Exhaustive predicament

Nitrogen dioxide is proving a dificult vehicular emission to control

 
By Vivek Chattopadhyay
Published: Monday 15 August 2005

--

The results, published by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (ifeu), Heidelberg, Germany, put a question mark on the emission control technologies being used for diesel vehicles. In Germany, no2 levels exceed the safe limit in many locations. It is known that even a short-term exposure to no2 for up to three hours may cause cough and worsen respiratory illness. Long-term exposures cause increased susceptibility to respiratory infection and lung damage. Moreover, scientists at the University of California, usa, found high no2 levels apparently raise the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (Archives of Disease in Childhood, Vol 90, No 7, July 2005).

Better or worse? According to ifeu, most diesel vehicles are equipped with emission control devices such as oxidation catalysts or passive catalysed diesel particulate filters (cdpf), which can increase no2 emissions. Used to control particulate matter (pm) emissions from diesel engines, cdpf oxidise no to no2 to remove the soot caught in the filter. But the device often produces more no2 than that required to keep it soot-free.

The no2 to no2 ratio, which is merely 5-10 per cent from the engine, can shoot up to 20-70 per cent after the emissions pass through cdpf depending on factors such as the type of filter used, sulphur level in diesel fuel and the duty cycle, according to the California Air Resources Board (carb).

The other common emission control device is the oxidation catalyst. It is mainly used in cars to convert toxic pm, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons to harmless compounds. But it also invariably converts no to no2, though the overall no2 levels may remain the same.

It is ironic that the emission control devices enhance no2 levels. How will the developed countries tackle the problem? The ifeu points out the no2 rise should be taken into account for pollution reduction strategies. The Association for Emissions Control by Catalyst, Brussels, says balanced emission control systems should not produce more no2 than needed. But these are mere guidelines.

As of now, the approach closest to a solution is that adopted by carb for in use vehicles. It has sought to split the no2 emissions into two -- one is called the engine out (or pre-control) emission, while the other is that coming out through emission control devices. carb has mandated that the pollution control devices should not increase no2 emissions from tailpipe by more than 20 per cent over the engine out emissions. For instance, for an engine with a pre-control no2 level of 10 per cent of nox, tailpipe emissions up to 30 per cent no2 are allowed.

How the developed countries grapple with no2 will be instructional for a country like India. The ambient levels of no2 already show an upward trend in a few cities: for instance, no2 during 2003 in Lal Bazaar in Kolkata was 159 microgramme per cubic metre (g/cum) compared to the safe limit of 80 g/cum. Says Central Pollution Control Board additional director R C Trivedi, "The sheer volume of traffic and more use of fossil fuels in the cities are causing high nox emissions." Considering the health effects of no2, it is imperative that India avoids the mistakes the developed countries have made.

Subscribe to Daily Newsletter :

Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.