Monroe L. Weber-Shirk S chool of Civil and Environmental Engineering “Acid Rain” “Lake” Lake Effluent pH Probe Peristaltic Pump Acid Lake Remediation 

Where Are We Going? ä Source of Acid Rain ä Fate of strong acids in the environment ä Reactions ä Carbonate System ä Dissociation constants ä P notation ä Alpha notation ä Acid Neutralizing Capacity ä Defined ä Measured – Gran Plot ä A conservative property! ä Source of Acid Rain ä Fate of strong acids in the environment ä Reactions ä Carbonate System ä Dissociation constants ä P notation ä Alpha notation ä Acid Neutralizing Capacity ä Defined ä Measured – Gran Plot ä A conservative property!

What is the Acid Source? ä Coal fired electric plants (and other fossil fuels) ä Gaseous emissions of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides + water + sunlight form sulfuric acid and nitric acid ä Tall stacks send pollutants into the troposphere ä Prevailing winds carry pollutants from Midwestern industrialized areas into New England and Canada. ä About half of the acidity in the atmosphere falls back to earth through dry deposition as gases and dry particles. ä The combination of acid rain plus dry deposited acid is called acid deposition. ä Coal fired electric plants (and other fossil fuels) ä Gaseous emissions of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides + water + sunlight form sulfuric acid and nitric acid ä Tall stacks send pollutants into the troposphere ä Prevailing winds carry pollutants from Midwestern industrialized areas into New England and Canada. ä About half of the acidity in the atmosphere falls back to earth through dry deposition as gases and dry particles. ä The combination of acid rain plus dry deposited acid is called acid deposition.

Acid Rain Formation Combustion product precursors to acid rain Reactions Strong acids Sulfuric acid Nitric acid

Where is Acid Rain Falling?

Fate of Strong Acids in the Environment ä Strong acids completely dissociate in water ä If 0.1 M of nitric acid is added to 1 liter of pure water, what is the concentration of H + ? _________ ä What is the pH? [px = -log(x)] ________ ä What else can happen when the hydrogen ion concentration changes if it isn’t pure water? ________________ ä If 0.1 M of nitric acid is added to 1 liter of pure water, what is the concentration of H + ? _________ ä What is the pH? [px = -log(x)] ________ ä What else can happen when the hydrogen ion concentration changes if it isn’t pure water? ________________ 1 1 reactions 0.1 M pK=-1 pK 2 = -3, pK 1 =1.9

Fate of Strong Acids: Reactions ä Weak acids/bases can react with the added H + and reduce the final concentration of H + ä Examples of weak acids and bases in the environment: ä carbonates ä carbonate, bicarbonate, carbonic acid ä organic acids ä acetic acid (pK = 4.7) ä Weak acids/bases can react with the added H + and reduce the final concentration of H + ä Examples of weak acids and bases in the environment: ä carbonates ä carbonate, bicarbonate, carbonic acid ä organic acids ä acetic acid (pK = 4.7) When K A = [H + ] then [A - ] = [HA]

Carbonate System species definition Dissociation Constant

Acid Neutralizing Capacity (ANC) ä The ability to neutralize (react with) acid ä ANC has units of _______________ or eq/L ä Possible reactants ä The ability to neutralize (react with) acid ä ANC has units of _______________ or eq/L ä Possible reactants moles of protons/L 2 2

Alpha Notation ä All species concentrations are related to the hydrogen ion concentration Total carbonate species 1 1

Hydrogen Ion Concentration: The Master Variable (pH, pK 1, pK 2, C T )

pH Diagram Add acid to a carbonate solution at pH 9. What happens?

ANC Example ä Suppose we add 3 mM Ca(OH) 2 to distilled water. What is the ANC? ä What is the resulting pH if the system is closed to the atmosphere? ä Suppose we add 3 mM Ca(OH) 2 to distilled water. What is the ANC? ä What is the resulting pH if the system is closed to the atmosphere? 2.22 p(OH)= = pH= no carbonates [H + ] is small

negative ANC: + or -! ä ANC = capacity to react with H + minus the concentration of H + ä ANC can be positive or __________ ä ANC is conservative ä Example: 10 liters of a solution with an ANC of 0.1 meq/L is mixed with 5 liters of a solution with an ANC of -1 meq/L. What is the final ANC? ä ANC = capacity to react with H + minus the concentration of H + ä ANC can be positive or __________ ä ANC is conservative ä Example: 10 liters of a solution with an ANC of 0.1 meq/L is mixed with 5 liters of a solution with an ANC of -1 meq/L. What is the final ANC?

ANC Relationships ä At what pH is ANC=0? ä Which species dominate when ANC = 0? ä Which species dominate when ANC < 0? ä At what pH is ANC=0? ä Which species dominate when ANC = 0? ä Which species dominate when ANC < 0?

Where does ANC =0?

More Complications: Open to the Atmosphere ä Natural waters exchange carbon dioxide with the atmosphere The total concentration of carbonate species is affected by this exchange Henry’s constant Is ANC affected? _____ NO!

