Evaluation of Scrubbers Efficiency for Air Quality Improvement near Gasoline-Powered Generators
1 Kolajo, O and 1 Oladoja, Q.
1,2,3Department of Civil Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
DOI: 10.36108/laujoces/6202.61.0121
Abstract
The absence of regular power supply from the central grid of most developing countries has resulted in the use of independent small-scale electricity generators to meet the energy needs for sustained urbanization. The consequential effect of this is an increasing emission of exhaust gases leading to the degradation of the air quality. There are institutionalised methods aimed at controlling air quality on a global scale like afforestation, but there is a dearth of information about technologies to adopt on a small individual scale to protect air quality. This study compared and evaluated the efficiency of two different inorganic (Distilled water and Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)) and organic (pig and poultry waste) scrubbing agents in removing pollutants from exhaust gas from gasoline-powered generators. Results showed 3 M NaOH had the highest removal efficiency for CO2 (59.7%), CO (61.5%), HCHO (41.0%) and TVOC (41.3%) amongst the inorganic scrubber evaluated while 25 g/m3 piggery waste showed higher efficiency (86.3%) in CO reduction, 15 g/m3 poultry waste showed the highest efficiency (88%) for PM reduction, 35 g/cm3 poultry showed the highest efficiency (70.4%) for CO2 reduction, 35 g/m3 piggery waste showed the highest removal efficiency (77.0%) for HCHO reduction and (72.4%) for TVOC reduction amongst the organic scrubbers evaluated. The effectiveness of NaOH solutions increased with concentration, however, an inverse relationship is recorded in particulate matter removal. The study concluded by applying theoretical chemical reactions to solving major environmental concerns while also presenting the feasibility of using agricultural waste for air quality management in the southwestern region of Nigeria.
Keywords: Air quality, Gasoline-powered Generator, Scrubbing Efficiency, Exhaust gases.