PROJECT REPORT

COVER PAGE
PURIFICATION OF THERMAL
AND AIR POLLUTANTS
RESULTING FROM FACTORIES
NAME OF STUDENTS:
Tom Lee Osborn
Brandon Mochama

SUPERVISOR
John Wakhanu

SCHOOL:
Alliance High School

LOCATION
Kikuyu, KENYA.

By VICBRATOM RESEARCH TEAM

ALLIANCE HIGH SCHOOL
KIKUYU, KENYA

Purification of Themal and Air Pollutants emmited from factories

Table of contents
CONTENT

PAGE

1. Abstract

Three, 3

2. Introduction

Three, 3

3. Goals

Four, 4

4. Solving the problem

4.1.1. Step I to Step VIII

Five, 5
Five to Seven, 5 - 7

Eight, 8
Eight, 8
Eight, 8
Nine, 9
Nine, 9
Nine, 9

6. Conclusion

Nine, 9

7. References

Ten, 10

Page

5. Results and Discussion

5.1.1. Summary of uses of effluent air pollutants
5.1.2. Projected initial set up cost
5.1.3. Is it worth the price?
5.1.4. Advantages
5.1.5. Disadvantages

Vicbratom Research Team

Tom Lee Osborn
Brandon Mochama

Purification of Themal and Air Pollutants emmited from factories

ABSTRACT
Did you know that in as much as our ozone layer us depleting, our globe warming and heating up from
the gaseous industrial wastes that lead to both air and thermal pollution, it is possible to clean up these
industrial wastes?
Everyday thousand and thousands of industries in Kenya and across the globe emit tones of wastes in
form of gases. These gases i.e. carbon IV Oxide, methane and sulphur IV oxide can cause a myriad of
problems ranging from global warming, depletion of ozone layer, acidic rains to increase in temperature.
It is therefore of paramount importance that a way of cleaning up these gases emitted from factories be
found and found now!
Through this project that involves the purification of gaseous wastes from factory and releasing it as
pure, clean and cool air to the environment, we will be able to set up a plant that will be able to
individually filter out these harmful gases and convert them from wasteful pollutants to valuable
commercial goods.
The project will succeed in reducing the emission of these harmful gases by over 80%, instead of gases
by the perennial release of waste, harmful and dangerous these factories they will in turn be releasing
purer, cleaner and cooler air.
This will help solve a major problem threatening the existence our planet earth and lead us back into the
path of restoring the old, long gone, green mother earth. Indeed we the human folk will be saved from
the looming effects of global warming, climate change, acidic rains, increase in temperatures and
desertification.

INTRODUCTION
If you have been to an area surrounded by large factories, you may have noticed that it seemed to be
hotter in there than in the suburbs, with fewer factories; why is it? Every day, thousands of tones of air
and thermal wastes are emitted by factories in Kenya and around the world in form of industrial wastes
i.e. gases that have a myriad of environmental, health and global effects if not tamed. The gases
produced which include among others carbon IV oxide, CO2, methane, CH4 and Sulphur IV Oxide, SO2
have too great an effect on our planet earth.

Methane is a relatively potent greenhouse gas. Compared with carbon dioxide, it has a high global
warming potential of 72 (calculated over a period of 20 years) or 25 (for a time period of 100 years).It

Vicbratom Research Team

Tom Lee Osborn
Brandon Mochama

Page

Carbon IV Oxide is a greenhouse gas that causes a blanket effect on the earth and hence increases the
temperatures and heat in the atmosphere, this leads to among others global warming, which we all are
aware has too great an effect on our planet.

Purification of Themal and Air Pollutants emmited from factories

has a net lifetime of about 10 years, it hences leads to increase in heat In the atmosphere. Methane also
affects the degradation of the ozone layer.

Table showing summary of contribution of gases to global warming

Gas
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Ozone

Formula Contribution
(%)
CO2
CH4
O3

9 36 %
8 19 %
3 14 %

Sulphur IV oxide reacts with Oxygen, O2 and hydroxide, OH to form sulfuric IV acid that mixes with rain
to form acidic rains that has a lot of negative effects on the earth, these effects include:
o
o
o

It acidifies rivers and hence kills aquatic life.

