SULFUR AND NITROGEN EMISSION TRENDS FOR THE U.S.

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SULFUR AND NITROGEN EMISSION TRENDS FOR THE U.S.

• Adam Shaw
• ME 449
• February 4, 2002

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Background

• Fossil Fuels are the most common and significant
  cause of sulfur and nitrogen emissions from
  industrial activities.
• In order to fully understand the environmental
  effects of sulfur and nitrogen emissions, it is
  necessary to trace the changes in these emissions
  over time.
• Changes in industrial production levels over
  time, including changes due to economic factors,
  wars, and technology advances, have greatly
  affected emission levels and must be considered
  to fully understand the distribution of these
  materials.

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SULFUR PRODUCTION AND EMISSIONS

• Sulfur emissions are often caused by coal
  burning.
• Coal from different geographic areas contain
  different concentrations of impurities such as
  sulfur.
• The sulfur emissions in a particular area is
  determined not only by the amount of coal that is
  used, but also the sulfur concentration of the
  coal, which is largely determined by where the
  coal is mined.

Estimated average sulfur content of coal consumed
in the United States in 1978
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NITROGEN OXIDES EMISSIONS

• NOx emissions are contributed by the
  transportation sector (45), power plants (35),
  and industrial sources (25)
• Most nitrogen oxide emissions are caused by the
  high temperature combustion of fossil fuels such
  as industrial boilers and internal combustion
  engines such as in automobiles.
• The released nitrogen emissions can combine with
  atmospheric gases to produce compounds that are
  toxic to humans and biota.

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Trends in Sulfur and Nitrogen Emissions
Nitrogen Emissions
Sulfur Emissions

• Sulfur Emissions fluctuated the beginning of the
  century
• fluctuations can be associated with major wars,
  economic recessions, and advancements in fuel
  technology
• SO2 concentrations have declined in urban areas
  and risen dramatically in rural areas.
• Nitrogen Oxide concentrations have increased
  steadily since around 1970.

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Summary

• Sulfur emissions in a particular region depend on
  the amount of coal used as well as the sulfur
  concentration of the coal, which largely depends
  on the area from which it was mined.
• Sulfur emissions have fluctuated for most of the
  century, while Nitrogen oxide emissions have
  increased steadily.
• Coal is the major source of sulfur emissions,
  while nitrogen oxide emissions are mainly caused
  by industrial boilers and internal combustion
  engines.

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What I learned

• Sulfur emissions do not depend solely on the
  amount of coal or fossil fuels used, but also the
  cleanliness of the coal
• Sulfur emissions have not increased steadily but
  fluctuate due to wars, economic recessions, and
  other factors
• Sulfur emissions have decreased in urban areas
  while increasing in rural areas.