L-1 - Fate of Pollutants - Final (1) - 20

CE 341
Environmental Engineering-II
Lecture-1: The fate of pollutants and their life cycle
Instructor: Maj Wajeeh

Carbon
 0.04% of CO2 is present in the atmosphere

 An essential constituent of any living organism
 Important element of the combustion process
 Plays a role in trapping heat—global warming
 Is a building block of carbohydrates, protein, and nucleic acid
 Highly soluble in water
Nutrient cycle: Carbon
Photo-synthesis and respiration
 How the humans affect the carbon cycle.?

 How the wastewater affect the carbon cycle.?
 Identify the carbon sink and carbon-release
points
Carbon sink
 Air contains 0.04% of CO2
 Vegetations—photosynthesis converts CO2 in glucose
 Fossil fuels—carbon is somehow stored
 Oceans dissolve carbon—directly in water and
through phytoplankton
 Marin species—to make shells
 Rocks—limestone as CaCO3
Realize carbon cycle in:
 Carbon in the marine environment

 Carbon in terrestrial environment
 Carbon in atmosphere
 Carbon in water
Carbon is a pollution.?. How to control.?
The term "carbon pollution" typically refers to the release of excessive amounts of
carbon compounds, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), into the atmosphere as a result
of human activities. COGAP
• Greenhouse Gas Effect: Excessive carbon dioxide emissions contribute to the enhanced greenhouse
effect.
• Climate Change: The increase in global temperatures, driven by elevated levels of CO2 and other
greenhouse gases
• Air Quality: In addition to CO2, the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities can release
other carbon compounds, such as carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Ocean Acidification: When CO2 is absorbed by the world's oceans, it undergoes chemical reactions
that result in the formation of carbonic acid.
• Particulate Matter: The combustion of carbon-based fuels can release fine particulate matter
(PM2.5 and PM10) into the atmosphere, which can have adverse effects on air quality and human
health,
Nitrogen
 An essential constituent of any living organism
 Is a building block of carbohydrates, protein, and
nucleic acid
 78% of N2 is present in the atmosphere
 Inert in nature—difficult to trap from the atmosphere
 Plants can’t tap directly from the atmosphere, they
uptake through soil
 Plays a role in trapping heat—global warming in a
way that it transports heat from lower to upper
atmsophere
 Ammonia is toxic to many organisms
Nutrient cycle: Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Forms of Nitrogen:
 In-organic Nitrogen (NH4, NO2, NO3, NO, N2)
 Organic nitrogen that is present in the biomass/living
organism in the form of amino acids
Nitrification: NH4+(Ammonium) →
NO2– (Nitrite) → NO3– (Nitrate)
Denitrification: 2NO3− (Nitrate) + 10e−

+ 12H+ → N2 (Nitrogen) + 6 H2O
(Water molecules).
Annamox process:
anaerobic ammonium
oxidation
Fertilizer through Haber-Bosch Reaction
 Negatively impacts the environment

 Ammonia easily soluble in water, moves to water bodies causing
eutrophication (algae growth)
 Submerged species can’t tap oxygen and light, which eventually leads
to marine death
 Energy intensive process
Atmospheric Nitrogen Fixation
Nitrogen Assimilation
Plants absorb nitrogen from the soil in the form of nitrates and ammonium
ions. Ammonium ions and nitrates are absorbed by the plants via their
respective transporters. Nitrate after absorption is transported to the leaves
and gets reduced to ammonia
Nitrogen emissions during Civil Engineering
projects.?
• Many older buildings and structures contain materials like wood, insulation, and coatings that
may contain nitrogen-based compounds, such as adhesives, sealants, or insulation foams. When
these materials are demolished, crushed, or burned, they can release nitrogen oxides (NOx) and
ammonia (NH3) into the air.
• In the mixing and curing of concrete, water is added to cement, and chemical reactions occur.
Depending on the composition of concrete mixtures and curing conditions, nitrogen compounds
can be released as ammonia (NH3) during hydration.
• TCC-SEP
Phosphorous
 Not present in the atmosphere
 Present in solid form, the slowest cycle, and less

available to the plants
 Essential for plant growth
 Use as a fertilizer causes pollution
 Released from rocks through the weathering process
 May release into the environment through dead

