University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines

Cagayan de Oro City

1st Semester SY 2021 - 2022
TOPIC 8

ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY

2
Outline

VIII. Environmental Chemistry

•Air Pollution
•Water Pollution
•Soil Pollution
•Green Chemistry and Green Technology

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Learning Outcomes

•Acquire knowledge of the main sources and types of pollution;

•Learn about the effects of pollution on the environment and on human health;

•Describe some key principles that support pollution prevention and control; and

•Acquire basic knowledge on the Principles of Green Chemistry in avoiding or reducing the
use or the formation of hazardous or toxic substances as a source of pollutants.

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Environmental Chemistry

• Environmental chemistry may be defined as the study of the

sources, reactions, transport, effects, and fates of chemical
species in water, soil, air, and living environments, and the
effects of technology thereon.
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Environmental Chemistry
 7
Environmental Chemistry
 8
Environmental Chemistry
 9
Environmental Pollution

• Environmental pollution is defined as "the contamination of the

physical and biological components of the earth/atmosphere
system to such an extent that normal environmental processes
are adversely affected."
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Environmental Pollution

Three Major Types of Environmental Pollution:

1. Air Pollution
2. Water Pollution
3. Land Pollution
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Air Pollution

Air Pollution
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Definition of Air Pollution

Air pollution means any alteration of the physical, chemical and

biological properties of the atmospheric air, or any discharge thereto of
any liquid, gaseous or solid substances that will or is likely to create or to
render the air resources of the country harmful, detrimental, or injurious
to public health, safety or welfare or which will adversely affect their
utilization for domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational,
or other legitimate purposes. – R.A. 8749
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Definition of Air Pollutant

Air pollutant means any matter found in the atmosphere other than
oxygen, nitrogen, water vapor, carbon dioxide, and the inert gases in their
natural or normal concentrations, that is detrimental to health or the
environment, which includes but not limited to smoke, dust, soot,
cinders, fly ash, solid particles of any kind, gases, fumes, chemical mists,
steam and radio-active substances. – R.A. 8749
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Sources of Air Pollutants

NATURAL SOURCES ANTHROPOGENIC SOURCES

Volcanic emissions Factories
Forest fires Thermal power stations
Pollen scattering Substances emitted due to the burning of fossil
fuels in engines (automobiles)
Sandstorms and yellow sand (blown up from the Gases and particulate matter created in the
surface of the earth by winds) production process
Sea salt particles (blown from the surface of the Suspended particulate matter and chemical
sea by winds) substances created in the process of waste
disposal

Ozone (subsided from the stratosphere to the -

troposphere)
 15
Types of Air Pollutants

Primary Pollutants
CO
SO2 NO Secondary Pollutants
SO3
Most hydrocarbons
HNO3 H2SO4
Most suspended
H2O2 O3 PANs
particles
Most NO–3 and SO42 – salts
 16
Major Classes of Air Pollutants

CLASS EXAMPLES
Carbon oxides Carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2)
Sulfur oxides Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and sulfur trioxide (SO3)
Nitrogen oxides Nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrous oxide (N2O)
(NO and NO2 often are lumped together and labeled NOx)
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Methane (CH4), propane (C3H8), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Suspended particulate matter (SPM) Solid particles (dust, soot, asbestos, lead, nitrate, and sulfate
salts), liquid droplets (sulfuric acid, PCBs, dioxins, and
pesticides)
Photochemical oxidants Ozone (O3), peroxyacyl nitrates (PANs), hydrogen peroxide
(H2O2), aldehydes

Radioactive substances Radon-222, iodine-131, strontium-90, plutonium-239

Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), which cause Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), methyl chloride (CH3Cl), chloroform
health effects such as cancer, birth defects, and (CHCl3), benzene (C6H6), ethylene dibromide (C2H2Br2),
nervous system problems formaldehyde (CH2O2)
 17
Harmful Effects of Air Pollutants

