Māris kļaviņŠ, azamat azizov, JĀnis zaļoksnis environment, pollution, development: the case of uzbekistan

Figure 7.15. 
Characterisation 
of atmospheric air 
pollutant concentration 
changes in the air of 
Riga 
Figure 7.16. 
Example 
of a fuel combustion 
plant, whose operation 
allows for a significant 
reduction in SO
2
 
emissions – a device 
for burning fluidized 
layer in the presence 
of limestone additives, 
providing exhaust gas 
decontamination. 

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7. AIR POLLUTION
 131
Since there are certain industries, which are particularly large 
consumers of energy, (glass, chemical, building material production), 
changes in production processes particularly in these areas can 
significantly reduce SO
2
 emission. Energy conservation also indirectly 
contributes  to  the  reduction  of  sulfur  dioxide  emissions.  All  these 
measures are realized in the framework of national environ mental 
and industrial policy, balancing the state (population’s) economic 
interests, using such instruments as the tax policy and legislative 
initiatives.  A  preventative  approach  is  also  switching  to  low-sulfur 
fuels (<1% S), gas, nuclear or alternative energy sources.
Clearly, it is possible to lower the sulfur dioxide content in the 
exhaust gases. First of all, it can be achieved by lowering the sulfur 
content of the output fuel – coal, oil. About half of the sulfur content 
of coal can be found in the form of pyrites and up to 80% of it can 
be removed by grinding the coal and removal of iron compounds, 
using magnetic separation of iron compounds in a magnetic field – 
magnetoseparation. Organic substance-related sulfur separation is 
considerably more complex and broaches the need to convert coal in 
gaseous fuel (coal gasification) or liquid fuel. Oil can be cleaned of 
sulfur compounds during its thermal refinement process, however, 
this approach only allows to reduce the sulfur content. In any case, 
fuel desulfurization is an expensive process.
This  fuel  combustion  process  is  very  efficient,  easy  to  control 
and it allows to lower not only sulfur dioxide content, but also other 
substances in the exhaust gases. In general, this method allows 
reducing SO
2
 and dust content even up to 5% of its initial volume. 
It should be noted that there are ways to reduce sulfur dioxide 
exposure in the immediate vicinity of its emission source, improving 
the dispersion of exhaust gas in the atmo sphere.