AIR POLLUTION TUTORIAL QUESTIONS

PART 1: Measurement of Gases

1. A stack gas contains carbon monoxide (CO) at a concentration of 10% by volume. What
is the concentration of CO in µg/m3 (Assume 25°C and 1 atmosphere pressure and 1%
volume is 10 000ppm).

The concentration in ppm makes use of the fact that 1% by volume is 10,000 ppm

10 x 10 000 ppm = 100 000 ppm

MW of C0= 28g/mol’
𝑀𝑊 𝑋 1000
µg/m3 = 𝑥 𝑝𝑝𝑚
24.5

28 𝑋 1000
µg/m3 = 24.5
𝑥 100 000 = 114µ𝑔/𝑚 3

2. The primary ambient air quality standard for NO is 100 µg/m3. What is this in ppm?

(Assume 298 K and 104.2 atm pressure, va= 1.00m3.

𝑀𝑝 𝑇2 101.325
𝑥 22.414 𝑥 𝑋
𝐺𝑀𝑊/𝑀𝑊 273 𝑃2
ppm = =
𝑉𝑎 𝑥 1000 𝐿/𝑚 3

MW of NO = 14+16 = 30g/mol
100µg 298 101.325
𝑥 22.414 𝑥 𝑋
30 273 104.2 = 2.379 𝑝𝑝𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑂
1.00𝑚 3 𝑥 1000 𝐿/𝑚 3
3. The concentration of carbon monoxide in a smoke-filled room can reach as high as 500
ppm.
a. What is this in ug/m? (Assume 104.5 atm and 298 K.)
𝑀𝑊 𝑋 1000
µg/m3 = 24.5
𝑥 𝑝𝑝𝑚

MW of C0= 28g/mol’
28 𝑋 1000
µg/m3 = 24.5
𝑥 500 = 571 428.57µ𝑔/𝑚 3

b. . What effect would this have on people who are sitting around having a political
discussion for 4 h?

c) What could be the possible source of CO in the room meeting?

PART 2: Measurement of Particulates/Pollutant particles

4. A clean filter is found to weigh 10.00g. After the 24 hour in a high-volume sampler (hi-
vol) the filter plus the dust weighs 10.10g. The air flows at the start and end of the test
are 1700L/min and 1100L/min, respectively. What is the concentration of the
dust/particulate:

Conc= mass/volume

𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡/𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 = 𝑀𝑒 − 𝑀𝑖

= (10.10-10.0) g x (106µg/g)

mass= 0.1 x 106

1700 𝐿/ min +1100
Average air flow = 2
= 1400𝐿/𝑚𝑖𝑛

Total air through the filter = (1400L/min) x (60min/hr) (24hr/d) (1d)

= 2 016 000 L / 2016 m3

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 0.1 x 106µ𝑔
conc of particulates = 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 2016 𝑚 3
= 50µ𝑔/𝑚 3

5. The data for a high-volume sampler (hi-vol) are as follows:

Clean filter: 20.0 g

Dirty filter: 20.5 g

Initial air flow: 2000 L/min

Final air flow: 1400 L/min

Time: 24h

a) What is the weight of the particulates collected?

Conc= mass/volume

𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡/𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 = 𝑀𝑒 − 𝑀𝑖

= (20.5-20 ) g x (106µg/g)

mass= 0.5 x 106 6µg

b) What is the dust/particulate concentration in µg?

(2000+1400)
Average air flow = 2
= 1700𝐿/𝑚𝑖𝑛

Total air through the filter = volume = (1700L/min) x (60min/hr) (24hr/d) (1d)

= 58 752 000 L or 58 752 m3

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 0.5 x 106µ𝑔
conc of particulates = 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 58 752 𝑚 3
= 8.51µ𝑔/𝑚 3
 c) Was the NAAQS exceeded over a period of 24hr?

6. During a 2-week-long major air pollution episode in London in 1952, it is estimated that
25 000 tonnes of coal that had an average sulfur content of about 4% were burned per
week. The mixing depth (height of the inversion layer or cap over the city that prevented
the pollutants from escaping) was about 150 m over an area of 1200 km. If initially there
was no SO2, in the atmosphere (a conservative assumption), what is the expected SO 2,
concentration at the end of the 2 weeks?

Use material balance

Rate of SO2 Rate of SO2 Rate of SO2 Rate of SO2 Rate of SO2
accumulated IN OUT = 0 Produced = 0 Consumed =0

The rate of SO out was zero because nothing escaped from under this haze hood. The rate
produced and consumed is also zero if it is assumed that sulfur oxide was not create nor
destroyed in the atmosphere. The rate of SO, concentration increasing in the box is constant.

1st Calculate S02 emitted per week

25 000 𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑎𝑙 4 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑆 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑆 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑆𝑂2 64 𝑆𝑂2
=( 𝑥 ( )𝑥 ( )𝑥 ( )𝑥 ( ) = 2000 𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑠/𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑘
𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑘 100 𝑐𝑜𝑎𝑙 32 𝑔 𝑆 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑆 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑆𝑂2

Concentration of SO2 in the air at the beginning is assumed to be = 0,

Week 1 = 2000 tonnes

Week 2= 4000 tonnes,

Therefore, accumulation in the air at the end of the 2 weeks is 4000 tonnes of SO 2

Conc = mass/volume

Mass = 4000 tonnes ,

Volume = ( Area x mixing depth) = 1200km2 (103)2 x 150m= 1.8 x 1011 m3

Concentration for gases should be in ppm/ µgm3 , therefore convert mass to µg.
4000 𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑠 𝑥 (106 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑥 106 µ𝑔)
𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐 = 1.8𝑥 10 11
= 22 222.22 µgm3

