FABRICATION AND TESTING OF AUTOMOBILE POLLUTANT ABSORBERS

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
Because of their versatility, flexibility, and low initial cost, motorized road vehicles
overwhelmingly dominate the markets for passenger and freight transport throughout the
developing world. In all but the poorest developing countries, economic growth has triggered
a boom in the number and use of motor vehicles. Although much more can and should be
done to encourage a balanced mix of transport modes-including no motorized transport in
small-scale applications and rail in high-volume corridors-motorized road vehicles will retain
their overwhelming dominance of the transport sector for the foreseeable future. Owing to
their rapidly increasing numbers and very limited use of emission control technologies, motor
vehicles are emerging as the largest source of urban air pollution in the developing world.
Other adverse impacts of motor vehicle use include accidents, noise, congestion, increased
energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Without timely and effective measures to
mitigate the adverse impacts of motor vehicle use, the living environment in the cities of the
developing world will continue to deteriorate and become increasingly unbearable. Air
pollution is caused by poisonous gases, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide
and very small particulates. It is also caused by the smoke and harmful gases released by the
fires and factories. Use of coal, wood and kerosene as fuels for fire also causes air pollution.
Air pollution may cause breathing problems such as asthma or other health hazards. It also
causes diseases like cancer. Passenger vehicles are a major pollution contributor, producing
significant amounts of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and other pollution. In 2013,
transportation contributed more than half of the carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, and
almost a quarter of the hydrocarbons emitted into air.

Air pollution is an important public health problem in most cities of the developing
world. Pollution levels in megacities such as Bangkok, Cairo, Delhi and Mexico City exceed
those in any city in the industrialized countries. Epidemiological studies show that air
pollution in developing countries accounts for tens of thousands of excess deaths and billions
of dollars in medical costs and lost productivity every year. These losses, and the associated
degradation in quality of life, impose a significant burden on people in all sectors of society,
but especially the poor.

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 FABRICATION AND TESTING OF AUTOMOBILE POLLUTANT ABSORBERS

The gases act like a blanket and increase the global temperature which is otherwise
called as global warming. The planet's thermostat had been set at a pleasant average
temperature of 59°F for the last 10 years and recently it is increasing rapidly. A typical engine
combustion process is represented below.

Fuel + Air  Hydrocarbons + No2 + CO + CO2 + H2O

Hydrocarbon emissions are the fragments of fuel molecules, which are only partially
burnt.

Common air pollutants in urban cities in developing countries include:

• Respirable particulate matter from smoky diesel vehicles, two-stroke & four-stroke
motorcycles and 3-wheelers, burning of waste and firewood, entrained road dust, and
stationary industrial sources.

• Lead aerosol from combustion of leaded gasoline.

• Carbon monoxide from gasoline vehicles and burning of waste and firewood.

• Photochemical smog (ozone) produced by the reaction of volatile organic compounds and
nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight; motor vehicle emissions are a major source of
nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds.

• Sulphur oxides from combustion of sulphur-containing fuels and industrial processes.

• Secondary particulate matter formed in the atmosphere by reactions involving ozone,

sulphur and nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds.

• Known or suspected carcinogens such as benzene, 1,3 butadiene, aldehydes, and

polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons from motor vehicle exhaust and other sources.

Table 1.1 Types Of Pollution

S.NO Type Of Pollution Harmfulness (%)

1 Air Pollution 70.22
2 Water Pollution 68.52
3 Land Pollution 68.73
4 Noise & Light Pollution 57.97

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 FABRICATION AND TESTING OF AUTOMOBILE POLLUTANT ABSORBERS

CHAPTER 2

AUTOMOBILE POLLUTANTS AND THEIR

ABSORBERS
Particulate Matter (PM): These particles of soot and metals give smog its murky colour. Fine
particles less than one-tenth the diameter of a human hair pose the most serio us threat to
human health, as they can penetrate deep into lungs. PM is a direct (primary) pollution.
Diesel exhaust is a major contributor to PM pollution.