Dissolves and leaches minerals necessary for plant growth
Damages and corrodes buildings and monuments
2SO2(g) + 02(g)
SO3(g) + H2O(l)

2SO3(g)
H2SO4(aq)

The emissions of these gases if not successfully combated could lead to the eventual demise of our once
green environment.

GOALS

Page

Reduce air pollution

Reduce thermal pollution
Reduce the rate of global warming
Reduce acidic rainfalls

Vicbratom Research Team

Tom Lee Osborn
Brandon Mochama

Purification of Themal and Air Pollutants emmited from factories

SOLVING THE PROBLEM

In order to put an end to this menace, we thought that if these gases are directed to a plant in which
they can be extracted as individual gas, they can be successfully removed to produce purer and cleaner
air.
STEP I: REMOVING THE HEAT

Page

In order to remove the heat from the gases, they are passed through a bed of magnesia(Magnesium
Oxide, MgO) This is because magnesium Oxide which occurs naturally as a periclase, has a high dielectric
strength and averagely high thermal conductivity, can efficiently conduct the heat from the gases and
really it to a fluid, in this case water, H2O, which is heated to steam and hence produces kinetic energy
that can be used to turn turbines that can produce electricity to power that can be used to power the
plant. The steam then leaves the turbine and enters into a condenser where ot os then cooled and then
recycled through the plant

Vicbratom Research Team

Tom Lee Osborn
Brandon Mochama

Purification of Themal and Air Pollutants emmited from factories

STEP II: FILTERING OUT DUST PARTICLES

The gases which are now cool are then passed through an electrostatic precipitator which filters out the
dirt and dust particles. An electrostatic precipitator is a particulate collection device that removes

particles from a flowing gas (such as air) using the force of an induced electrostatic charge.
Electrostatic precipitators are highly efficient filtration devices that minimally impede the flow
of gases through the device, and can easily remove fine particulate matter such as dust and
smoke from the air stream

Figure 1 An electrostatic precipitator

STEP III: STORAGE OF WASTE GASES

The waste gases may be stored in a storage tank (optional) and then released to the separation tower in
intervals. This is to ensure that the plant does not crush due to overload.
STEP IV: REMOVING OF THE CARBON IV OXIDE GAS, CO2
To remove the C02 gas, the gases are passed to the first chamber of the separation tower which has a
freezer aligned to -78OC. Here the carbon IV oxide gas sublimes to form dry ice which can later be
removed and sold commercially.
STEP V: REMOVING THE METHANE, CH4 GAS
The remaining gases are than passed on to the next chamber that contains an organic solvent, in this
case propanone. Here, methane is dissolved to form an organic solution. The solution can later be
removed and divide onto into its various components, methane can then be sold commercially to
produce natural gas.
STEP VI: REMOVING SULPHUR IV OXIDE AND OTHER ACIDIC RAINS

Page

In order to remove the acidic gases, in this case Suphur IV OXIDE, the gases are then passed through
water, H2O to form an acidic solution, majorly Sulfuric VI acid, H2SO4, that can be later sold off
commercially.

Vicbratom Research Team

Tom Lee Osborn
Brandon Mochama

Purification of Themal and Air Pollutants emmited from factories

STEP VII: STORAGE AND RELAEASE OF THE PURER, COOLER AIR
The remaining gases which are 80% purer, cleaner and cooler are then stored in a compartment
temporarily and relaxed as pure, clean cool air with minimal effects on our environment at regular
intervals.
STEP VIII: REMOVING THE WASTES FROM THE PLANT
The gases that are trapped in the electrostatic precipitator are then removed.
The plant ought to be cleaned off the waste at a daily basis, the dry ice is removed by collection it from
the chamber and stored into tanks from where it is then sold off commercially to soda makers.
The organic solution is then removed and methane separated from it, methane can then be sold of
commercially to aid in the manufacture of natural gas. Propanone is then refilled in the chamber.
The mixture of water and sulphur IV oxide (sulfuric VI acid) is then removed, packaged and sold
commercially to chemical industries. Water is then refilled into the chamber.
All the gases that might be still be temporarily kept in the storage chamber are then released.

Page

The separation plant is the ready for another day ff saving our planet.