AIR POLLUTANT SOURCES HARMFUL EFFECTS

Sulfur dioxide Petroleum industry, thermal power station, Causes respiratory diseases, eye irritation,
(SO2) sulfuric acid manufacturing plants, etc. throat troubles, damage to agriculture, etc.
Nitrogen dioxide Fossil fuel burning in motor vehicles (49%) Causes respiratory diseases; reduces
(NO2) and power and industrial plants (49%). visibility; acid deposition of HNO3 can
damage trees, soils, and aquatic life in lakes.
Hydrogen sulfide Petroleum industries, paper industries, Causes eye irritation, severe throat pain,
(H2S) leather industries, etc. headache, corrosion of metals, etc.
Hydrogen fluoride Fertilizer industry, aluminum industry, etc. Causes irritation, respiratory
(HF) diseases, bone disorders, tooth
disorders, etc.
Carbon monoxide Automobile industry, oil refineries, cigarette Causes headache, visual difficulty, paralysis,
(CO) smoke, etc. etc.
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Harmful Effects of Air Pollutants

AIR POLLUTANT SOURCES HARMFUL EFFECTS

Ozone Chemical reaction with volatile organic
(O3) compounds (VOCs, emitted mostly by cars and
industries) and nitrogen oxides to form
photochemical smog.
Lead Paint (old houses), smelters (metal refineries),
(Pb) lead manufacture, storage batteries, leaded
gasoline (being phased out in developed
countries).
Suspended Burning coal in power and industrial plants
particulate matter (40%), burning diesel and other fuels in
(SPM) vehicles (17%), cement industry, mines, glass
industry, ceramic industry, agricultural
industry.
Causes respiratory diseases, eye, nose, and
throat irritation, damage plants and trees,
smog can reduce visibility, etc.
Accumulates in the body; brain and other
nervous system damage and mental
retardation (especially in children); digestive
and other health problems; some lead-
containing chemicals cause cancer in test
animals; and can harm wildlife.
Causes respiratory diseases,
affects lungs, accelerates
corrosion, etc.
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Smog

Photochemical smog
• brown air smog
• caused by UV reacting with chemicals (NOx, VOCs in the atmosphere)
• found in modern cities, especially in warm, sunny areas

Industrial smog
• gray air smog
• caused by burning of fossil fuels, adds sulfur to air
• rare in developed countries now as soot is removed by filters
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Photochemical Smog
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Photochemical Smog
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Factors Influencing Smog Formation

Smog levels are influenced by:

• Local climate
• Topography
• Population Density
• Amount of industry
• Transportation
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Factors Influencing Smog Formation

REDUCE SMOG INCREASE SMOG

Precipitation Urban buildings

Salty sea spray Hills and mountains

Wind High temperatures

Reduce factory and car emissions “Grasshopper Effect”

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Health Impacts of Smog

•Breathing Problems
•Coughing, Eye Irritation
•Aggravates asthma, heart problems
•Speeds up aging of lung tissue
•Damage plants
•Reduce Visibility
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Acid Deposition

• Acidic deposition
• deposition of acidic or acid-forming pollutants from the
atmosphere onto the Earth as acid rain, acid fog, acid snow

• One type of atmospheric deposition

• Caused by reaction of pollutants like SO2 and NO with water,

oxygen, and oxidants resulting in sulfuric acid or nitric acid
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Acid Deposition
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Acid Deposition
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Acid Rain

• pH of rainwater
• normally slightly
acidic (about 5.6)
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Acid Rain

• Gases (sulfur dioxide, sulfur trioxide, and nitrogen dioxide) can react with
atmospheric water in much the same way that carbon dioxide does to
produce sulfurous acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid and nitrous acid.
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Acid Rain Formation

Wind

Transformation to
sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
and nitric acid (HNO3) Windborne ammonia gas
and particles of cultivated soil
partially neutralize acids and Wet acid deposition
form dry sulfate and nitrate salts (droplets of H2SO4 and
HNO3 dissolved in rain
Nitric oxide (NO) Dry acid and snow)
Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
deposition
and NO
(sulfur dioxide
gas and particles
Acid fog of sulfate and
nitrate salts)
Farm
Ocean Lakes in shallow
Lakes in soil low in
deep soil limestone
high in limestone become
are buffered acidic
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Effects of Acid Rain

• Decrease soil pH (more acidic)

• Decrease pH of rivers, lakes, ponds, etc

• Fish kills

• Lung/respiratory problems

• Degrade metal pipes, leading to water pollution

• Plants become susceptible to disease, parasites, etc

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Acid Rain Prevention and Solution
 33
Green House Effect

• The earth surface gets warmed

due to the blanketing effect of
pollutants like CO2 present in
the atmosphere. It is known as
green house effect.

