AIR

2.1 Physics of Air

.
I. Shape 5. Surface electrical charge
2: Shape factor 6. Dust
3. Specific Surface Area 7. Condensation nuclei
4.Particle surface property 8. Visibility
1. shape
The shape of air may be in any,of the form such as spher irregular, cubical or flocks
(a) Spherical
The spherical shape may be due to. pollen grains, condensat solids fly ash, cotton,
asbestos, synthetic materials etc.
(b) Irregular
Air may take irregular shape due to the presence of minera.
(c) Cubical
Air takes a cubical shape due to theipresence of flake and minerals, large mica,
fibrous condensation nuclei. .
(d) Flocs,
A chain like appearance of air is formed during incompl
combustion of fuels and contains, a large amount of carbon particle size 0.1 micron,
0.5 micron, 0.8 microns 1.5 microns so. on.
The coal particles are largest, 40% by weight of irregular} cubical shape compared to
spherical smog and fly ash.
The density of air borne particles vary from 0.5 to 6.5 g/c with an average of 2.2
g/cm3.
2. Shape factor
The simplest particle shape is sphere. Coalescence (comtogether) of liquid particles
will result in larger spherical particle But coalescence of solid spherical particles result in
flocculent thread like aggregation. Various shape factors are used to expre the degree of
irregularity. The coefficient of sphericity is the ral of surface area of sphere with the same
volume as the given parti to the surface area of the particle.
3. Specific Surface Area
Air borne particles have a larger surface area due to the smaller size, surface
irregularity and internal pores.
 Particle Surface Property
Some of the static properties are in the form of their size, are volume, density and
weight. Some other static properties of such air particles are in the form of surface
electrical charge, adhesion rate of evaporation, condensation of moisture from the
surface.
5; Surface electrical charge
Several mechanism provide the electrical charges in a particle It may be by promoting
the transfcr.of electrons to the surface providing a negatively or positively charged
particles. The other mechanism is the diffusion of ions to the particle surface and the
maximum surface charge. In dry air a particle can retain about 1.6 x JO elecrons/cm Even
Freshly generated smoke particles contains a fraction of this maximum charge.
6 Aerosol
It is a colloidal system such as mist or a fog in which dispersion medium of gas,
presence of solid or liquid in gas Aerosol may be classified as
(i) Dispersion aerosol
(ii) Condensation aerosol

(i) Dispersion aerosol

It is formed during the grinding or atomosiation of solids and liquid by putting their
powder into a state of suspension through the movement of air.

(ii) Condensation aerosol

It is formed when the saturated vapours are condensed or when gases react
chemically to form a volatile or nonvolatile aerosol product.
Mist: This include the condension and dispersion aerosol with liquid
particles.characteristic bright pink colour of flesh, due to the presence
carboxy haemoglobin in the blood. Carbon monoxide can
reduce visual and mental activity.,
3 Oxides of Sulphur
The oxides of Sulphur includes both Sulphur trioxidc