Vicbratom Research Team

Tom Lee Osborn
Brandon Mochama

Purification of Themal and Air Pollutants emmited from factories

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In order to come up with the project we had to try out the individual filtration of the individual gases
emitted y factories, this was however not 100% successful as some of these gases turned out to ve too
marginal to be individually removed, however these gases do not have huge effects ads compared to the
other gases that we succeeded in individually extracting out by the use of the plant.
All the goals that we had In mind were satisfactorily accomplished as the gases emitted from the
separating tower are 80% cleaner, purer and cooler than the normally released unpurified air, this will
lead to reduce in both air and thermal pollution. It will also lead to the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions and hence reduction in global warming, it will also help reduce the effects of acidic rain.
SUMMARY OF THE USES OF EXTRACTED AIR POLLUTANTS
Dry Ice: it is industrially used by soft drink manufactures o preserve soft drinks, it also treats acne
conditions
Methane: methane is the preferred industrial feedstock of choice for the production of hydrogen,

methanol, acetic acid, and acetic anhydride. It is lso used in the manufacture of natural gas used
as a cooking fuel.
Sulfuric Vi acid: The uses of sulfuric acid include; the production of fertilizers, e.g., ammonium

sulfate, the manufacture of chemicals, e.g., in making hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, petroleum
refining to wash impurities out of gasoline and other refinery products. E.T.C
PROJECTED INTIAL SET UP COST OF PLANT
1.

120,000
50,000
5,000
175,000

`GRAND TOTAL =

Vicbratom Research Team

Tom Lee Osborn
Brandon Mochama

2,425,000

TOTAL

COST
200,000
150,000
100,000
500,000
200,000
100,000
1,000,000
2,250,000

Page

CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLANT

ITEM
I.
Constriction of separation tower
II.
Bed of Magnesia
III.
Tanks
IV.
Steel pipes
V.
Pumps
VI.
Electrostatic precipitator
VII.
Electric generator and turbine
TOTAL
2. PURCHASE OF MATERIALS
I.
Freezer
II.
Propanone
III.
Water

Purification of Themal and Air Pollutants emmited from factories

IS IT WORHT THE PRICE? PAY NOW OR PAY LATER!
The costs of reversing the effects of these industrial pollutants are already costing nations around the
world thousands of millions of dollars. If we are not ready tp [ay for this now, we will be forced to pay
up later; to suffer the consequences of these pollutants and it might be too late
The plant though expensive to set up is cheap and easier to maintain. It is also a source of revenue as
the effluent products can be sold off commercially to get revenue
ADVANTAGES
1) The plant is easier and cheaper to maintain once set up
2) The products released from the plant can be sold off commercially to raise revenue and recover
start up fund.
3) The plant in the long run will help save economies around the world millions of dollars that
could be used to reverse the effects of these air and thermal pollutants.
DISADVANTAGES
1) The initial set up cost is rather expensive.
2) The plant does not cater for the other marginal gases invlolved inair pollution

CONCLUSION
This project will if taken up help solve a perennial ache in the backbone of a green healthy environment;
it has help reduce the amount of greenhouse gases, air pollutants and thermal pollution by more than
80%. This project has taught the values of determination and consistency of purpose towards achieving
the dream of regaining our once thriving and green environment from the shackles of pollution and
degradation.
However, work still needs to be done to the plant to ensure that all the gases that take part on air
pollution are individually extracted out and turned to be off commercial use. The system can be
improved and enhanced by coming up or making one that is motor vehicle convertible since motor
vehicles (the leading producers of nitrogen IV oxide) also play a huge role in air pollution.

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In future, we plan to present this proposal to the government and request for it to be taken over and ask
for laws that force companies around the country to build these plants be enacted, we then hope that
the rest of the nations will follow on our footsteps.

Vicbratom Research Team

Tom Lee Osborn
Brandon Mochama

Purification of Themal and Air Pollutants emmited from factories

REFFERENCES.
En.wikipedia.com
Ehow.com
Physical science by Glencoe McGraw Hill
KLB Chemistry BOOK 3 by Kenya Literature Bureau
Principles of chemistry book one BY PM Muchiri

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Vicbratom Research Team

Tom Lee Osborn
Brandon Mochama