• Gases that cause green house

effect are mainly CO2, methane,
water vapor, nitrous oxide, ozone
and chlorofluoro carbons (CFC).
These gases are called green
house gases.
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Impacts of Green House Effect

• The warming up of the earth’s surface due to green house effect is

termed as global warming.

• CO2 and other green house gases present in the atmosphere trap
the infrared radiation from the sun and do not allow the radiations
to escape. Hence the earth’s surface is warming up more and more.
 35
Harmful Effects of Global Warming Caused by Green House Effect

1. Evaporation process of surface water is enhanced very much due the

increase in temperature of earth’s surface which leads to drastic
seasonal change. Some region of the world would become dry.
2. Sea level is increased due to melting of glaciers. Hence, low lying land
areas will be submerged under sea water.
3. Food production is mainly affected and it leads to drought.
4. The tropical diseases like malarial fever, dengue fever and cholera will
spread to the other parts of the world.
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Harmful Effects of Global Warming Caused by Green House Effect

5. It causes drastic change in seasons. Hence, human beings and animals

are mostly affected by climatic change.
6. Natural calamities like cyclones, hurricane, typhoons and tsunami
may occur frequently and strongly.
7. Because of global warming, the normal weather pattern is disrupted.
Some parts of the world will face severe water crisis while the other
parts will suffer from flooding. Spring arrives earlier in many parts of
the world. An early spring may disturb animal migration.
8. Biological productivity also decreases due to global warming.
 37
Thermal Inversion

• Thermal inversion
• a layer of cool air occurs
beneath a layer of warmer
air
• Inversion layer
• the band of air in which
temperature rises with
altitude
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Thermal Inversion
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Plume

The dispersion of emitted

gases from the source of
their production is known
as plume and the source is
known as stack.
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Plume

The dispersion of a plume is influenced by:

1. plume properties
•rate of release
•temperature of release (buoyancy)
•height of release

2. environmental properties
•wind speed
•turbulence
•atmospheric stability
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Plume

Vertical expansion
of continuous
plumes related to
vertical
temperature
structure
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Emission Reduction
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Reducing Motor Vehicle Air Pollution
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Air Sampling
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Stack Gas Sampling
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Ambient Air Sampling
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Main Categories of Air Pollution

Two main categories of air pollution control devices to control and

reduce:

• Particulate Emissions

• Chemical contaminants from the gas stream including odorous

substances
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Particulate Emissions

Types of air pollution control devices commonly installed:

• Fabric filtration

• Electrostatic precipitators

• Inertial separators

• Water scrubbing devices

• Ceramic filters
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Gaseous Chemical Contaminants

Types of air pollution control devices commonly installed:

• Biofiltration

• Incineration/thermal oxidation

• Chemical scrubbing devices

• Adsorption
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Water Pollution

Water Pollution
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Water Pollution

•Water pollution simply defines “poorer water quality”.

•Water pollution means any alteration of the physical,

chemical or biological or radiological properties of a water
body resulting in the impairment of its purity or quality
(DAO 2016-08).
Causes and Occurrences of Water Pollution

1. Natural causes
• e.g., sedimentation from severe rainfall events, volcanic
eruptions and algal blooms constitute a minute amount of the
instances of world water pollution

2. Man-made/Anthrophogenic causes
• e.g., untreated wastewater from industries

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Water Pollutant

Any substance, whether solid, liquid, gaseous or radioactive,

which directly or indirectly (DAO 2016-08):
• Alters the quality of any segment of the receiving water body so as to
affect or tend to adversely affect any beneficial use thereof;
• Is hazardous or potentially hazardous to health;
• Imparts objectionable odor, temperature change or physical,
chemical, or biological change to any segment of the water body; or
• Is in excess of the allowable limits or concentrations or quality
standards specified, or in contravention of the condition, limitation of
restriction prescribed in RA 9275.
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Classes of Water Pollutants

1. Chemical water pollutants

• Chemical water pollutants are generally atoms or molecules,
which have been discharged into natural water bodies,
usually by activities of humans

2. Physical water pollutants

• Physical water pollutants are either (a) much larger particles
or (b) physical factors such as temperature change, both of
which while not typically toxic, cause a variety of harmful
effects

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Classes of Water Pollutants

3. Radioactive water pollutants

• Radioactive substances are really merely a special sub-class
of chemical pollutants, and by mass represent the smallest of
the contributors to water pollution.
• However, their potential for harm allows recognition as a
separate class.