Hydrocarbons (HC): These pollutants react with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight to
form ground level ozone, a primary ingredient in smog. Though beneficial in the upper
atmosphere, at the ground level this gas irritates the respiratory system, causing coughing,
choking, and reduced lung capacity.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx): These pollutants cause lung irritation and weaken the body's
defences against respiratory infections such as pneumonia and influenza. In addition, they
assist in the formation of ground level ozone and particulate matter. Converters basically are
used to break down gases. A higher percentage of nitrogen-dioxide (NO 2) is formed as
product compared to carbon-dioxide. NO2 makes up about 7.2% of the gases that cause global
warming. But these converters, though break down molecules, they emit a higher quantity of
their oxides into the atmosphere

Carbon monoxide (CO): This odourless, colourless, and poisonous gas is formed by the
combustion of fossil fuels such as gasoline and is emitted primarily from cars and trucks.
When inhaled, CO blocks oxygen from the brain, heart, and other vital organs. Foetuses, new
born children, and people with chronic illnesses are especially susceptible to the effects of
CO. Most CO gas is produced when the fuel is not combusted properly in the engine. This
happens when there is an insufficient flow of air into the engine. This occurs when the
vehicle is under prolonged use, in mountains where the oxygen content is comparatively low
or by general ageing of the engine itself. Two-third of carbon monoxide emissions come from
transportation sources, mainly from the urban areas where the population is high.

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 FABRICATION AND TESTING OF AUTOMOBILE POLLUTANT ABSORBERS

Carbon Dioxide: Originally carbon dioxide viewed as a product of perfect combustion, but
now, it has become a pollution concern. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that traps the
earth's heat and contributes to global warming.

Sulphur dioxide (SO2): Power plants and motor vehicles create this pollutant by burning
sulphur-containing fuels, especially diesel. Sulphur dioxide can react in the atmosphere to
form fine particles and poses the largest health risk to young children and asthmatics.

Hazardous air pollutants (toxics): These chemical compounds have been linked to birth
defects, cancer, and other serious illnesses. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates
that the air toxics emitted from cars and trucks which include Benzene, acetaldehyde, and 1,
3-butadiene account for half of all cancers caused by air pollution.

Greenhouse gases: Motor vehicles also emit pollutants, such as carbon dioxide, that
contribute to global climate change. In fact, cars and trucks account for over one-fifth of
global warming pollution. Transportation, which includes flights, trains, and airplanes,
accounts for around thirty percent of all heat-trapping gas emissions.

COx and NOx Absorption: Nationwide, 77% of CO emissions are from transportation
sources. The largest emissions contribution comes from highway motor vehicles. Nitrogen
dioxide a brownish, highly reactive gas present in all urban atmospheres. The oxidation of
nitric oxide (NO) in the higher layers of atmosphere due to the heat from the sun and earth,
leads to the formation of Nitrogen dioxide. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) include various nitrogen
compounds like Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitric oxide (NO). These compounds also play
an important role in the formation of acid rains. Individually, they may affect ecosystems,
both on land and in water. NOx is formed when fuels are burned at high temperatures. From
the literature studies, it is proved that the molecular size of carbon dioxide and nitrogen
dioxide are different. By using this molecular size difference, the oxides of carbon and
nitrogen can be removed as separate layers by suitable molecular sieve.

