dcrosol IOr analysis purposes.

Precipitator designs with a iquid

counter electrode can be used to sample
biological particles, e.g. viruses. directly into a sma
liquid volume to reduce unnecessary sample dilution
2.5. INDUSTRIAL POLLUTANTS -1102
Industrial pollution is
the contamination of the environment
by businesses.
particularly plants and
factories that dump waste products into the air and water. Industrial
waste is one of the largest contributors to the
global pollution problem endangering people and
the environment. In order to provide
daily needs of the growing population, different types of
industries are setup to produce different
products. The industries use raw materials. process
them and produce finished products. Besides the finished
products, a good number of the
products are produced. Out of all the by-products, if some are in huge quantities and by-
processing is cost effective, the industrialist preserves the by- products. lf thc processing of
waste is a cost prohibitive one, then the industrialist throws the waste into the environnent in
the form of gas, liquid or solid. The gases are usually released into the
atmosphere, the liquids
are discharged into aquatic bodies like canals, rivers or sea and solid wastes are either dumped
on the land or in aquatic bodies. In all the cases, either the air or water or land is polluted due
to dumping of wastes.
Till now, there are about 17 industries which are declared to be most polluting. These
include the caustic soda, cement, distillery, dyes and dye intermediaries, fertilizers, iron and
steel, oil refineries, paper and pulp, pesticides and pharmaceuticals, sugar, textiles, thermal
power plants, tanneries and so on. The Table 2.3 enlists few of the industries, their wastes
(important) and the type of pollution these induce in the environment. The wide variety of
pollutants as shown above enter the environment and disturb the natural eco-system affecting
the biota. Due to industrial activities, a variety of poisonous gases like NO, SO2, NO1, SO;.
C, CO, CO, HzSO etc. volatile chemicals, dusts etc., are liberated into the atmosphere
causing acute pollution problem. Besides, the accidental leakage of poisonous gases can cause
havoc. For example, methyl isocyanate gas leakage from Union Carbide factory at Bhopal
Caused mass killing which is known as BhopalgasIragedy. In addition to accidents. many of
the above poisonous gases induce depletion of ozone layer, creation of ozone hole. Green
House effect, Global warming. Acid rain, destruction of monument and killing of living
organisms disturbing the natural eco-systems.
 s of LnUron nentai Chemistry
Table 2.2 Industries, their wastes (important) and the type of pollution
Industry Wastes Produced Type of Pollution
Caustic Soda Mercury. Chlorinegas Air. Water and land
Cement dust, smoke Particulate matter Land and water
Distillery Organic waste
Ammonia, cy anide.
Air and water
Fertilizer Oxides of nitrogen.
OXides of sulphur
Inorganic waste pigment Land and water
Dve
Smoke. gases, coal dust. fly Air, water and land
Iron and steel
ash,
fluorine
Organic and inorganic Water and land
Pesticides waste

Smoke. toxic gases, organiC Air and water

S. Oil Refineries waste
Air and water
Smoke, organic waste
Paper and Pulp Land and water
Organic waste, molasses
10. Sugar Smoke, particulate matter Land and water
Textiles
Organic waste Water
2. Tanneries Air and water
Thermal power Flyash, S0, gas Water and land
14 Nuclear power station Radioactive wastes
-
Alkalies, phenols chromates, Water and land
5. Food processing organic wastes

