Carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion

Carbon Dioxide from Fossil Fuel Combustion... 

Seasonal fluctuations are primarily due to summertime maxima and wintertime minima in the net rate of photosynthesis, which removes CO2 from the atmosphere. The long-term trend, however, is clearly upward, and reflects anthropogenic releases of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion, land alteration (in large part, the clearing and burning of tropical forests for agriculture), and, to a lesser extent, cement production. 

Also, by the very nature of chemical transformations, there are almost always unused chemicals remaining. These chemical leftovers include contaminants in the raw materials, incompletely converted raw materials, unavoidable coproducts, unselective reaction by-products, spent catalysts, and solvents. There have long been efforts to minimize the production of such waste products, and to recover and reuse those that cannot be eliminated. For those that cannot be reused, some different use has been sought, and as a last resort, efforts have been made to safely dispose of whatever remains. The same efforts apply to any leftovers from the production of the energy from the fuels produced or consumed by the processing industries. Of particular immediate and increasing concern are the potential detrimental effects of carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere from fossil fuel combustion, as discussed further in Chapters 9 and 10. 

About 98% of carbon emissions result from fossil fuel combustion. Reducing the use of fossil fuels would considerably reduce the amount of carbon dioxide... 

On the global-scale, the destruction of ozone by halocarbons was addressed in the U.S. by banning chlorofluorocarbons in aerosol products. The release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere from fossil fuel combustion wil1 continue well into or through the twenty-first century. Energy requirements of nations of the temperate zone will require combustion of gas, oil and coal and the atmospheric burden of carbon dioxide will continue to increase with uncertain consequences. 

Economic and social research on the factors which will determine future emissions of carbon dioxide. This should include the probable rise of future rates of world energy use and the future misuse of energy sources — that is, the ratio of energy from fossil fuel combustion to that from other energy sources. Also needed are better estimates of possible future changes in the areas of forests. 

TABLE 1.9 Carbon Dioxide Generated from Fossil Fuel Combustion by World Region and the 10 Highest Energy-Consuming Countries"... 

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Fossil Fuel Combustion, and Human and Animal Respiration... 

There are subtle reasons why venting carbon dioxide from trash incineration is of far less concern than the venting of the same gas from fossil fuel combustion reactions. Large portions of the carbon compounds in domestic trash are paper and food wastes. Only a few years ago the carbon contained in these plant products was part of the atmosphere. On a long-term basis, returning this carbon to the atmosphere has no effect on the overall carbon dioxide balance it simply speeds up the rate of recycle of carbon from plant material to the biosphere. 

Of course, with a carbon dioxide buildup in the atmosphere from fossil fuel combustion (causing global warming), normal atmospheric concentrations continue to be exceeded. Thus, algae may provide a resolution. 

The EPA Method 6 provides procedures for measuring sulfur dioxide emissions from stationary sources where the gas sample is extracted from the exhaust stack. Ammonia, water-soluble cations, and fluorides cause interferences with SOx measurements. Method 6A concerns sulfur dioxide, moisture, and carbon dioxide measurements from fossil fuel combustion sources by chemically separating the SO2 and CO2 components, where different reagent chemicals are used. Method 6C discusses the use of instrument analyzers to measure... 

Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion will accumulate and accelerate the greenhouse warming mechanisms underlying global warming. 

The two primary GHGs associated with oil and gas exploration and production are carbon dioxide (CO2) from fossil fuel combustion and methane (CH4) from leaks, venting, and fugitive emissions. According to scientists, the global warming potential (GWP) for CH4 is 21 times greater than for CO2. 

Industrial systems are largely dependent on the utilization of fossil fuels, so many environmental effects are due to fossil fuel extraction and combustion. Greenhouse-warming carbon dioxide emissions, acid gas emissions, smog-forming hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, and deterioration of atmospheric quality from particles released from fossil fuel combustion are all atmospheric effects associated with fossil fuel combustion. Coal mining activities have the potential to release acid mine water to the hydrosphere, petroleum production can release brines or result in ocean oil spills. 

The two most important environmental hazards faced by humankind today are air pollution and global warming. Both have a direct link with our current overdependence on fossil fuels. Pollutants produced from combustion of hydrocarbons now cause even more health problems due to the urbanization of world population. The net increase in environmental carbon dioxide from combustion is a suspect cause for global warming, which is endangering the Earth—the only known place to support human life. In addition, the import of expensive hydrocarbon fuel has become a heavy burden on many countries, causing political and economic unrest. 

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