You need JavaScript to view this

Environmental effects of fossil fuel combustion

Abstract

Fossil fuel which include natural gas, petroleum, shale oil and bitumen are the main source of heat and electrical energy. All these fuels contain beside major constituents (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen) other materials as metal, sulfur and nitrogen compounds. During the combustion process different pollutants as fly ash, sulfur oxides (SO{sub 2} and SO{sub 3}), nitrogen oxides (NO{sub x} NO + NO{sub 2}) and volatile organic compounds are emitted. Fly ash contain different trace elements (heavy metals). Gross emission of pollutants is tremendous all over the world. These pollutants are present in the atmosphere in such conditions that they can affect man and his environment. Air pollution caused by the particulate matter and other pollutants not only acts directly on environment but by contamination of water and soil leads to their degradation. Wet and dry deposition of inorganic pollutants leads to acidification of environment. These phenomena affect health of the people, increase corrosion, destroy cultivated soil and forests. Most of the plants, especially coniferous trees are not resistant to sulfur and nitrogen oxides. Following longer exposure leaves wither and fall. Widespread forest damage has been reported in Europe and North America regions. Many cultivated plants are not resistant to these pollutants  More>>
Authors:
Publication Date:
Jul 01, 1999
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
INCT-4/B/99
Reference Number:
EDB-00:102662
Resource Relation:
Other Information: 18 refs, 12 figs, 13 tabs; PBD: 1999
Subject:
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS; ACID RAIN; AIR POLLUTION; ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY; FLUE GAS; FLY ASH; FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS; GREENHOUSE EFFECT; NITROGEN OXIDES; PUBLIC HEALTH; SULFUR DIOXIDE
OSTI ID:
20034986
Research Organizations:
Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Warsaw (Poland)
Country of Origin:
Poland
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ISSN 1425-7351; TRN: PL0000392003493
Availability:
Available from INIS in electronic form
Submitting Site:
INIS
Size:
47 pages
Announcement Date:
Dec 04, 2000

Citation Formats

Chmielewski, A G. Environmental effects of fossil fuel combustion. Poland: N. p., 1999. Web.
Chmielewski, A G. Environmental effects of fossil fuel combustion. Poland.
Chmielewski, A G. 1999. "Environmental effects of fossil fuel combustion." Poland.
@misc{etde_20034986,
title = {Environmental effects of fossil fuel combustion}
author = {Chmielewski, A G}
abstractNote = {Fossil fuel which include natural gas, petroleum, shale oil and bitumen are the main source of heat and electrical energy. All these fuels contain beside major constituents (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen) other materials as metal, sulfur and nitrogen compounds. During the combustion process different pollutants as fly ash, sulfur oxides (SO{sub 2} and SO{sub 3}), nitrogen oxides (NO{sub x} NO + NO{sub 2}) and volatile organic compounds are emitted. Fly ash contain different trace elements (heavy metals). Gross emission of pollutants is tremendous all over the world. These pollutants are present in the atmosphere in such conditions that they can affect man and his environment. Air pollution caused by the particulate matter and other pollutants not only acts directly on environment but by contamination of water and soil leads to their degradation. Wet and dry deposition of inorganic pollutants leads to acidification of environment. These phenomena affect health of the people, increase corrosion, destroy cultivated soil and forests. Most of the plants, especially coniferous trees are not resistant to sulfur and nitrogen oxides. Following longer exposure leaves wither and fall. Widespread forest damage has been reported in Europe and North America regions. Many cultivated plants are not resistant to these pollutants either especially in the early period vegetation. The mechanisms of pollutants transformation in atmosphere are described by environmental chemistry. An important role in these transformations plays photochemistry. SO{sub 2} and NO{sub x} are oxidized and sulfuric and nitric acids are formed in presence of water vapours, fog and droplets. Other problem discussed connected with human activities is emission of volatile organic compounds to the atmosphere. These emissions cause stratospheric ozone depletion, ground level photochemical ozone formation, toxic or carcinogenic human health effects, enhancing the global greenhouse effect, accumulation and persistence in environment. Wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) can be applied for flue gas treatment and SO{sub 2} and NO{sub x} emission control. (author)}
place = {Poland}
year = {1999}
month = {Jul}
}