Sulphur dioxide. Sulphur trioxide (SO,) is emitted along

Sulphur dioxide (SO,) in the proportion of 1 to 5% of the quanti
of elemental sulphur. Sulphuric acid manufacturing industri
electroplating, phosphate fertilizer industry etc., emit SO, on
higher side. S03 in the atmosphere combines with moisture or wat
 (H20) to form H2S04 sulphuric acid causing acid rain. It has
low dew point and aerosol could be easily formed. SO} and sulphti
acid generally induce poor visibility.
(i) Sulphur dioxide
Sulphur Dioxide is one of the chief air pollutant. It's cont in air is estimated to be 150
x 10* tonnes. S02 emission can controlled either by treating coal, oil or collecting it at the
soure It is a colourless, pungent irritating gas and can be delected in air at a concentration
of 0.5 ppm. S02 is highly soluble in wati About. 11 grams of sulphur dioxide Combines
with 100 gms of wall forming weak sulphurous acid.
H20 + S02 -> H2 S03 (Sulphurous Acid)
S02 combines with oxygen in the atmosphere forming So which on reaction with
water forms sulphuric acid which leads' the Acid Rain.
The sulphur compounds in general causes sensory an respiratory irritation on humans
and other adverse effects on rai and health. It also can cause plant damage, and also
enhances the corrosion of metals.
(ii) (H2S) Hydrogen Sulphide
Hydrogen Sulphide is a gas with a rotten egg smell. It is toxi and can be detected at
very low concentration of 0.5 pp. The natural soures of H2S arc anaerobic decay process
on land, decomposition of marshy land, decomposiiion of sea weed, algae etc. 100 x 106
connes are emitted by pollution sources. The problem with H2S comes to the picture if it
gets concentrated in small areas. The main Sources of H2S includes rayon industry, coke
oven, oil refineries, paper"industries etc., Its concentration over the cities arc more than
0.1 ppm. H2S oxidises with 0.1 ppm. H2S oxidises with air to form SO2 within an hour
H2 oxidation SO2 o2 SO3H2O H2SO4
4. Nitrogen Compounds
Nitrogen compounds are very stable and constitute about 78% f the atmosphere. It
tempers with the oxidative power of the atmosphere. The various nitrogen compounds
include
Nitrous oxide (N20)
Nitric oxide (NO)
Nitrogen oxide (NO2)
Nitrogen Trioxide (NO3)
Nitrogen Tetroxide (N2O4)
Nitrous acid (HNO2)
Nitric acid (HNO3)
 (a) Nitrous oxide: (N20)
This is a colourless, non toxic sweet gas present in largest amount in the air as
compared to other gases. About 0.25 ppm is used in anaesthesia, surgery and dentistry. It
is also called as laughing gas. When nitrous oxide is present in largest amount, on
inhalation produces loss of feeling. The major natural sources of nitrous oxide are the
biological action of soil and oceans. The world wide production of Nitrous oxide is
estimated to be 109 tonnes year. Nitrous oxide is found to be, associated with
photochemical reaction in the atmosphere.
(b) Nitric oxide: (NO)
It is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas produced main by the biological and the
combustion processes. The Nitric oxide in the air is oxidised rapidly by the ozone by the
process photochemical reaction and slowly by oxygen to form N02. world wide natural
emission of NO is about 4.3 x 108 tonnes/yet The nitric oxide is mainly contributed by the
forest combustion the high temperate zone. Nitrogen reacts with oxygen to form
(c) Nitrogen Dioxide
It is a reddish brown pungent smelling gas. It's natural emissior are due to the
biological decay where nitrates arc reduced to Nitrital and ultimately converted to nitrous
acid
Oxidation
NO2 ------> N03 ------> HN03 (Nitrous Acid)
The natural emission of Nitrogen dioxide amounts to abot 650 x 106 Tonnes. Presence
of Nitrogen Dioxide in the air irritate the mucous membrane of the body. It also leads to
the corrosion of, » metals. It also serves as the energy trap by absorbing sunlight form
nitric acid and atmospheric oxygen. Atmospheric oxygen it very active in forming Ozone
and initiates number of photochemica chain reactions. Nitrogen oxide absorbs the light
strongly especially the ultraviolet radiations and as such the ozone job is helpe by NO2
Nitrogen oxide reduces the visibility, causes sensory irritatio and causes damage to
the plants.
(d) Ammonia
Nature produces ammonia in .huge, quantities. It has a share odour and can Be
