The challenge of acid rain

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Scientific American; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican0888-30· OSTI ID:6730299

Mohnen, V A

Acid rain's effects in soil and water leave no doubt about the need to control its causes. The main culprits are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, mainly from automobiles and power plants. This paper explains the extent of the problem in the USA. This paper also discusses environmentally and economically attractive technologies for the control of these pollutants: atmospheric fluidized bed combustion with limestone injection; pressurized fluidized bed combustion;and coal gasification/combined-cycle power generation. Retrofitting of existing plants with flue gas desulfurization equipment offers the fastest way to reduce emissions immediately.

• OSTI ID: 6730299
• Journal Information: Scientific American; (USA), Journal Name: Scientific American; (USA) Vol. 259:2; ISSN SCAMA; ISSN 0036-8733
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540220 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540320 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACID RAIN
ACIDIZATION
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
BOILERS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
COAL GASIFICATION
COMBINED-CYCLE POWER PLANTS
DEPOSITION
ECONOMICS
FLUIDIZED BED BOILERS
FORESTS
GASIFICATION
LAKES
LAND POLLUTION
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POWER PLANTS
PRESSURIZING
RAIN
SOILS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SURFACE WATERS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
USA
WATER POLLUTION
WATERSHEDS