4. Pathogenic microbial substances

• Common pathogenic microbes introduced into natural water
bodies are pathogens from untreated sewage or surface
runoff from intensive livestock grazing.
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Sources of Water Pollution

1. Point sources
• can be attributed to discrete discharge from a factory or sewage
outfall
• “any single identifiable source of pollution from which pollutants
are discharged, such as a pipe, ditch, ship or factory smokestack”

2. Non-point sources
• defined to mean any source of water pollution that does not
meet the legal definition of "point source“
• generally results from land runoff, precipitation, atmospheric
deposition, drainage, seepage or hydrologic modification
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Sources of Water Pollution

Pollutant Point Sources Non-Point Sources

Category Domestic Industrial Agricultural Urban runoff
sewage waste runoff

Oxygen-demanding material X X X X

Nutrients X X X X
Pathogens X X X X
Suspended solids/sediments X X X X

Salts X X X
Toxic metals X X
Toxic organic chemicals X X

Heat X
Source: Davis and Cornwell, Introduction to Environmental Engineering, 3ed
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Health Effects of Water Pollution

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Wastewater

• WASTEWATER is a discharged
water coming from different
uses (domestic, industrial or
others).

• It can be combined with

different inputs (pluvial,
superficial and groundwater).

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Domestic Sewage

• Domestic sewage is wastewater

discharged from sanitary conveniences
in residential, office, commercial,
factories and various institutional
properties.

• It is a complex mixture containing

primarily water (approximately 99%)
together with organic and inorganic
constituents.
• suspended, colloidal and
dissolved materials
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Domestic Sewage

• Waterborne bacterial diseases present

in sewage:
• cholera, typhoid and tuberculosis

• Viral diseases:
• infectious hepatitis

• Inorganic constituents:
• chlorides and sulfates
• various forms of nitrogen and
phosphorous
• carbonates and bicarbonates

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Industrial Wastewater

• Industrial (including agro-

industrial) wastewaters have very
varied compositions depending
on the type of industry and
materials processed.

• Some of these wastewaters can

be organically very strong, easily
biodegradable, largely inorganic,
or potentially inhibitory.

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Why Wastewater should be Treated?

• Protection of the public health (human health)

• Environmental Protection

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Why Wastewater should be Treated?

• It is a source of pathogenic microorganisms that exist in the intestines.

• It can transport toxic, mutagenic or carcinogenic compounds.
• When accumulated causes septic conditions, or the decomposition of
organic matter, leading to unpleasant odors.
• The decomposition of organic matter consumes oxygen from the
receptor medium, and in this case it is not more available to support
aquatic life.
• Wastewater contains nutrients that can lead to the growth of undesirable
plants and algae in the receptor medium (eutrophication).

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Parameters Required in an Industrial Wastewater

• Suspended solids (SS)

• Temperature
• Oil and grease (O&G)
• Organic content in terms of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) or chemical
oxygen demand (COD)
• pH
• Specific metals and/or specific organic compounds
• Nitrogen and/or phosphorus
• Indicator micro-organisms (e.g. E. Coli) or specific micro-organisms
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Wastewater Characteristics

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Physical properties of wastewater – COLOR, DENSITY & TURBIDITY

•Color:
•Fresh wastewater - light brownish gray
•With time - dark gray
•More time - black (septic)

❖Some times pink due to algae or due to industrial colors.

•Density:
•Almost the same density of water when the wastewater doesn't include
significant amount of industrial waste.

•Turbidity:
•It's a measure of the light –transmitting properties of water.
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Physical properties of wastewater – ODOR

• Odor is produced by gas production due to the decomposition of organic matter or by

substances added to the wastewater.
• Detection of odor: Portable H2S meter

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Physical properties of wastewater – SOLIDS

1. Total Solids (TS): All the matter that remains as residue upon
evaporation at 103oC to 105oC.

2. Settleable solids: Settleable solids are measured as ml/L, which is

an approximate measure of the sludge that can be removed by
primary sedimentation.

3. Suspended solids (SS) and Filterable solids (FS).

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Physical properties of wastewater – SOLIDS

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Physical properties of wastewater – TEMPERATURE

• Temperature of wastewater is commonly higher than that of water supply.

• Depending on the geographic location the mean annual temperature varies in
the range of 10 to 21oC with an average of 16oC.

•Affects chemical reactions during the wastewater treatment process.

