Carbon Dioxide Emission

Review of Literature
Carbon dioxide (chemical formula CO2) is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure and exists in Earth's atmosphere in this state, as a trace gas at a concentration of 0.039 per cent by volume. As part of the carbon cycle known as photosynthesis, plants, algae, and cyanobacteria absorb carbon dioxide, light, and water to produce carbohydrate energy for themselves and oxygen as a waste product. But in darkness photosynthesis cannot occur, and during the resultant respiration small amounts of carbon dioxide are produced. Carbon dioxide is also produced by combustion of coal or hydrocarbons, the fermentation of liquids and the breathing of humans and animals. In addition it is emitted from volcanoes, hot springs, geysers and other places where the earths crust is thin; and is freed from carbonate rocks by dissolution. CO2 is also found in lakes at depth under the sea, and commingled with oil and gas deposits. The environmental effects of carbon dioxide are of significant interest. In the earth's atmosphere, it acts as a greenhouse gas which plays a major role in global warming and anthropogenic climate change. Also a major source of ocean acidification is CO2 which dissolves in water forming carbonic acid, which is a weak acid, because CO2 molecule ionization in water is incomplete.

Brief History
17th century - the Flemish chemist Jan Baptist van Helmont observed that when he burned charcoal in a closed vessel, the mass of the resulting ash was much less than that of the original charcoal. His interpretation was that the rest of the charcoal had been transmuted into an invisible substance he termed a "gas" or "wild spirit" (spiritus sylvestre). 1750 - The properties of carbon dioxide were studied more thoroughly by the Scottish physician Joseph Black. He found that limestone (calcium carbonate) could be heated or treated with acids to yield a gas he called "fixed air." He observed that the fixed air was denser than air and supported neither flame nor animal life. Black also found that when bubbled through an aqueous solution of lime (calcium hydroxide), it would precipitate calcium carbonate. He used this phenomenon to illustrate that carbon dioxide is produced by animal respiration and microbial fermentation. 1772 - English chemist Joseph Priestley published a paper entitled Impregnating Water with Fixed Air in which he described a process of dripping sulfuric acid (or oil of vitriol as Priestley knew it) on chalk in order to produce carbon dioxide, and forcing the gas to dissolve by agitating a bowl of water in contact with the gas. This was the invention of Soda water. 1823 - Carbon dioxide was first liquefied (at elevated pressures) by Humphry Davy and Michael Faraday.

1834 - The earliest description of solid carbon dioxide was given by Charles Thilorier, who opened a pressurized container of liquid carbon dioxide, only to find that the cooling produced by the rapid evaporation of the liquid yielded a "snow" of solid CO2.

Description
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities. In 2010, CO2 accounted for about 84% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. Carbon dioxide is naturally present in the atmosphere as part of the Earth's carbon cycle (the natural circulation of carbon among the atmosphere, oceans, soil, plants, and animals). Human activities are altering the carbon cycle--both by adding more CO2 to the atmosphere and by influencing the ability of natural sinks, like forests, to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. While CO2 emissions come from a variety of natural sources, human-related emissions are responsible for the increase that has occurred in the atmosphere since the industrial revolution.

Source of Carbon dioxide Emission:

The main human activity that emits CO2 is the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil) for energy and transportation, although certain industrial processes and land-use changes also emit CO2. The main sources of CO2 emissions in the United States are described below.

Electricity. Electricity is a significant source of energy in the United States and is used to power homes, business, and industry. The combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity is the largest single source of CO2 emissions in the nation, accounting for about 40% of total U.S. CO2 emissions and 33% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2009. The type of fossil fuel used to generate electricity will emit different amounts of CO2. To produce a given amount of electricity, burning coal will produce more CO2 than oil or natural gas. Transportation. The combustion of fossil fuels. Such as gasoline and diesel to transport people and goods is the second largest source of CO2 emissions, accounting for about 31% of total U.S. CO2 emissions and 26% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2010. This category includes transportation sources such as highway vehicles, air travel, marine transportation, and rail. Industry. Many industrial processes emit CO2 through fossil fuel combustion. Several processes also produce CO2 emissions through chemical reactions that do not involve combustion, for example, the production and consumption of mineral products such as cement, the production of metals such as iron and steel, and the production of chemicals. Various industrial processes accounted for about 14% of total U.S. CO2 emissions and 20% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2010. Note that many industrial processes also use electricity and therefore indirectly cause the emissions from the electricity production.

