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Module 6: Air Pollutants and Control Techniques
This Module provides an introduction to the characteristics, formation mechanisms, and control techniques of the major categories of air pollutants. Pollutant characteristics determine the types of air pollution control techniques that can be used to minimize emissions.
Many of the pollutants discussed in this Module (particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone, and carbon monoxide) are designated as criteria pollutants by the U.S. EPA and are regulated under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The NAAQS regulate common pollutants that, if not regulated, could occur in the ambient air at levels deleterious to human health. Volatile organic compounds are considered to be primary pollutants because they photochemically react with nitrogen oxides to form ozone. Even though dioxins and furans are emitted in small quantities, they are important pollutants to control due to their high toxicity. Hydrogen halides are one of the more common hazardous air pollutants covered by Title III of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. The regulations associated with the Clean Air Act are discussed in Module 7.
After completing this Module you will be able to do the following:
- List the major categories of air pollutants.
- Describe the major characteristics of each category of air pollutant.
- Describe the major formation mechanisms for each category of air pollutant.
- Identify the types of control techniques used for minimizing the emission of various types of air pollutants.
- Evaluate the general applicability of various types of air pollution control systems for the removal of the major categories of air pollutants.
References
Additional information concerning particle behavior is available in the following publication.
Cooper, C. D. and F. C. Alley. 1990. Air Pollution Control: A Design Approach. Prospect Heights, Il: Waveland Press.