Pollutants
Types of Industrial of industrial pollutants, and so many ways
that these
There are so many different types
hard for a lot of businesses to completey
released into the air, it makes it very
ollutants are
hundred percent low emissions.
Industrial pollutions
themselves to ensure it is one
egulate Another problem that exists.
caused a considerable alar1m and has become a serious threat.
do not even realize that they are emitting
ave
is that some industrial companies
elieve it not,
or
has to do with how many different ways
industrial parts.
ollutants in the air, and that mostly emit toxins. The
and materials are used, and as they are used they
omponents, products, industrial pollutions that exist.
information will provide the several different types of
llowing
to become emitted into the air.
adthe factors that induce them
arbon Monoxide does
colorless gas formed when carbon in fuels
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, causd
A lot of people die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning
t burn completely. appliances. Carbon monoxide is
improperly used or malfunctioning fuel-burning materials
particie) that comes from burning carbon-based
ombustion pollutant" a gas (or and may have already caused
the
these sources have increased gradualy
er the years double since pre-industrial times wben human activities
did no
-ncentrations of CO to
of CO can
affect the global cycles of CO and other trace gases. Increasing levels
anificantly and a build-up of many other trace gases in the Earths
ad to an increase of tropospheric Og
 AImospheric hemistry 65
cihemistry,
atmosphere, whici may in turn cause widespread perturbations of tropospheric
global warmng, and other climatic changes
Burning of fossil fuels we
fucls is the producer of pollution. Most of this a r pollution
Burning fossil largest to
of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, natural gas, and gasoline
cause results Irom the burning bow
our vehicles. Carbon dioxide (CO2)
is a good indicator ut
power
produce electricityis and
bumed and how much of other pollutants are emitted as
a result. (jases
much fossil fuel
include carbon monox ide, nitrogen
releascd by the burning and combustion of fossil fuels hat
act like a blanket trap cnergy
to
oxides, sulfur oxides and hydrocarbons. These gases combustion has raised
the
the last 150 fossil fuel
warms the Earth's surface. During
years,
in
than 25 percent. The result is an increase
amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide by more
floods and heavy
temperatures. This phenomenon of climate change is associated with
global and severe heat waves.
rainfalis in many regions, as well as more frequent droughts
Sulfur oxides affect human
These poisonous gases are a result of fuel
combustion, and negatively
Sources include
is the main cause of acid rain.
health, along with that of the environment. SO2 metal
sulfur coal and oil, also produced during
combustion of fuel containing mostly
and nitrogen oxides are the major
smelting and other industríal processes. Sulfur dioxide corrosion of
which has acidified soils, lakes and streams, accelerated
precursors of acid rain, is a major precursor of
and and reduced visibility. Sulfur dioxide also
buildings monuments,
health threat.
fine particulate soot, which poses a significant
Nitrous oxides
from carbon based fuel combustion,
These are reactive greenhouse gases that stem
formation of acid rain. NO2 creates highly acidic
and are one of the primary contributors to the dominant
areas, which kills off plant and
animal life. Vehicles and electric power plants are
can produce nitrogen dioxide inside
homes. Nitrogen
sources. Home heaters and gas stoves
can cause a wide range of environmental
oxides help form acid rain. In addition, this pollutant
damage. including visibility impairment and eutrophication that is, explosive algae growth
which can deplete oxygen in water bodies such as the Chesapeake Bay.
Particulate matter
Particulate matter (PM) is the general term for the mixture of solid particles and liquid
known in the jargon
droplets in the air. "Fine" particles (less than 2.5 micrometers diameter,
in
of air pollution as "PM 2.5") result from motor vehicles, coal-burning electric power plants,
factories as well as from residential fireplaces and wood stoves. Larger "coarse" particles
and crushing and
come largely from windblown dust, vehicles traveling on unpaved roads,
interact with other
grinding operations. Gases such as sulfur oxides and. nitrogen oxides hundreds of
compounds in the air to form fine particles. These tiny bits of soot can travel
miles downwind of the original pollution sources. Particulate soot is a major cause
of reduced
visibility. It also can cause damage to paints and building materials.
Volatile organic compounds
Volatile organic compounds, sometimes referred to as VOCs, are organic compounds
become or gases. Along with carbon, they contain elements such as
that easily vapors
sulfur or nitrogen. This is a term that
refers to
hydrogen, oxygen, fluorine, chBorine, bromine,
Ihe volatility of organic compounds from manufacturing operations and processes that escap
Volatiie
into the air in a gaseous state. VOCs create both hazardous indoor and outdoor toxins.
 of troposplieric chemistry,
whch inay m turm causc widespread perturbations
tmosphere,
atim
other climatic changes
giotal warmng. and
fossil fucls we
Burning of of pollution. Most of this air poilution
the largest producer
Burning fossil fuels is such as coal, oil,
natural gas, and gasoline
to

from the burning of fossil fuels, of how

cause results Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a good indicator
and power our vehicles. result. Gases
produce electricity much of other pollutants are emitted
as a