•Affects aquatic life (Fish, …………).
•Oxygen solubility is less in warm water than cold water.
•Optimum temperature for bacterial activity is in the range of 25°C to 35°C.
•Aerobic digestion and nitrification stop when the temperature rises to 50°C. When
the temperature drops to about 15°C, methane producing bacteria become in
active.
•Nitrifying bacteria stop activity at about 5°C.

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Chemical Properties of Wastewater

• Points of concern regarding the chemical characteristics of wastewater:

-Organic matter
-Measurements of organic matter
-Inorganic matter
-Gases
-pH

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Chemical properties of wastewater – Organic matter (CaHbOc)

• 75% SS → organic. (Suspended Solids)

• 40% FS → organic. (Filtered Solids)

• Organic matter is derived from animals & plants and man activities.
•Proteins (40-60%).
•Carbohydrates (25-50%).
•Fats, Oils, and Grease (10%).

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Measurement of Organic matter (CaHbOc)

1. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)

• BOD5is the oxygen equivalent of organic matter. It is determined
by measuring the dissolved oxygen used by microorganisms
during the biochemical oxidation of organic matter in 5 days at
20oC.

2. Chemical oxygen demand (COD)

• It is the oxygen equivalent of organic matter. It is determined by
measuring the dissolved oxygen used during the chemical
oxidation of organic matter in 3 hours.

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Measurement of Organic matter (CaHbOc)

3. Total organic carbon (TOC)

• This method measures the organic carbon existing in the wastewater by
injecting a sample of the WW in special device in which the carbon is oxidized
to carbon dioxide then carbon dioxide is measured and used to quantify the
amount of organic matter in the WW. This method is only used for small
concentration of organic matter.

4. Theoretical oxygen (ThOD)

• If the chemical formula of the organic matter existing in the WW is known the
ThOD may be computed as the amount of oxygen needed to oxidize the
organic carbon to carbon dioxide and other end products.

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Chemical properties of wastewater – Inorganic matter

1. Chlorides
• High concentrations indicate that the water body has been used
for waste disposal.
• It affects the biological process in high concentrations.
2. Nitrogen
• TKN = Total Kjeldahl nitrogen.
= Organic Nitrogen + ammonia Nitrogen (120 mg/l).
3. Phosphorus
• Municipal waste contains (4-15 mg/l).
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Chemical properties of wastewater – Inorganic matter

4. Sulfur
• Sulfate exists in waste and necessary in the synthesis of proteins.

5. Toxic inorganic compounds

• Copper, lead, silver, chromium, arsenic, boron.

6. Heavy metals
• Nickels, Mn, Lead, chromium, cadmium, zinc, copper, iron
mercury.

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Chemical properties of wastewater – Gases and pH

• Gases
• The following are the main gases of concern in wastewater
treatment: N2, O2, CO2, H2S, NH3, CH4

• pH
• pH = 7 Neutral
• pH > 7 Alkaline
• pH < 7 Acidic

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Biological properties of wastewater – Bacteria

• Types: Spheroid, rod curved rod, spiral, filamentous.

• Some important bacteria:

• Pseudomonas
• Zoogloea
• Sphaerotilus natuns
• Bdellovibrio
• Acinetobacter
• Nitrosomonas
• Nitrobacter
• Coliform bacteria

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Biological properties of wastewater – Fungi, Algae, and Protozoa

• Fungi
• Important in decomposing organic matter to simple forms.

• Algae
• Cause eutrophication phenomena. (negative effect)
• Useful in oxidation ponds. (positive effect)
• Cause taste and problems when decayed. (negative effect)

• Protozoa
• Feed on bacteria so they help in the purification of treated waste water.
• Some of them are pathogenic.

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Biological properties of wastewater – Viruses and Pathogenic Organisms

• Viruses
• Viruses are a major hazard to public health.
• Some viruses can live as long as 41 days in water and wastewater at 20oC.
• They cause lots of dangerous diseases.

• Pathogenic Organisms
• The main categories of pathogens are bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and
helminthes.

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Wastewater: Sequence and Methods of Treatment

•Basis of treatment methods

•transformation of wastewater constituents on solids and gases
•removed from the water.

• This can be achieved using different:

• unit operations
• unit processes

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Wastewater: Levels of Treatment

• Preliminary
• Removal of coarse solids (e.g. rag, twig), fluctuant material (e.g.
plastic), sand and greases.

• Primary
• Physical separation of part of the suspended solids and suspended
organic matter.

