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How to Convert SO2 PPMV to Tons per Day

Environmental air pollution continues to be of to great concern worldwide. The generation of greenhouse gases and occurrences of acid rain have lead to the increased monitoring of exhaust from industrial sources. Lawmakers and governments around the world have enacted legislation setting limits on the amount of detrimental gases released into the atmosphere. SO2 (sulfur dioxide) is one of the gases that produces acid rain; many manufacturing facilities that expel SO2 measure its presence in parts per million by volume (ppmv). Converting SO2 production to a unit measuring its daily generation is useful due to the pollutant's accumulation in the atmosphere; converting ppmv to tons per day of SO2 produced gives a clearer picture of the rate at which these pollutants are contaminating the planet.

Things You'll Need

SO2 ppmv
Gas flow rate per minute from flue

Instructions

- 1
  Calculate the pounds of SO2 produced per hour by using the following formula:
  
  lbs SO2 / hour = PPMV * (0.749 lb / ft^3) * (gas flow rate per min) * (60 min) * (molecular weight of SO2 / molecular weight of air).
  
  The molecular weight of SO2 is 64; the molecular weight of air is 29.95. The equation therefore becomes:
  
  lbs SO2 / hour = PPMV * (0.749 cubic foot-lbs) * (gas flow rate per min) * (60) * (64/29.95).
  
  As an example, use a ppmv of 200 and a gas flow in the flue of 250 ft^3 / min. Insert the values into the formula and find the number of lbs SO2 per hour:
  
  200 * 0.749 * 250 * 60 * (64 / 29.95) = 4,801,603 lbs per hour SO2.
- 2
  Generate the conversion factor to change pounds to tons and hours to days. There are 24 hours per day, so the conversion factor is 24 hours = 1 day; There are 2000 pounds per ton, so the conversion factor is 1ton = 2000 lbs.
- 3
  Multiply the hourly production of SO2 by the two conversion factors to find tons per day of SO2 production. Following the example, 4,801,603 lbs / hour / 2000 lbs / 24 hours = 57.62 tons SO2 produced each day of operation.

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