ANC Example (continued) ä Suppose we aerate the 3 mM Ca(OH) 2 solution. What happens to the pH? ä All the alphas are functions of pH and it is not possible to solve explicitly for [H + ]. ä Solution techniques ä numerical methods - spreadsheets - goal seeking (pH=9, C T =0.0057M)spreadsheets ä graphical methods (CEE 653) ä Suppose we aerate the 3 mM Ca(OH) 2 solution. What happens to the pH? ä All the alphas are functions of pH and it is not possible to solve explicitly for [H + ]. ä Solution techniques ä numerical methods - spreadsheets - goal seeking (pH=9, C T =0.0057M)spreadsheets ä graphical methods (CEE 653) Beware of precision!

Open vs. Closed to the Atmosphere ä What is conserved in an open (volatile) system? _____________ ä What is conserved in a closed (nonvolatile) system? _____________ ä For conservative species we can use the Completely Mixed Flow Reactor equation for our well mixed lake ä What is conserved in an open (volatile) system? _____________ ä What is conserved in a closed (nonvolatile) system? _____________ ä For conservative species we can use the Completely Mixed Flow Reactor equation for our well mixed lake ANC CTCT CTCT

Completely Mixed Flow Reactor Q, C in Q, __ C Mass in – Mass out = Increase of Mass in reactor V, C Hydraulic Residence Time Mass balance

Completely Mixed Flow Reactor ä Equation applies to any conservative species. ä C 0 = time zero concentration in reactor ä C in = influent concentration ä C = concentration in the reactor as a function of time ä Equation applies to any conservative species. ä C 0 = time zero concentration in reactor ä C in = influent concentration ä C = concentration in the reactor as a function of time Set up integration and effluent! What is C when t is large? _______ C in

Three Equations for ANC! ä CMFR for conservative species. (True whether volatile or nonvolatile!) ä If Nonvolatile... ä What is C T ? ä If Volatile... ä CMFR for conservative species. (True whether volatile or nonvolatile!) ä If Nonvolatile... ä What is C T ? ä If Volatile... Assuming no carbonates in influent Which equations are valid for our lake?

Spreadsheet Hints ä Use names to make your equations easier to understand ä Use Visual Basic for complex equations (see course website) ä Completely Mixed Flow Reactor (CMFR) ä alphas ä Use names to make your equations easier to understand ä Use Visual Basic for complex equations (see course website) ä Completely Mixed Flow Reactor (CMFR) ä alphas Function CMFR(Influent, t, theta, initial) CMFR = Influent * (1 - Exp(-t / theta)) + initial * (Exp(-t / theta)) End Function Function alpha0CO2(pH) alpha0CO2 = 1 / ( ^ (-6.3) / invp(pH) + 10 ^ (-6.3) * 10 ^ (-10.3) / invp(pH) ^ 2) End Function Function invp(x) invp = 10 ^ (-x) End Function required!

Function ANCopen(pH) ANCopen = ANCclosed(pH, invp(5) / alpha0CO2(pH)) End Function Function ANCclosed(pH, Ct) ANCclosed = Ct * (alpha1CO2(pH) + 2 * alpha2CO2(pH)) + 10 ^ (-14) / invp(pH) - invp(pH) End Function mol/(L atm) Visual Basic Functions for ANC ä ANC for a closed system ä ANC for an open system ä ANC for a closed system ä ANC for an open system atm

Results? ä If your results don’t jive where do you look? ä Units of ANC? ä Units of C T ? ä How is t defined? ä If your results don’t jive where do you look? ä Units of ANC? ä Units of C T ? ä How is t defined?

Acid Rain Lab Report ä Checklist at website ä Spreadsheet report (will write a full combined report after measuring ANC next week) ä Strong recommendation: finish the lab by Monday night ä Use your time efficiently! ä What is the ANC of the acid rain? ä Assume pH = 3.0, but there is some uncertainty ä Distinction between lab manual guidelines and what happened in the lab ä Checklist at website ä Spreadsheet report (will write a full combined report after measuring ANC next week) ä Strong recommendation: finish the lab by Monday night ä Use your time efficiently! ä What is the ANC of the acid rain? ä Assume pH = 3.0, but there is some uncertainty ä Distinction between lab manual guidelines and what happened in the lab

Acid Rain Lab Report ä Make sure you understand which assumptions might be incorrect ä Mass conservation ä No exchange with the atmosphere ä Equilibrium with the atmosphere ä High expectations for ä Well designed spreadsheets ä Thoughtful analysis ä Work done with pride ä Make sure you understand which assumptions might be incorrect ä Mass conservation ä No exchange with the atmosphere ä Equilibrium with the atmosphere ä High expectations for ä Well designed spreadsheets ä Thoughtful analysis ä Work done with pride

What Determines Lake Susceptibility to Acidification? ä Acidification = f(acid inputs, ANC) ä Acid inputs = f(power plants, cars, wind currents, mine tailings) ä Acid Neutralizing Capacity = f(?) ä Carbonates obtained from dissolution of minerals such as ä CaCO 3 (calcite or aragonite) ä MgCO 3 (magnesite) ä CaMgCO 3 (dolomite) check this ä... ä Acidification = f(acid inputs, ANC) ä Acid inputs = f(power plants, cars, wind currents, mine tailings) ä Acid Neutralizing Capacity = f(?) ä Carbonates obtained from dissolution of minerals such as ä CaCO 3 (calcite or aragonite) ä MgCO 3 (magnesite) ä CaMgCO 3 (dolomite) check this ä...