• Advanced Primary
• Separation of solids and suspended organic matter improved by
using reagents or filtration.

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Wastewater: Levels of Treatment

• Secondary
• Removal of biodegradable organic matter and remained suspended
solids.
• Typically it includes biological processes.
• It can include disinfection.

• Secondary with nutrients removal:

• Removal of biodegradable organic matter, remained suspended
solids and nutrients (N, P or both).

84
Wastewater: Levels of Treatment

• Tertiary (polishing):
• Separation of residuals suspended solids, by filtration in granular
medium or micro-sieves.
• It also can include disinfection and nutrients removal.

• Advanced:
• Removal of dissolved and suspended matter that remains after
normal biological treatment.
• This level is required for water reuse applications.

85
Simplified process flow diagram for a typical large-scale treatment plant

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Soil Pollution

Soil Pollution

87
Soil Pollution

“Soil pollution” refers to the presence in the soil of a chemical or

substance out of place and/or present at a higher than normal
concentration that has adverse effects on any non-targeted organism.

Source: (FAO and ITPS, 2015).

88
Types of Soil Pollution

1. Point source pollution

2. Diffuse pollution

89
Types of Soil Pollution

1. Point source pollution

• Soil pollution can be caused by a specific event or a series of events
within a particular area in which contaminants are released to the
soil, and the source and identity of the pollution is easily identified.
Examples:
• former factory sites
• Inadequate waste and wastewater disposal
• uncontrolled landfills
• excessive application of agrochemicals
• spills of many types

90
Types of Soil Pollution
2. Diffuse pollution
• Pollution that is spread over very wide areas, accumulates in soil, and
does not have a single or easily identified source.
• Occurs where emission, transformation and dilution of contaminants in
other media have occurred prior to their transfer to soil
Examples:
• sources from nuclear power and weapons activities
• uncontrolled waste disposal and contaminated effluents released
in and near catchments
• land application of sewage sludge
• agricultural use of pesticides and fertilizers
• flood events
• atmospheric transport and deposition
• soil erosion 91
Sources of Soil Pollutants

1. Natural, Geogenic Sources

2. Anthropogenic Sources

92
Sources of Soil Pollutants

1. Natural, Geogenic Sources

• Soil parent materials are natural sources of certain heavy metals and
other elements, such as radionuclides.
• radioactive gas Radon (Rn) from soils and rocks.
• Natural events such as volcanic eruptions or forest fires.
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons naturally occuring in soils.
• Naturally occurring asbestos from ultramafic rock.

93
Sources of Soil Pollutants

2. Anthropogenic Sources

94
Sources of Soil Pollutants

2. Anthropogenic Sources
(Agricultural sources
of soil pollution)

95
Main Pollutants in Soil

96
Types of Chemical Pollutant Remediation in Soil

1. BIOREMEDIATION

2. PHYTOREMEDIATION

3. SOIL WASHING

4. STABILIZATION/ SOLIDIFICATION

5. CHEMICAL OXIDATION

97
What is Bioremediation?

• Biodegradation by microorganisms
• Mineralization - Contaminants used as a food source and
destroyed
• Cometabolism - Contaminants not used as a food source, but
transformed to less hazardous chemicals

• Immobilization by microorganisms or plants

• Removal of metals by adsorption, precipitation or
accumulation

98
Aerobic Bioremediation Process

99
Anaerobic Biodegradation

• Breakdown of organic compounds (contaminants) in the

absence of oxygen

• Alternative electron acceptor

• e.g.
•Nitrate
•Sulphate
•Metals (iron and manganese)

100
Hydrocarbon Contaminants Treatable by Bioremediation

• Crude oil and refined petroleum products

• Solvents (including a number of chlorinated hydrocarbons)
• Phenols
• Glycols
• Surfactants
• Some pesticides
• Explosives

101
What is Phytoremediation?

• The use of plants (and associated soil microorganisms) to reduce

the concentrations or toxic effects of contaminants in the
environment

• contaminants may be either organic or inorganic

• contamination in ground water and surface water

102
Organic Contaminants

• Can be (bio)degraded

Crude oil and refined Solvents (e.g. TCE)

petroleum products
(e.g. diesel)

Explosives
Pesticides (e.g. TNT)
(e.g. 2,4-D)

103
Heavy Metal Contaminants

•Can’t be (bio)degraded, can be converted from one state to another

Heavy metal Sources

As Pesticides and wood preservatives
Cd Paints and pigments, electroplating, phosphate fertilizers
Cr Tanneries, steel industries, fly ash
Cu Pesticides, fertilizers
Hg Release from Au-Ag mining and coal combustion, medical waste
Ni Industrial effluents, surgical instruments, steel alloys, batteries
Pb Leaded petrol (aerial deposition), battery manufacture,
herbicides and insecticides

104
Difference between Bioremediation and Phytoremediation

105
What is Soil Washing?

• An ex situ soil separation processes mostly based on mineral

processing techniques for the treatment of contaminated soil.