Carbon dioxide is constantly being exchanged among the atmosphere, ocean, and land surface as it is both produced and absorbed by many microorganisms, plants, and animals. However, emissions and removal of CO2 by these natural processes tend to balance. Since the Industrial Revolution began around 1750, human activities have contributed substantially to climate change by adding CO2 and other heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere. In the United States, since 1990, the management of forests and non-agricultural land has acted as a net sink of CO2, which means that more CO2 is removed from the atmosphere, and stored in plants and trees, than is emitted. This sink offset about 15% of total emissions in 2010 and is discussed in more detail in the Land Use and Forestry section. List of countries contribute carbon dioxide emission (2008) List of countries contribute carbon dioxide emission (2010)

Country

CO2 emissions
(in thousands of metric tonnes)

Country China United States India Russia Japan Germany Iran South Korea Canada Saudi Arabia

CO2 emissions 8,240,958 5,492,170 2,069,738 1,688,688 1,138,432 762,543 574,667 563,126 518,475 493,726

China United States European Union India Russia Japan Germany Canada Iran

7,031,916 5,461,014 4,177,817 1,742,698 1,708,653 1,208,163 786,660 544,091 538,404 522,856

United Kingdom

Rank 43 - Philippines

Effects of Carbon Dioxide Emission

Global Warming Warmer Temperature Flooding Wild Fires Diseases Reduce Lung Functions Respiratory discomfort Exacerbation of chronic respiratory illnesses

Ways to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions

There are three primary methods for reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere: employing energy efficiency and conservation practices; using carbon-free or reduced-carbon energy resources; and capturing and storing carbon either from fossil fuels or from the atmosphere. Efficiency and Conservation There are many energy efficiency and conservation practices that reduce the consumption of carbon-based fuels (e.g., natural gas , oil, coal, or gasoline), decreasing carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon-Free and Reduced-Carbon Energy Sources Another way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is to use carbon-free or reduced-carbon sources of energy. Carbon-free sources of energy have their own associated impacts, but in general, these technologies generate energy without producing and emitting carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Carbon-free energy sources include solar power, wind power, geothermal energy, lowhead hydropower, hydrokinetics (e.g., wave and tidal power), and nuclear power. Alternatively, switching from high-carbon fuels like coal and oil, to reduced-carbon fuels such as natural gas, will also result in reduced carbon dioxide emissions. The extent to which biomass energy is considered to be carbon-free or a reduced-carbon fuel depends on the type of biomass used and the processes by which it is converted to energy (for more discussion on this, see the section on Biomass Energy Operational Impacts to Air Quality). Carbon Capture and Sequestration A third option for reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is carbon sequestration. Carbon sequestration involves the capture and storage of carbon dioxide that would otherwise be present in the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect . As described on the Carbon Sequestration Approaches and Technologies page, carbon dioxide can be removed from the atmosphere and retained (stored) within plants and soil supporting the plants. Alternatively, carbon dioxide can be captured (either before or after fossil fuel is burned) and then be stored (sequestered) within the earth.

Specific Ways to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emission

Transport Fuel efficiency Hybrids Road to rail Public transport Non-motorized transport Land-use planning Buildings Day lighting

Energy efficiency Improved cook stoves Solar heating & cooling Agriculture Crop & land management Livestock & manure management Improved N fertilizer use Industry Energy efficiency Heat & power recovery Energy supply Coal to gas Nuclear power Renewable energy

Benefits of Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emission

Reductions in the expected long-term consequences of global warming; avoided damages of climate change. Economic, social, environmental, public health and other benefits independent of any direct benefits from mitigating climate change

How Electronics Engineers contribute to lessen carbon dioxide emission?

Automation and control Alternative energy