concentrations remained almost constant between weekdays. Levels of NO_x precursors decreased especially on Sundays, due to lighter traffic. The seasonal variation has shown a maximum O₃ concentration during summer and spring while NO_x and NO₂ have maxima at the colder months. The daily cycle of highest ozone concentrations reveals a lower nightly level and an inverse relation between O₃ and NO_x, evidencing the photochemical formation of O₃. There are seasonal variation and source heterogeneity.     

Diurnal and seasonal patterns in light scattering,extinction, and relative humidity

Since 1988, several federal and state governmental agencies in the US have coordinated efforts to operate the interagency monitoring of protected visual environments (IMPROVE) network at sites in remote areas. Most IMPROVE sites are equipped with either a transmissometer to measure light extinction (B_ext) or a nephelometer to measure particle scattering (B_sp). Optical, temperature, and relative humidity (RH) measurements are made hourly at these sites. The diurnal and seasonal patterns in these data are examined and discussed here. At many IMPROVE sites the diurnal patterns in RH and therefore B_ext or B_sp are as expected based on average temperature. On average, RH is higher at night and during the winter than during warmer times of the day and year. Also as expected, based on RH alone, at many sites hourly mean B_ext or B_sp values are either in phase with RH or weakly dependent on time of day. Usually, the diurnal differences are not as large as the seasonal differences. Another group of IMPROVE sites have mean RH patterns similar to those described above but have a different diurnal pattern in measured scattering or extinction. At these sites, the highest mean B_sp or B_ext occurs during mid-day rather than at night. At several of these sites, especially those on ridge tops, it is hypothesized that this is because the diurnal shifts in mixing height only allow the surface layer of the atmosphere to reach the monitor during mid-day. Several other sites have unique diurnal or seasonal patterns in average B_sp or B_ext that can usually be linked to emissions in nearby source regions or local meteorology and terrain.     

Theoretical studies of intermediates in sulfur oxidation cycle

A number of sulfur-oxygen compounds have been postulated as important in the atmospheric sulfur oxidation cycle. However in many cases neither the structure nor lifetime of a proposed intermediate is known either experimentally or theoretically. We have undertaken a series of ab initio quantum mechanical calculations of the structure of several of the sulfur-oxygen intermediates and of their hydrates. These calculations are used to examine the potential surface of a compound and its stability as a function of geometry. This initial study examines the HSO/HOS systems and their positive ions, the monohydrates of SO₂ and SO³, and the H₂SO₂/S(OH)₂/HSO₂H isomers.