7. At a local power station coal is burned at a rate of 1.00 kg per second. If the analysis of
the coal reveals a sulfur content of 3.00 %.

a) What is the annual rate of emission of SO2 produced (gas ?+ash) ,

b) What is the annual rate of Sulfur in ash (assume 5% of input S becomes ash)?
c) What is the annual rate of SO2 Gas produced?
 1.0𝑘𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑎𝑙 3 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑆 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑆 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑆𝑂2 64 𝑆𝑂2
𝑥 ( )𝑥 ( )𝑥 ( )𝑥 ( ) = 0.06 𝑘𝑔/𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑠𝑒𝑐 100 𝑐𝑜𝑎𝑙 32 𝑔 𝑆 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑆 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑆𝑂2
What is the annual rate of emission of SO2 produced (gas ?+ash)
𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑
𝑆𝑂2 = 0.06 𝑘𝑔/ sec 𝑥 86400 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑥 365 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 = 1 892 160 𝑘𝑔 (𝑔𝑎𝑠 + 𝑎𝑠ℎ)
𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑙
What is the annual rate of S ash produced (assume 5% of input S becomes ash)?

5
Total SO2 produced 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟 = 1 892 160 𝑘𝑔 𝑥 ( ) = 94 608 𝑘𝑔/𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟
100
Alternatively:
5
0.06 𝑘𝑔/ sec 𝑥 ( ) = 0.0003
100
𝑘𝑔
0.0003 𝑥 𝑥 86400 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑥 365 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 = 94 608 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑠ℎ 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑
𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟
Total S02 Gas produced gas = 1 892 160 𝑘𝑔 − 94 608 = 1 797 552 𝑘𝑔/𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟

PART 3: INDOOR AIR

In calculating the ventilation of any enclosure, such as a home or office, Engineers use the
concept of air change defined as
𝑄
𝑎=
𝑉
a = Air changes per hour is simply the number of times all of the air in a room is replaced
with completely new air, in one hour.

a= number of air changes per hour, 1/h

Q= flow rate, m3/h

V= volume of enclosure, m3

8. A small room is to be used for a copy machine and there is concern that the ozone layer
may be too high unless the room is ventilated. The volume of the room is 20 000 L and it
is recommended that the number of air changes per hour be 30.
What flow if air must the fan deliver?
𝑄
𝑎=
𝑉
𝑄 = 𝑎 𝑥 𝑣 = ( 30ℎ𝑟)(20 000𝐿 ) = 600 000𝐿/ℎ
9. A woodburning stove operates for 4hr in a room measuring 5 x 5x 2.5 m, with a
ventilation of 0.5 air change per hour. After 1 hour the CO level reaches 5 mg/m3 and
remains there for 3 h. Assume that the ventilation air has negligible CO and that CO
does not decay. (0.5 hour = 30/hr)

a) At what rate does the stove emit CO?

𝑄 = 𝑎 𝑥 𝑣 = ( 30 ℎ𝑟) 𝑥 (5 𝑥 5𝑥 2.5) = 1875 𝑚3/ℎ

b) If this stove is used in a small hut measuring 2 x 3 x 3m, what would be the CO
concentration in the hut?
V= 18 m3
𝑄 = 𝑎 𝑥 𝑣 = ( 30 ℎ𝑟) 𝑥 (18) = 540 𝑚3/ℎ

𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 5 𝑚𝑔/𝑚3
𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐 = 𝑉
= 18 𝑚3
= 0.2777 mg/m3

c) Is it correct for represent the CO concentration in mg/m3?

PART 4: OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTION DISPERSION

10. On a clear summer afternoon with a windspeed of 3.20 m/s , the particulate
concentration was found to be 1.520 µg/m3 at a point 2km downwind and 0.5km
perpendicular to the plume centreline from a coal to fired power plant. Given the
following parameters, determine the particulate emission rate of the power plant:

Stack parameters:

Exit velocity = 12.0 m/s

Height = 75.0 m

Diameter= 1.50 m

Temperature = 322°C

Atmospheric conditions:

Pressure= 100.0 kPa

Temperature = 28.0°C
11. Calculate the downwind concentration at 30 km (y = 0) in g/m3 resulting from the
emission of 1979 g/s of S02 into a 2.5m/s wind at 1:00am on a clear winter night.
Assume an effective stack height of 85m and an inversion layer at 185m. Identify the
stability class and show all your work

PART 5: NOISE
 12. What sound power level results from the combining the following three sound levels:

68dB, 79dB & 75dB.

Lw= 10 log ∑ 1068/10 + 1075/10 + 1079/10

10 log ∑ 117 365 173 = 80.7 𝑑𝐵

13. Compute the mean sound level from the above sound levels?
1 𝑁 𝐿𝑗
𝐿𝑝 = 20 𝐿𝑜𝑔 ∑𝑗=1 10 ⁄20
𝑁
Lp= average sound pressure level, dB re: 20µPa

N= number of measurements

Lj= the jth sound meter level,

J= 1,2, 3, 4,

To calculate the average, get the sum of the sound level first.

∑𝑁=3
𝑗=1
; ∑ 1068/20 + 1075/20 + 1079/20 = 17 047.81

17 047.81
20 log ∑ = 75.09𝑑𝐵
3
14. Compute the mean sound level from the 4 readings all in dB? 38; 51, 68, & 78

𝑁=4
∑𝑗=1 ; ∑ 1038/20 + 1051/20 + 1068/20 + 1078/20 = 10 889.41

10 889.41
20 log ∑ = 68.69 𝑑𝐵
4