• A water-based process for scrubbing soils ex situ to remove

contaminants.

106
Contaminants Treatable by Soil Washing

• Semi Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOC)

• Fuels
• Heavy metals
• Some selected Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
• Pesticides

107
Six Different Steps in Soil Washing

1. Pretreatment
2. Separation
3. Coarse-grained
treatment
4. Fine-grained
treatment
5. Process water
treatment
6. Residuals
management
Schematic of Soil Washing Process (from US EPA 1996)
108
Stabilization and Solidification

• A group of cleanup methods that prevent or slow the

release of harmful chemicals from wastes
• contaminated soil

• sediment

• sludge

109
Stabilization and Solidification

• Stabilization

• Limiting mobility of contaminant (absorption etc..)

• Solidification

• Relevant for liquid wastes

• Geotechnical properties

110
Types of Contaminants Treated by Stabilization and Solidification

• Inorganics

• Heavy metals

• Organics

• Petroleum hydrocarbons

• Polyaromatic hydrocarbons

111
Binders Used in Stabilization and Solidification

• Cement

• Blastfurnace slag

• Pulverized fuel ash

• Lime

• Clay

112
Stabilization and Solidification Process

• Mixing of inorganic cementitious or pozzolanic binders into a ‘solid’

material = low leachability

• Reduced leachability

• Physical encapsulation

• Chemical immobilization

113
Stabilization and Solidification Process

Rajesh Singh, 2015

114
Stabilization and Solidification Process

•S/S Transformation of Waste Material

Rajesh Singh, 2015

115
Stabilization and Solidification Process

116
What is Chemical Oxidation Method?

• Oxidation chemically converts hazardous contaminants to non-hazardous or

less toxic compounds that are more stable, less mobile, and/or inert
• In situ chemical oxidation (ISCO)
• A technique whereby an oxidant is introduced into the subsurface to
chemically oxidize organic contaminants changing them to harmless
substances
• Ex situ chemical oxidation (ESCO)
• A technique whereby involves mixing an oxidizing compound with
contaminated groundwater in a vessel
Chemical Oxidation Method is Suitable for:

• MTBE
• Chlorinated solvents (PCE, TCE, DCA)
• Polychlorinated Biphenols (PCBs)
• Pentachlorophenol (PCPs)
• Solvent stabilizers
• Free product or hot spots
• Fuel hydrocarbons and BTEX
• Pesticides (DDT, DDE, etc.)
Common Oxidizing Agents used in Chemical Oxidation

• Ozone (O3)
• Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as Fenton’s Reagent
• Hypochlorites (ClO−)
• Chlorine (Cl)
• Chlorine dioxide (ClO2)
• Permanganate (KMnO4)

• The oxidants have been capable of achieving high treatment efficiencies (>
90%) for unsaturated aliphatic (e.g., trichloroethylene [TCE]) and aromatic
compounds (e.g., benzene), with very fast reaction rates (90% destruction in
minutes)
Typical Chemical Oxidation System

https://frtr.gov/
Green Technology and Green Chemistry

Green Technology
and
Green Chemistry
121
Green Technology

• also known as environmental technology and clean technology.

• a technology which is environmentally friendly, developed and used

in such a way so that it doesn’t disturb our environment and
conserves natural resources.

122
Green Technology

GREEN TECHNOLOGY REFERS TO PRODUCTS, EQUIPMENT OR

SYSTEMS WHICH SATISFY THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
a) It minimizes the degradation of the environment;
b) It has zero or low greenhouse gas (GHG) emission is safe for use
and promotes healthy and improved environment for all forms
of life;

c) It conserves the use of energy and natural resources;

d) It promotes the use of renewable resources.