Lake and/or Watershed Remediation ä Add a soluble mineral such as lime (CaO) or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 ) ä Application options ä ________________ ä Add a soluble mineral such as lime (CaO) or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 ) ä Application options ä ________________ meter into stream apply directly to lake spread on watershed

Kyoto Reflections ä Kyoto Protocol sets an "ultimate objective" of stabilizing "greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) interference with the climate system." ä Would adherence to the Kyoto Protocol reduce acid rain? ä Will individuals modify their behavior to reduce global warming and acid rain? ä Kyoto Protocol sets an "ultimate objective" of stabilizing "greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) interference with the climate system." ä Would adherence to the Kyoto Protocol reduce acid rain? ä Will individuals modify their behavior to reduce global warming and acid rain?

Measuring ANC: Gran Titration ä The sample is titrated with a strong acid to "cancel" the sample ANC ä At the equivalence point the sample ANC is zero ä Further titration will result in an increase in the number of moles of H + equal to the number of moles of H + added. ä Use the fact that ANC is conservative... ä The sample is titrated with a strong acid to "cancel" the sample ANC ä At the equivalence point the sample ANC is zero ä Further titration will result in an increase in the number of moles of H + equal to the number of moles of H + added. ä Use the fact that ANC is conservative... Why not titrate to target pH? f(C t )

Conservation of ANC V e = ___________ volume = volume of titrant added so that ANC = 0 V e = ___________ volume = volume of titrant added so that ANC = 0 Need to find ANC T and V e T = titrant S = sample T = titrant S = sample equivalent

ANC of Titrant Why? ___________ N T = [H + ] ANC conservation This equation is always true, but when do we know what ANC is? _______________________________________ When pH is so low that no reactions are occurring. Could solve for Ve, but what is ANC?

ANC of Titrated Sample When is this true? ____________ For pH << pK 1 Finally! An equation for equivalent volume!

Gran Function ä A better measure of the equivalent volume can be obtained by rearranging the equation so that linear regression on multiple titrant volume - pH data pairs can be used. ä Define F 1 as: ä A better measure of the equivalent volume can be obtained by rearranging the equation so that linear regression on multiple titrant volume - pH data pairs can be used. ä Define F 1 as:

Gran Plot Volume of Titrant (mL) First Gran Function VeVe Algorithm for choosing points to include? Minimum value of F 1 before it is worth attempting analysis?

Gran Plot using pH F 1 plotted as a function of V t. The abscissa has units of mL of titrant and the ordinate is a Gran function with units of [H + ]. abscissa intercept of V e slope =

Calculating ANC ä The ANC is obtained from the equivalent volume. ä The ANC of the acid rain can be estimated from its pH. At low pH (< pK 1 ) most of the carbonates will be carbonic acid and thus for pH below about 4.3 the ANC equation simplifies to ä The ANC is obtained from the equivalent volume. ä The ANC of the acid rain can be estimated from its pH. At low pH (< pK 1 ) most of the carbonates will be carbonic acid and thus for pH below about 4.3 the ANC equation simplifies to

Titration Technique ä Titrate with digital pipette ________________ ä Measure pH before first addition of titrant ä Measure pH after each addition of titrant ä After ANC is consumed Gran function will be linear ä What should the incremental titrant volume be? ä Techniques to speed up titration ä Titrate with digital pipette ________________ ä Measure pH before first addition of titrant ä Measure pH after each addition of titrant ä After ANC is consumed Gran function will be linear ä What should the incremental titrant volume be? ä Techniques to speed up titration Accuracy is important

Titrant Volume ä Minimum? ä Maximum? ä Constraints? ä Number of data points ___ ä Before reaching pH___ ä How do we determine titrant volume? ä H + is conservative! ä Minimum? ä Maximum? ä Constraints? ä Number of data points ___ ä Before reaching pH___ ä How do we determine titrant volume? ä H + is conservative!

Pre Lab Question ä Compare the ability of Cayuga lake and Wolf pond (an Adirondack lake) to withstand an acid rain runoff event (from snow melt) that results in 20% of the original lake water being replaced by acid rain. The acid rain has a pH of 3.5 and is in equilibrium with the atmosphere. The ANC of Cayuga lake is 1.6 meq/L and the ANC of Wolf Pond is 70 µeq/L. Assume that carbonate species are the primary component of ANC in both lakes, and that they are in equilibrium with the atmosphere. What is the pH of both bodies of water after the acid rain input? Remember that ANC is the conservative parameter (not pH!).