organisms
 Causes eutrophication
Nutrient cycle: Phosphorous
The phosphorus (P) cycle is a biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement and
transformation of phosphorus in various forms through the Earth. Phosphorus is an essential
nutrient for all living organisms, playing a crucial role in biological processes, such as DNA
and RNA synthesis and the formation of cell membranes.
Weathering: The cycle begins with the weathering of rocks, which releases inorganic
phosphate. Very slow process
Uptake by Plants: Plants take up inorganic phosphate from the soil, incorporating it into their
biomass for photosynthesis.
Consumption and Decomposition: Animals obtain phosphorus by consuming plants or other
animals in their diets.
Leaching and Runoff: Inorganic phosphate can be leached from soils and transported via
surface runoff or groundwater to aquatic ecosystems. In aquatic systems, it can be taken up by
aquatic plants and algae.
Sedimentation: In aquatic ecosystems, phosphate ions can precipitate and accumulate in
sediments over time.
Geological Uplift: Geological processes, such as tectonic uplift and erosion, can expose
phosphate-rich rocks and sediments to weathering,
Sewage and Waste: Phosphorus from human sewage and wastewater can also enter the cycle,
either through the release of treated effluent into natural water bodies or through the disposal
of solid waste containing phosphorus.
Phosphorous
Phosphorous cycle
1. Reservoir: Due to erosion phosphorous moves to the water
and soils
2. Assimilation: Plants assimilate inorganic phosphate from the

soil; animals' intake through the food web
3. Release: Plants and animals release phosphorous when

decompose
 A large amount of phosphorus in the earth is used to make

fertilizers
 De-forestation reduces phosphorous—pollution may increase
 An excess supply of phosphorous to the aquatic environment

leads to eutrophication
Phosphorous pollution during
-Construction site erosion Civil Engineering projects.
-Stormwater flush
-Fertilizer
-Wastewater
some aspects to consider regarding phosphorus during civil engineering projects:
1.Stormwater Management: In urban and construction settings, stormwater runoff can
transport phosphorus from various sources, including fertilizers, soil, and sediments, into
nearby water bodies. Civil engineers may need to design stormwater management systems that
help reduce phosphorus runoff and prevent water pollution.
2.Erosion Control: During construction activities, soil erosion can release phosphorus into
nearby water bodies. Proper erosion control measures, such as silt fences, sediment basins, and
vegetation buffers, can help minimize the transport of phosphorus-rich sediments.
3.Wastewater Treatment: Civil engineers involved in the design and construction of
wastewater treatment facilities may need to address phosphorus removal and management.
Phosphorus is a nutrient of concern in wastewater discharges, and treatment processes, such as
chemical precipitation and biological phosphorus removal, may be required to meet water
quality regulations.
4.Environmental Impact Assessments: In certain projects that may impact sensitive
environments or watersheds, environmental impact assessments may include an evaluation of
potential phosphorus releases and their impact on aquatic ecosystems.
Yogurt, milk, and cheese. Grain products, such as bread, tortillas, brown rice, and oatmeal
contain phosphorous
Nutrient cycle: Sulfur
Nutrient cycle: Sulfur cycle
 Widely used in Penicillin-class antibiotic
 Kills the molds and bacteria
 Forms amino acids
 Plant debris contributes to the release of sulfur
 Volcanic eruption releases sulfur
 SO2 in the atmosphere combines with the rain and

form sulfuric acid
Concept check….. !!!
 What factor drives the state of a pollutant.?
 Which state of N, P, and C contribute to GHG

emissions.?
 What are the entry points of these pollutants in

wastewater treatment systems.?
 What is the role of bacteria in controlling pollution.?
 What are the limitations of tapping nitrogen from the

atmosphere or from the waste materials.?.

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CE 341

Instructor: Maj Wajeeh

 0.04% of CO2 is present in the atmosphere

 How the humans affect the carbon cycle.?

 Carbon in the marine environment

Denitrification: 2NO3− (Nitrate) + 10e−

 Negatively impacts the environment

 Present in solid form, the slowest cycle, and less

 Essential for plant growth

 Use as a fertilizer causes pollution

 Released from rocks through the weathering process

 May release into the environment through dead

2. Assimilation: Plants assimilate inorganic phosphate from the

3. Release: Plants and animals release phosphorous when

 A large amount of phosphorus in the earth is used to make

 De-forestation reduces phosphorous—pollution may increase

 An excess supply of phosphorous to the aquatic environment

 Widely used in Penicillin-class antibiotic

 Kills the molds and bacteria

 Forms amino acids

 Plant debris contributes to the release of sulfur

 Volcanic eruption releases sulfur

 SO2 in the atmosphere combines with the rain and

 Which state of N, P, and C contribute to GHG

 What are the entry points of these pollutants in

 What is the role of bacteria in controlling pollution.?

 What are the limitations of tapping nitrogen from the

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