improving air quality

Question 1

Atmospheric pollution caused by the exhaust gases given out by motor vehicles can be reduced by:

Answer 1

burning less fuel by having more efficient engines
using low sulfur fuels
using catalytic converters, which convert nitrogen monoxide to nitrogen and oxygen, and carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide
adjusting the balance between public and private transport, with more people using buses and trains instead of cars
setting legal limits on exhaust emissions that are enforced through Ministry of Transport (MOT) tests.

Question 2

Clouds of smoke and other combustion products are emitted from chimneys. Power stations that burn fossil fuels to produce …………… are one of the main contributors of ……….. …………….in the atmosphere.

Answer 2

Clouds of smoke and other combustion products are emitted from chimneys. Power stations that burn fossil fuels to produce elecrticity are one of the main contributors of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Question 3

What is wet scrubbing?

Answer 3

Wet scrubbing involves the removal of sulfur dioxide from flue gases before it escapes from the power station chimney. Two methods are employed:
spraying the flue gases with seawater droplets (naturally alkaline) which react with the sulfur dioxide
using powdered lime (calcium oxide) mixed with water to form an alkaline slurry. When mixed with air and sprayed with the slurry the sulfur dioxide in the flue gases reacts and forms solid calcium sulphate. This solid is removed allowing cleaned gases to escape.

Question 4

Power stations give out sulfur dioxide, which is thought to be a cause of acid rain. The amount of sulfur dioxide given off by a power station can be reduced by:
?

Answer 4

Power stations give out sulfur dioxide, which is thought to be a cause of acid rain. The amount of sulfur dioxide given off by a power station can be reduced by:
removing sulfur from natural gas and fuel oil
removing sulfur dioxide from the flue gases emitted by coal-burning power stations.

Question 5

Name some ways to use less electricity. ?

Answer 5

Some ways to do this are:
turning down the heating at home
insulating your home
turning off lights when you leave a room
using low-energy lamps
using a microwave instead of an electric oven
not leaving TV sets on standby.

Question 6

Coal-powered stations give off solid particulates. These can also be removed from the flue gases. How?

Answer 6

Coal-powered stations give off solid particulates. These can also be removed from the flue gases. Waste gases pass through an electrostatic precipitator allowing particulates to be collected and removed.