Much of the vehicular air pollution can be avoided by maintaining proper speed of the
vehicles. Vehicles stranding on the road crossing or in traffic jams cause more pollution. The
quantity of harmful emissions decreases with increasing speed as given in Table 2.1

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 FABRICATION AND TESTING OF AUTOMOBILE POLLUTANT ABSORBERS

Table 2.1 Emission from Vehicles at varied Speeds (gm/km)

Speed(Km/hr) Auto Bus

Carbon Monoxide Hydrocarbons Carbon Monoxide Hydrocarbons
10 33.02 4.47 22.6 5.7
25 21.20 2.60 14.6 2.3
50 9.80 1.30 8.2 0.0

2.1 FABRICATION AND TESTING OF PROTOTYPE

For most common hazardous pollutants, absorbing materials which bio-degradable are
selected and presented in Table 2.2

Table 2.2 Selection of Absorbers

S.NO Pollutant Absorber

1 Carbon Monoxide (CO) CuCl2
2 Carbon Dioxide (CO2) NaOH2 Soda Lime
3 Sulphur Oxide (SOX) Soda Lime
4 Hydrocarbon Soda Lime

Figure 2.1 Shows absorbers obtained from specimen maker, after time testing to ensure their
retaining of shape and size.

Figure 2.1 Absorber material specimens

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 FABRICATION AND TESTING OF AUTOMOBILE POLLUTANT ABSORBERS

The billets are inserted in a wooden plank of 190 * 150 and thickness 12 mm with
nine holes of 30 mm diameter as shown in the Figure 2.2

Figure 2.2 Positioning Of Billets

Testing has been done using the exhaust gas analyser which shows the pollutants such as CO,
CO2, SOX, HC and O2 that are coming from vehicle as shown in Figure 2.1.3

Figure 2.3 Exhaust Gas Analyser

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 FABRICATION AND TESTING OF AUTOMOBILE POLLUTANT ABSORBERS

Exhaust Emissions Testing for Light-Duty Vehicles: Three test procedures are presently used
to measure the emissions of light-duty vehicles: the U.S. federal test procedure (FTP), the
European test procedure established by the United Nations Economic Commission for
Europe (ECE) regulation 83, and the Japanese test procedure. The U.S. procedure has now
been adopted Quantifying Vehicle Emissions, Air Pollution from Motor Vehicles throughout
North America, and is also used in Brazil, Chile, Republic of Korea, Taiwan (China), and
some Western European countries. The European test procedure and emissions standards are
used in the European Union, most Eastern European countries, China, and India, where it
includes an Indian driving cycle. Though primary used in Japan, the Japanese procedure and
standards are accepted by several East Asian countries. All three test procedures measure
exhaust emissions produced while the vehicle is driven through a prescribed driving cycle on
a chassis dynamometer. Emissions are sampled by means of a constant volume sampling
(CVS) system (figure 2.4). The specific driving cycle differs, however. Because emissions in
urban areas are the principal concern of control programs, all testing is based on vehicles
operating in stop-and-go driving conditions typical of urban areas. The layout of a typical
emissions testing laboratory is shown in figure 2.4

Figure 2.4 Illustration of a Remote Sensing System for CO and HC Emission

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 FABRICATION AND TESTING OF AUTOMOBILE POLLUTANT ABSORBERS

Remote Sensing of Vehicle Emissions: Remote sensing of vehicle emissions is a new

technology that could improve the effectiveness of vehicle emissions control programs. The
technique works by measuring the absorption of a beam of infrared light by the carbon
dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons in a vehicle's exhaust plume (figure 2.5). Based
on the absorption, a computer is able to calculate the ratios of carbon monoxide and
hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide in the exhaust. From this information it is possible to
calculate the concentrations of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in the exhaust at the
instant the vehicle passes the remote sensing device. This system has been used to
characterize the statistical distribution of vehicle emissions in a number of cities, including
Chicago and Mexico City. It is expected that a remote sensing system for NOx emissions
would utilize either a beam of ultraviolet light or light from a turnable diode laser projected
across the road. A prototype system capable of measuring nitrogen oxide concentrations has
been developed. A technical assessment of the use of remote sensing for I/M programs is
provided. Although remote sensing offers significant potential for vehicle emissions
monitoring and control, the technique has limitations. Remote sensor technology measures
the instantaneous concentration of hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide in a vehicle's exhaust
at the time it passes the sensor. This measurement is a snapshot of emissions and thus not a
reliable indicator of overall vehicle emission levels or even “gross emitter” status, since
emissions measured by the remote sensing device often do not correlate with the Federal Test
Procedure (FTP) measurements or other measures of actual emissions over realistic driving
cycles. Even properly functioning vehicles may exhibit high carbon monoxide and
hydrocarbon concentrations in the tailpipe under driving conditions such as hard acceleration
or cold starting. Many vehicles also exhibit moderately high carbon monoxide concentrations
at idle. Some older vehicles experience high hydrocarbon concentrations during deceleration,
while newer vehicles cut off fuel during deceleration, making the hydrocarbon to carbon
dioxide ratio hard to predict.

