Carbon monoxide global warming

Fenner (11) has pointed out that short-lifetime constituents of the atmosphere such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and nonmethane hydrocarbons may also play roles related to global warming because of their chemical relations to the longer-lived greenhouse gases. Also, SO, with a very short life interacts with ozone and other constituents to be converted to particulate sulfate, which has effects on cloud droplet formation. 

Natural gas will continue to be substituted for oil and coal as primary energy source in order to reduce emissions of noxious combustion products particulates (soot), unburned hydrocarbons, dioxins, sulfur and nitrogen oxides (sources of acid rain and snow), and toxic carbon monoxide, as well as carbon dioxide, which is believed to be the chief greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. Policy implemented to curtail carbon emissions based on the perceived threat could dramatically accelerate the switch to natural gas. 

There are two interesting molecules that are derived from carbon and oxygen alone. Earlier, we encountered carbon dioxide, CO2, as a constituent of our atmosphere, a product of the combustion of fossil fuels, and a major contributor to global warming. An even simpler molecule is carbon monoxide, CO, a toxic gas and a minor product of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. 

Conversely, generating hydrogen from sustainable sources would reduce emissions of carbon monoxide and NOx, with a consequent fall in tropospheric ozone levels. This would improve air quality in many regions of the world. Furthermore, C02 emissions would be reduced, thereby slowing the global warming trend. 

Acetic acid produced by fermentation does not involve toxic carbon monoxide or methanol, nor expensive rhodium. Products from petroleum or natural gas are cheaper because they do not include the cost of natural resource depletion or of global warming. (See Chap. 17 for a discussion of such costs.) It is also possible that application of some of the newer techniques will improve the fermentations so that they give better yields and are more cost-competitive. This is one of the keys to a sustainable future.19 Industrial research in this area is increasing.20... 

Titanium dioxide (hut more importantly titanium-containing materials with more dispersed titanium atoms) shows potential for use in the fixation of carbon dioxide via photocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide and water into carbon monoxide, formic acid, methanol, and methane. Such an artificial photosynthesis of carbon-containing compounds would obviously be extremely valuable both in the production of solar fuels and the amelioration of the effects of carbon dioxide in global warming and it can be expected that these efforts will continue to grow. Again the process is initiated by UV light to promote an electron from the VB to the CB. The hole in the VB oxidises water to form protons and 0) gen and the electron in the CB reduces carbon dioxide and protons to form a variety of industrially relevant compounds. 

Global warming increases the frequency and size of wildfires. Wildfire smoke contains large quantities of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, PAHs, PM, and VOCs [40,41]. Fires that bum in human populated areas also contain products of plastics and pesticides combustion which add to the air pollution [42]. 

Note that more carbon dioxide is released in place of carbon monoxide. Carbon dioxide is not a toxic gas, but it is still considered a pollutant because of its contribution to enhanced global warming. 

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