is burned and how monoxide. nitrogen

much fossil fuel combustion of fossil fuels
include carbon
and that
reieased by the burning These gases act like a
blanket to trap energy
oxides and hydrocarbons. raised the
Oxides, sulfur 150 fossil fuel combustion has
Earth's surface. During the
last years, inerease in
warms the than 25 percent. The result is an
carbon dioxide by more and heavy
amount of atinospherie is associated with floods
This phenomenon of climate change
global temperatures. heat
waves.
frequent droughts and
severe
well as m o r e
rainfalls in many regions,
as

affect human
Sulfur oxides combustion, and negatively
a result of fuel
These poisonous gases are rain. Sources include
environment. SO2 is the main c a u s e of acid
that of the metal
health, along with coal and oil, also produced during
combustion of fuel containing
sulfur - mostly oxides are the major
industrial Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen
smelting and other
processes. accelerated corrosion of
which has acidified soils, lakes and streams, of
precursors of
acid rain,
Sulfur dioxide also is a major precursor
and reduced visibility.
buildings and monuments, threat.
a significant health
fine particulate soot, which poses
Nitrous oxides from carbon based fuel combustion,
These are reactive greenhouse gases that stem
acidic
contributors to the formation of acid rain. NO, creates highly
and are one of the primary electric power plants are dominant
which kills off plant and animal life. Vehicles and
areas, dioxide inside homes. Nitrogen
Home heaters and gas stoves can produce nitrogen
sources.
this pollutant can cause a wide range
of environmental
oxides help form acid rain. In addition,
that is, explosive algae growth
damage, including visibility impairment and eutrophication
which can deplete oxygen in water bodies such as the Chesapeake Bay.
Particulate matter
Particulate matter (PM) is the general tem
for the mixture of solid particles and liquid
micrometers in diameter, known in the jargon
droplets in the air. "Fine" particles (less than 2.5 electric power plants,
of air pollution as "PM 2.5") result from motor vehicles, coal-burning
"coarse" particles
factories well as from residential fireplaces and wood stoves. Larger
as
on unpaved roads, and crushing
and
come largely from windblown dust, vehicles traveling
oxides interact with other
grinding operations. Gases such as sulfur oxides and. nitrogen
can travel hundreds of
compounds in the air to form fine particles. These tiny bits of soot
Particulate soot is a major cause of reduced
miles downwind of the original pollution sources.
visibility. It also can cause damage to paints and building materials.
Volatile organic compounds
Volatile organic compounds, sometimes referred to as VOCs, are organic compounds
that easily become vapors or gases. Along with carbon, they contain elements such as
refers to
yarogen, oxygen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, sulfur or nitrogen. This is a term that
the volatility of organic compounds from manufacturing operations and processes that escape
into the air in a gaseous state. VOCs create both hazardous indoor and outdoor toxins Volatile
66 Principles of Environmental Chemistry
as gasoline, wood, coal, or nattural
organic compounds are released from burning fuel, such
and diesel exhaust. I hey are also released
gas. They are also emitted from oil and gas fields
used and stored at home and at work
from solvents, paints, glues, and other products that are
hazardous poliutants.
air Volatile
organic
Many organic compounds are also
volatile
ozone,
react to form ground-level
or smog.
compounds, when combined with nitrogen oxides, role in the formation of ozone
which contributes to climate VOCs play a signiticant
change.
VOCs react with nitrogen oxides
and fine particulates in the atmosphere. Under sunlight, to form ozone. which in
and industrial activities
emitted mainly from vehicles. power plants
accumulation of ozone, fine particulates and
for1nation of fine particulates. The
turn helps the
that reduces visibility.
other gaseous pollutants results in smog

Motor Vehicles,
Motor Vehicles, VOC- Power Plants
Containing Products, etc. Industrial Activities, etc.

Volatile Organic Nitrogen Oxides

Compounds (VOCs) (Nox)

Ground-level Ozone, Fine Partculates

(Smog)
Fig. 2.9. VOCs and sniug formullun

the listed above the m

Several other types of industrial pollutants exist, but
ones are

abundant.