Biological Impacts of Fossil Fuels and Alternative Methods

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Biological Impacts of Fossil Fuels and
Alternative Methods

• Tony Espetia, Marie Gilbert, Nick Munoz, Reken
  Patel, and Nisita Wanakule

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Objective

• Discuss availability of fossil fuels
• Assess the global impact of fossil fuels
• Explore alternative energy sources
• To establish a need for more environmentally
  friendly and efficient renewable energy

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Fossil Fuels
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Coal

• First form used
• Replace wood as form of heat
• Problems
• Mining destroys surrounding area
• Burning causes toxic emissions
• End byproducts are toxic
• Cause for global warming

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Oil

• Replaced coal as primary source of energy
• Petroleum Industry makes 40 world energy
• US had second largest oil reserve, next to Saudi
  Arabia
• US is largest importer
• 4 of population consumes 25 of oil produced
• Production peak estimated to be around the year
  2020
• Oil will eventually deplete
• Environmental Effects
• Biggest pollutants
• Global Warming, Smog, Oil Spills

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Natural Gas

• Cleanest form of fossil fuel
• More abundant reserves
• Different types
• Liquid natural gas
• Efficient source but needs to be maintained at
  very low temperatures
• Compressed natural gas
• Most feasible form of natural gas
• US has 1200 NGV stations
• Hybrid cars
• Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV)

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Health Risks

• Irritation
• Nitrogen Dioxide
• Breathing problems/emphysema-like effects
• Lungs more susceptible to infections
• Suspended particulate matter
• Coughing to chronic effects
• Carbon Monoxide
• Binds with hemoglobin, decrease oxygen
• Impaired coordination and driving ability
• Lead
• Increase blood lead levels
• Anemia, Reduced Hemoglobin

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Smog

• Due to VOCs, nitrogen oxides, particulates, and
  ground level ozone
• Summer increases smog
• Winter smog exists
• Unattractive and dangerous

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Acid Rain

• Due to nitrogen oxides reacting with water
• Corrosion
• Increase pH of soil, lakes, and rivers
• Kills plants and fish

http//ssm.hkcampus.net/ssm-kko/affect_envi1.html
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Global Warming

• Due to Greenhouse Effect
• Greenhouse gasses carbon dioxide and
  hydrocarbons
• Average World Temperature Increase
• Melt glaciers and raise sea levels
• Climate Changes
• Argument vs Global Warming
• Warming exists before
• Warming needed to sustain life
• Computer models do not match

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Obtaining Oil

• Drilling can contaminate surrounding area
• Transporting by ships or pipes may cause Oil
  Spills
• Kills plants, fish and other marine animals
• Example Exxon Valdez spill in 1989

Office of Response and Restoration, NOAA
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Natural Gas, Ethanol, and Methanol
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Natural Gas

• Used in home and industries
• Obtained from underground reservoirs
• Benefits of Natural Gas
• Relatively Inexpensive (79-90 cents/gallon)
• Have 120 - 175 years of supply

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Percent Change in Emissions Compared to Gasoline

• Pollutant CNG
• NMHC -68.6
• THC -51.3
• NOx -2.8
• CO -61.9
• CO2 -15.7
• Formaldehyde 7.7
• Acetaldehyde -65.6
• CH4 1723.5
•  http//www.rcc.org/oem/cng.html

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Methanol

• Production
• Can be made from Natural Gas
• Can be made from biomass
• Benefits of Methanol
• Smog-forming emissions are reduced by 30-50
• NOx and Hydrocarbon emissions are slightly lower

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Ethanol

• Renewable fuel produced from plants
• http//www.ethanolrfa.org/factfic_envir.html

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Benefits of Ethanol

• Reduces smog-forming emissions by 25
• Reduces tailpipe carbon monoxide emissions by as
  much as 30
• Reduces exhaust VOC emissions by 12
• Reduces toxic emissions by 30
• Biodegradable

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Disadvantages of Methanol/Ethanol

• Poor cold-start properties
• Emits harmful aldehydes

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Hydrogen Fuel of the Future?

• Began in 1970s
• Great environmentally, because only product is
  water
• Problem with production
• Natural gas
• Coal
• Solar energy

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Hybrid Cars

• Currently used
• Examples
• Prius
• Insight
• Run on gas and electricity
• Greater efficiency
• Lower greenhouse gas emissions

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Conclusion
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Oil and Coal

• Killed ecological systems
• Polluted atmosphere
• Motivated international conflicts

Natural Gas

• Cleanest fossil fuel

• Non-Renewable

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Hydrogen
Ethanol/Methanol

• Renewable from biomatter
• Possibly more CO2 released
• Greater pollution when engine starts up

• Major product is water
• Problem is in making it

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Hybrid

• Newest working technology
• Produces less emissions
• Possible problem with battery disposal