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How combustion produces common atmospheric pollutants

Chemistry of the atmosphere • Atmospheric pollutants

Key concepts

What you'll likely be quizzed about

  • Carbon monoxide forms when carbon-containing fuels burn without enough oxygen for complete combustion.
  • Limited oxygen prevents the full oxidation to carbon dioxide, resulting in partial oxidation to carbon monoxide.
  • Conditions such as poor fuel and air mixing, clogged burners, or malfunctioning engines create low-oxygen environments that favor CO production.
  • While higher temperatures can affect reaction rates, oxygen availability is the main limiting factor.

Flashcards

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How does rapid cooling of combustion gases affect soot?

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Rapid cooling allows high-molecular-weight fragments to condense into soot particles by reducing oxidation time.

Key notes

Important points to keep in mind

Incomplete combustion causes CO and soot; oxygen availability is the key limiting factor.

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, poisonous gas produced from partial oxidation of carbon.

Soot consists of solid carbon particles formed by condensing heavy hydrocarbon fragments.

Sulfur dioxide arises from the oxidation of sulfur impurities during combustion; fuel sulfur content controls its amount.

Oxides of nitrogen form from high-temperature reactions between nitrogen and oxygen and from nitrogen in the fuel.

Higher flame temperatures promote thermal NOx formation; better combustion control reduces NOx emissions.

Post-combustion practices limit pollutant emissions, including flue-gas desulfurization and catalytic converters.

Fuel selection, burner conditions, and air-fuel mixing influence the emissions of CO, soot, SO2, and NOx.

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