detected by taste at high concentration of 20 ppm At low concentration it is harmless'.
But at higher concentration it forms ammonium salts with' Sulphuric acid. Nitric acid and
Hydrochloric acid. Ammonia causes adverse health effects and toxicity to fish and other
aquatic life.
5 Clilorine compounds
souresThe chlorine compounds are most widely,used in the disinfection of water to
kill the bacteria. The Chlorine Dioxide is being used in place of chlorine has a residual
effect, frequently Hydrochloric acid and-.vapours of chlorinated hydrocarbons-
chlaoroform(CHC13), Carbon Tetra, Chloride (CC14) etc are formed and joins
the.atmospheric air..The freon vapours are. widely used is refrigerants, as aerosols, spray
propcllants, have been found to be building up in the air. Generally the concentration of
chlorine in he 'atmosphere is very low.'It is feared that the ferrous ultimately ise into the
stratosphere 10 to 20 miles and destroy the ozone layer. Elemental chlorine is widely
used in water disinfection, sewage works, chemical and plastic industries,; in bleaching
power, pesticides and herbicides which release chlorine to kill the pests, chlorine is a
heavy yellow green pungent gas. It is highly reactive and irritates the mucus membrane
like lungs and throat.
Hydrochloric Acid
This is commonly emitted from industries and domestic actions. These are found in
lesser concentrations. This is characterized as lead scavenger.
6. Ozone
Ozone in a bluish gas which is about 1.6 times as heavy as air but highly reactive at
high altitudes. Ozone is formed by the petrocliemical reaction. The concentration of
ozone is greatest in the stratosphere depending upon the altitude. The ozone
concentration in air varies between 0.02 ppm to about 0.2 ppm and at-height of about 20
km, lightening and thunders, are also responsible for producing some ozone. Ozone
strongly absorb the ultraviolet radiation from the suns rays, thereby causing heavy,
damages to the living tissues in the earth. Ozone and other oxidants such as perroxy
acetyl Nitrate are formed in the atmosphere due to the various photochemical reactions.
2.2.3 Biology of Air
Biological Aerosols
Aerosols of biological origin are ofcourse not important in . direct chemical reaction
occurring in the atmosphere, It. indu the transport of other materials in the atmosphere.
Biologist aerosols"have been found even at great distances from their point of source.
Living spores of various fungi arc carried by aeroplane . above.the Caribbean sea, 1000
kms from their nearest source Marin Bacteria are removed from the sea only when the
surface is stirre sufficiently to produce spray. On an average the number of marin
bacterias exceed 300/m/ of sea water. The population of marin bacteria in the air must be
sparce everywhere except perhape sometimes when the sea is rough or in the vicinity of
coastal breaker.
Occasionally sea water is highly contaminated with micre organisms that are carried
into the atmosphere for example Dine flagellate Gimonodium was present in quantities
sufficient to cause the sea to appear red. Ocean spray under these conditions produce
severe respiratory irritation among person coming in contact with the spray.
Micro organisms are reported to exist at various levels in air upto 20,000 ft high.
Spore forming bacterias are predominantly found and about 29 varieties of such bacterias
have been identified in the atmosphere the ratio of dust to the,micro organisms such as
bacteria was found to be about 100:1. There is great variation in it concentration
atsdifferent levels of the atmosphere heavy at higher altitude than at lower altitudes.
Bacterial stratification takes place for example spora ceilings are often marked by a cloud
layer or visible haze.
Table 2 3 Permissible Concentration of elements in air

Elements Tolerance limit

Physical
1. Dust Dust Free
2. Colour Colourless
3 Odour and laste Odourless and tastily
4Temperature 85° F to 29" F
5. Turbidity Turbid free

6. Visibility Clear

(b) Chemical

1:'Ammonia 1.2 mg// as Nitrogen

2. Arsenic I mg//

3. Fluoride 2 mg//

4. Lead 0.05 mg//

5. pH 5.5 to 9 mg//

6. Carbon monoxide 10 mg// for 8 hours

7. Particulate matter 55 to 110 ug/m5 (annual)

8. Nitrogen Dioxide 100µg/m3

9. Ozone 235 µg/m' (once in a year)

10. Sulphur Dioxide 80 Hg/m3 (annual)