123
Goals of Green Technology

➢Reduce Recycle

➢Recycle
Reduce Refuse
➢Refuse

➢Renew
Response Renew

➢Responsibility

124
Branches of Green Technology

• Green Information Technology

• Green Building

• Green Energy

• Green Nanotechnology

• Green Chemistry

125
Green Information Technology

• also known as green computing.

• describes the study and the using of computer resources in an

efficient way.

• starts with manufacturers producing environmentally friendly

products and encouraging IT departments to consider more friendly
options like virtualization, power management and proper recycling
habits.
126
Green Building

• The practice of increasing the efficiency of buildings and their use of

energy, water and materials and reducing building impacts on
human health and environment through better design, construction,
operation, and maintenance.

127
Examples of Green Technology

BAHRAIN WORLD TRADE

CENTRE, MANAMA

128
Examples of Green Technology

NATIONAL LIBRARY, SINGAPORE

129
Examples of Green Technology

BC CANCER AGENCY RESEARCH CENTRE, VANCOUVER, CANADA

130
Green Energy

• comes from natural sources such as sunlight, wind,

rain, tides, plants, algae and geothermal heat.

• Also known as renewable energy.

131
Types of Green Energy

• Solar power

• Wind power

• Water power

• Geothermal energy

• Biofuel

• Biogas

132
Green Nanotechnology

• refers to the use of nanotechnology to enhance the environmental

sustainability of processes producing negative externalities.

• aims to minimize potential environmental and human health risks

associated with the manufacture and use of nanotechnology
products, and to encourage replacement of existing products with
new nanoproducts that are more environmentally friendly
throughout their lifecycle.

133
Example of Green Nanotechnology

• Solar cells are more efficient as they get tinier and Nanotechnology
is already used to provide improved performance coatings for
photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal panels.

• PV covered with nanotechnology coatings are said to stay cleaner

for longer to ensure maximum energy efficiency is maintained.

134
Green Chemistry

• Green Chemistry is the application of specific principles to

design, produce, manipulate and utilize chemical products

that avoids or reduce the use or the formation of hazardous

or toxic substances.

135
Green Chemistry

• Clean Chemistry

• Atom Economy

• Benign by Design Chemistry

• Eco-Friendly Chemistry

• Environmentally Benign Chemistry

• Sustainable Chemistry and also

• E-Chemistry
136
The 12 Principles of Green Chemistry (Anastas And Warner, 1998)

1. Prevent waste: Design chemical syntheses to prevent waste. Leave no

waste to treat or clean up.
2. Maximize atom economy: Design syntheses so that the final product
contains the maximum proportion of the starting materials. Waste
few or no atoms.
3. Design less hazardous chemical syntheses: Design syntheses to use
and generate substances with little or no toxicity to either humans or
the environment.

137
The 12 Principles of Green Chemistry (Anastas And Warner, 1998)

4. Design safer chemicals and products: Design chemical products that

are fully effective yet have little or no toxicity.
5. Use safer solvents and reaction conditions: Avoid using solvents,
separation agents, or other auxiliary chemicals. If you must use these
chemicals, use safer ones.
6. Increase energy efficiency: Run chemical reactions at room
temperature and pressure whenever possible.

138
The 12 Principles of Green Chemistry (Anastas And Warner, 1998)

7. Use renewable feedstocks: Use starting materials (also known as

feedstocks) that are renewable rather than depletable.
8. Avoid chemical derivatives: Avoid using blocking or protecting groups
or any temporary modifications if possible.
9. Use catalysts, not stoichiometric reagents: Minimize waste by using
catalytic reactions.

139
The 12 Principles of Green Chemistry (Anastas And Warner, 1998)

10. Design chemicals and products to degrade after use: Design

chemical products to break down to innocuous substances after use
so that they do not accumulate in the environment.
11. Analyze in real time to prevent pollution: Include in-process, real-
time monitoring and control during syntheses to minimize or
eliminate the formation of byproducts.
12. Minimize the potential for accidents: Design chemicals and their
physical forms (solid, liquid, or gas) to minimize the potential for
chemical accidents including explosions, fires, and releases to the
environment.
140
The Goals of Green Chemistry: A Minimalistic Chemistry

√ Reduction of inputs of feedstock and energy

√ Reduction of synthetic steps and time
√ Reduction of waste and emission
√ Reduction of byproducts formation
√ Reduction of hazard of plants and reagents
√ Reduction of toxicity of chemical products and of byproducts
√ Reduction of environmental impact
√ Reduction of life time of waste in the environment
141
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