S/No

Title

Synopsis

I. Subject Area : Environmental Policy

1

Hong Kong unveils new plan to tackle air pollution

HK government introduces new measures and financial incentives to tackle air pollution.

II. Subject Area : Environmental Technology

2

On-site Ammonia Generation System

A US-based company has developed a process to generate ammonia on-site for use in flue gas treatment systems. This process would reduce the cost of flue gas treatment and eliminate the risk associated with storage of large quantity of ammonia gas.

III. Subject Area : General Environmental News

3

Cadmium-free inorganic pigments

Researchers in the Max-Planck Institute (Stuttgart) have developed inorganic yellow-red pigments that do not contain toxic heavy metals such as cadmium.

4

Soot emission also cause global warming problem

A study carried out by NASA's Ames Research Center in California found that the haze formed by soot particles over the Indian Ocean during the annual monsoon would cause a serious global warming problem.

5

Scientists step up campaign for Dursban restrictions

Scientific and environmentalists have stepped up pressure on USEPA to issue tight restrictions on the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos.

Item 1

Hong Kong Unveils New Plan to Tackle Air Pollution

Summary

The Hong Kong government unveiled a new action plan to tackle air pollution. Under the plan, all government diesel vehicles are required to use ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD) which reduces particulate emissions by 10 - 30 % per vehicle. Other new measures include incentives for replacing older vehicles with more environmentally friendly vehicles and incentive scheme for the introduction of hybrid, natural gas or fuel cell powered vehicles. The package also requires petrol stations to install vapour recovery facilities. Implementation of the initiatives over the next 2 to 3 years will reduce vehicle particulate emissions by 70% and nitrogen oxide emissions by 19%.

Reference

http://www.pollutiononline

Item 2

On-site Ammonia Generation System

Summary

In this new process, ammonia is generated from granular urea, which is store in a silo. When ammonia is needed, the granular urea is fed into a tank where it dissolves in a weak solution of recycled urea. The solution of dissolved urea reacts with water to form ammonia and carbon dioxide in a hydrolyzer. The gaseous products are then injected into the SCR catalyst. The unused urea solution is sent back to the mix tank for reuse.

Reference

Pollution Engineering, March 2000, page 12

Item 3

Cadmium-Free Inorganic Pigments

Summary

The pigments have similar properties to cadmium pigments and their colour can be turned from yellow to deep red by adjusting the composition. Since all constituents of the new pigments are harmless, the pigments are promising replacements for cadmium pigments and could eliminate one of the sources of cadmium emissions.

Reference

Chemical Week, 3 May 2000, p 39.

Item 4

Soot Emission Also Causes Global Warming Problem

Summary

According to the scientists, the haze over the Indian Ocean was caused by soot pollution coming off the Indian subcontinent. The black soot particles absorb sunlight, and when they heat up, they warm the air and evaporate clouds. With less cloud cover to reflect sunlight back to space, increased solar energy reaches Earth's surface and the lower atmosphere, causing a warming of the atmosphere and oceans.

Reference

http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2000/05/05122000/soot_12886.asp

Item 5

Scientists Step Up Campaign for Dursban Restrictions

Summary

Scientists and doctors from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine (New York) has called on the USEPA to ban chlorpyrifos in residential housing, schools and child care facilities. The agricultural use of chlorpyrifos should also be greatly reduced by regulating it to the full extent mandated by the US Food Quality Protection Act.

Reference

Chemical Week, 26 Apr 2000, p 19.