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 FABRICATION AND TESTING OF AUTOMOBILE POLLUTANT ABSORBERS

Figure 2.5 Illustration of a Remote Sensing System for CO and HC Emission

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 FABRICATION AND TESTING OF AUTOMOBILE POLLUTANT ABSORBERS

2.2 ANALYSIS

Measurements are taken on 3 different dates at specific time to take up a relative

study. Readings are taken before insertion and after insertion of pollutant absorbers.
Experimental results are tabulated as given in Table 2.3

Table 2.3 Experimental Result

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 FABRICATION AND TESTING OF AUTOMOBILE POLLUTANT ABSORBERS

The fallowing figure indicates the absorption of Pollutants during the experimental study

Figure 2.6 Absorption of Carbon monoxide (CO)

Figure 2.7 Absorption of Carbon Dioxide (CO2 )

Figure 2.8 Absorption of Sulphur Oxides (SOX )

Figure 2.9 Absorption of Hydro Carbons (HC)

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 FABRICATION AND TESTING OF AUTOMOBILE POLLUTANT ABSORBERS

CHAPTER 4
CONCLUSIONS
In this work an attempt has been made to fabricate and investigate experimentally, an
exhaust gas absorbing device. The absorbers selected based on the exhaust gases are
commercially available and also economical for easy replacement over a definite period of
time interval. The set-up fabricated is found to be effective to absorb exhaust gases.

Owing to huge amount of the CO2, chemical absorption may be more suitable than
physical absorption purpose. However, chemical absorption is an energy intensive process in
which more than 60% of total energy consumed in stripper for thermal regeneration of CO 2-
rich chemical absorbents. Various methods like chemical looping combustion (CLC) and
rotating packed bed method use many sophisticated apparatus to absorb carbon di-oxide.
Other methods include the use of cryogenics or solvents which require very strict conditions
perform an efficient absorption. To make absorption as practical application, the future
research could be focused on the improvements of absorbent formulation and process
efficiency. To achieve the purpose, the following approaches are suggested:

i. To use absorbents with less corrosion, less viscosity. low vapour pressure, rapid reaction
rate with CO2, high CO2 absorption capacity, and less regeneration energy, a compromised
formulation is needed because all the mentioned properties may not be satisfied in the
meantime,

ii. To enhance high gas-to-liquid mass and heat transfer rates in absorber and stripper,

iii. To reduce equipment volume and capital cost,

iv. To prevent the negative effects of SOx, NOx and oxygen on absorbent, and

v. To develop a more suitable model for the scale up purpose.

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 FABRICATION AND TESTING OF AUTOMOBILE POLLUTANT ABSORBERS

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[2] Biswas, D. and S.A. Dutta., “Strategies for Control of Vehicular Pollution in Urban Areas
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[3] Escudero, J. “Notes on Air Pollution Issues in Santiago Metropolitan Region”, (14/5,
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[4] Gargava, P., and A. Aggarwal. “Prediction of Impact of Air Environment on Planning the
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[6] Samaras, Z., “COPERT Emission Factors”, Informal Communication. Directorate-

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[7] Lackner K.S., Grimes P. and Ziock H.J., “Capturing Carbon Dioxide from Air”, (2007)

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