Air Pollution & Pollution Monitoring

Air Pollution

Man-made
Natural (chemical & biological processes)

(volcanic activity, vegetation decay, forest fires)

Primary Air Pollutants

CO NOx HC SO2 Particulates

Major Source
Transportation Transportation Fuel combustion Transportation Industrial processes Fuel combustion Fuel combustion Industrial processes

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Colourless, Odourless & Tasteless gas 96.5% as heavy as air Not soluble in water Reactions yielding CO:
2C + O2 2CO (incomplete fuel combustion) CO2 + C 2CO (industrial processes) CO2 CO + O (dissociation at high T)

CO Pollution - Sources
Natural processes
Volcanic action Natural gas emission Electrical discharge during storms Seed germination Marsh gas production

Human activities
Transportation Forest fires Agricultural burning Industrial processes (Iron, Steel, Petroleum & Paper)

CO Pollution - Control
Transportation is the major source of CO pollution and gasoline-fed internal combustions in automobiles are primarily accountable

Control of Automotive Emissions

Modification of internal combustion engines to reduce pollutants quantity Development of exhaust system reactors to convert potential pollutants to less harmful products Development of alternative fuels which yield low pollutant concentrations Development of pollution-free power sources to replace internal combustion engine

Catalytic Converter

Pb(Et)4 Scavenger in Gasoline

Stratified Charge Engine

Air Sampling Considerations

Size of Sample ( 10 m3) Concentration of Pollutant/s Sensitivity of Analytical Method Sampling Rate (0.003 - 3.0 m3/min.) Sampling Time for a Representative Sample ( 3-hour period)

Sampling Techniques - Gases & Vapours

Cold trapping

Absorption
Adsorption