SO2 emissions

In the past, reducing the sulfur content was mainly concerned with the heaviest products, most particularly the fuel oils. This development is explained by a legitimate concern to reduce SO2 emissions, notably in areas around large population centers. This is how low sulfur heavy fuels —having a maximum of 2% sulfur— and very low sulfur ( % sulfur) came into being. Currently the whole range of petroleum products, particularly motor fuels, should be strongly desulfurized for reasons we will explain hereafter. 

The European regulations have set SO2 emission limits for industrial combustion systems. They range from 1700 mg/Nm for power generation systems of less than 300 MW and to 400 mg/Nm for those exceeding 500 MW between 300 and 500 MW, the requirements are a linear interpolation (Figure 5.24). To give an idea how difficult it is to meet these requirements, recall that for a fuel having 4% sulfur, the SO2 emissions in a conventional boiler are about 6900 mg/Nm this means that a desulfurization level of 75% will be necessary to attain the SO2 content of 1700 mg/Nm and a level of 94% to reach 400 mg/Nm. ... 

There are, however, technological means available to burn incompletely desulfurized fuels at the same time minimizing SO2 emissions. In the auto-desulfurizing AUDE boiler developed by IFF, the effluent is treated in place by an absorbent based on lime and limestone calcium sulfate is obtained. This system enables a gas desulfurization of 80% it requires nevertheless a relatively large amount of solid material, on the order of 200 kg per ton of fuel. 

Utihties that reduce emissions below the number of allowances they hold may trade emissions credits on the open market. Owners of plants affected by Phase I regulations can also petition the EPA for a two-year extension for meeting Phase I emissions if they have selected a control option capable of reducing SO2 emissions by 90% or more, such as is capable by flue-gas desulfurization. Owners of these units can receive bonus allowances for 1997—1999 if they have operated at SO2 emissions below 0.52 kg/10 kj (1.2 lb/10 Btu) of fuel heating value input. 

CAAA Impact on Nonutility Power Producers. The SO2 and NO regulations being implemented as part of the CAAA of 1990 primarily target electric utiHty power plants. However, under Phase II of the CAAA, nonutiHty power producers will be requited to acquire emissions allowances for any SO2 being emitted from new faciHties. Although industrial emitters of SO2 and NO are not directly affected, the EPA did undertake a study to estimate what contribution industrial producers have on annual estimated SO2 production in the United States (10). The report found that annual industrial SO2 emissions would remain below the predeterrnined critical limit of 5.6 x 10 tons/yr until at least 2015 (10). Thus, the agency recommended no new controls for industrial SO2 emissions at this time. 

National Annual SO2 Emissions Trends, 1995—2015, EPA-454-R-95-001, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., June 1995. 

AH vapors, including hotweH odors, are captured in a header system linked with the incineration air of a steam boiler or hot oil vaporizer. Drain seals avoid escape of odors from the sewer lines. This completely eliminates total reduced sulfur (TRS) emissions. The SO2 emissions are subject to local regulations. 

Port McMurray Syncmde Canada, Ltd. 190 immediate environmental measures reduced SO2 emissions... 

The behavior of these pollution roses is intuitively plausible, because considerable hydrocarbon emissions come from motor vehicles which are operated in both winter and summer and travel throughout the urban area. On the other hand, sulfur dioxide is released largely from the burning of coal and fuel oil. Space heating emissions are high in winter and low in summer. The SO2 emissions in summer are probably due to only a few point sources, such as power plants, and result in low average concentrations from each direction as well as large directional variability. 

Title IV represents legislation designed to reduce total SO2 emissions by approximately 50% over a 10-year period. Provisions of the title are designed... 

Gases from the sintering process contain SO2, dust, and metal oxide fumes. The blast furnace gases contain similar particulates plus SO2 and CO. Table 30-10 indicates the expected SO2 emissions. 

Desulfurize paste with caustic soda or soda ash to reduce SO2 emissions. 

J Consider the coke-oven gas COG sweetening process shown in Fig. 3.22. The basic objective of COG sweetening is the removal of acidic impurities, primarily hydrogen sulfide, from COG (a mixture of H2, CH4, CO, N2, NH3, CO2, and H2S). Hydrogen sulfide m undesirable impurity, because it is corrosive and contributes to SO2 emission when the G... 

The chemical and solvent processes previously discussed remove acid ga from the gas stream but result in a release of H2S and CO2 when the solvent is regenerated. The release of H2S to the atmosphere may be limited by environmental regulations. The acid gases could be routed to an incinerator or flare, w hich would convert the HiS to SO2. The allowable rate of SO2 release to the atmosphere may also be limited by environmental regulations. For example, currently the Texas Air Control Board generally limits H2S emissions to 4 Ib/hr (17.5 tons/year) and SO2 emissions to 25 tons/year. There are many specific restrictions on these limits, and the allowable limits are revised periodically. In any case, env ironmental regulations severely restrict the amount of H S that can be vented or flared in the regeneration cycle. 

An inventory of SO2 emissions has been conducted in an urban area by square areas, 5000 feet (1524 meters) on a side. The emissions from one such area are estimated to be 6 g/s for lire entire area. This square is composed of residences and a few small commercial establislunents. What is lire concentration resulting from tliis area at tlie center of tlie adjacent square to tire nortlt when tlie wind at 2.5 m/s The average effective stack height of tliese sources is assumed to be 20 meters. 

The U.S. trends in emissions SO2 and NO, from 1900 to 1997 are shown in Figure 2. The pattern for SO2 emissions since 1900 has shown three peaks. From 1900 to the 1920s there was a general increase... 

National sulfur dioxide emissions by source category, 1997. Electric utilities account for almost two-thirds of SO2 emissions, even after initial implementation of the CAAA of 1990. Total SO2 emissions for 1997 were 18.5 million metric tons. 

Figure 1. Trends in SO2 emissions in selected countries. SOURCE Adapted from Ref. 8.

Acid precipitation, or acid rain, can causes significant impacts on freshwater, coastal, and forested ecosystems (e.g.. Likens et ai, 1996). Both NOi", from NO emissions, and SO from SO2 emissions contribute significantly to acid rain. The relative ratio of SO /NOf in precipitation will be substantially determined by the regional emissions of SO2/NO3. In developed countries, uncontrolled combustion of coal and high-sulfur fuel oil led to significant emissions of SO2, relative to NO Due to strict control of smokestack SO2 emissions in some regions and increasing NO emissions from automobiles, the relative contribution of NOi is expected to increase (Sirois, 1993 Mayewski et ai, 1990). 

NSPS for SO2 Emissions from Industrial Boilers, Radian Corporation, EPA 68-02-3058, Office of Air Planning and Standards, RTP NC, 1981. 

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