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Air and Water Pollution

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The reason for the presence of this chapter in this book is more than apparent to its
authors. In the last century human activities in combination with a lack of respect for
,
nature, expressed by the view that raw material resources are inexhaustible and the toler-
ance of ecosystems to pollutant release is unlimited, led to the pollution and degradation
of the environment. Chemical engineering is the field of science that combines chemistry
with technology and is able to gie solutions to most environmental problems. The en v vi-
ronment is going to set the pace in chemical engineering evolution, since we ha e reached v
the point where if we do not stop destroying and polluting the environment, life on Earth
will be in danger—at least life as we know it today. Sustainability is the proposal for a
v
better future, where economic deelopment can coexist with social cohesion and en vi-
ronmental protection.
Human activities harmfully influence the environment and nature in many wThe ays.
w
production of undesirable w waste gas, and liquid plus solid residues seems to
aste
ater
,
be inevitable during chemical processes. The public is more sensitie to pollution of the v
aquatic environment and the depletion of clean water resources, because they hae an v
immediate impact on daily routine and recreational activities. Ho air pollution has v we er
,
an adverse impact on our health in the short and long term, and the problems of the green-
house effect and the destruction of stratospheric ozone could extinguish life from the f ace
of the Earth. These problems are enhanced by oerpopulation and urbanization. T v , oday
urban areas can be seen as “monsters” that consume large amounts of ener matter and ,
gy
,
freshwater and release all kinds of waste into the en vironment.
The first chapter of this book is deoted to air and water pollution. Although much
v
v
attention will be gien to releases from chemical processes, environmental problems
arising from other activities will also be dealt with. Issues concerning pollutants, emis-
sion sources, and treatment methods are going to be presented. Moreo before focus- er , v
ing on the processes of adsorption, ion exchange, catalysis, and the design principles of
the releant operations in the following chapters, it is useful to show their connection
v
with environmental protection. Emphasis is gien on the current environmental situation v
in Europe.

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