Bunker Fuel Investigation
The effect of bunker fuels on the Port Adelaide area.
Introduction
Bunker fuel is a form of crude oil which is left over from the refining process of petroleum. Bunker fuel is typically a very thick sludge because of the large amount of impurities such as sulfur and nitrogen. These impurities make bunker fuel extremely cheap for ship operators, but has a much more negative effect on the environment, as when the fuel is burnt the impurities are released into the atmosphere.
Rain is naturally slightly acidic because it combines with carbon dioxide when it falls through the atmosphere and forms carbonic acid (H_2 CO_3), lowering the pH of rain to around 5.6. However, the release of nitrogen and sulfur from burning hydrocarbon fuels can lower the pH of rain to as low as 2. Nitrogen and sulfur oxide are common in the air around industrial areas and has serious negative effects of aquatic environments.
Acid rain forms because petroleum naturally has impurities in it. This is because when the plant or animal died millions of years ago the various elements and molecules they were made of were trapped inside. This means that when the crude oil is extracted it is full of unwanted materials which must be filtered out. The petroleum that is burnt in our cars and factories is very refined but still contains trace amounts of sulfur …show more content…
If the acid rain falls on limestone soil, it will be neutralised and have very little effect. However, if it falls on soil, vegetation or a lake or ocean, it can have serious effects on the ecosystem in that area. If acid rain falls on soil it will acidify and add extra hydrogen ions to the soil. This can cause heavy metals found in the soil to be displaced further into the soil or washed away by runoff water. These heavy metals are essential for the growth of plants and microorganisms and a lack of these can mean that the region becomes barren and
The effect of bunker fuels on the Port Adelaide area.
Introduction
Bunker fuel is a form of crude oil which is left over from the refining process of petroleum. Bunker fuel is typically a very thick sludge because of the large amount of impurities such as sulfur and nitrogen. These impurities make bunker fuel extremely cheap for ship operators, but has a much more negative effect on the environment, as when the fuel is burnt the impurities are released into the atmosphere.
Rain is naturally slightly acidic because it combines with carbon dioxide when it falls through the atmosphere and forms carbonic acid (H_2 CO_3), lowering the pH of rain to around 5.6. However, the release of nitrogen and sulfur from burning hydrocarbon fuels can lower the pH of rain to as low as 2. Nitrogen and sulfur oxide are common in the air around industrial areas and has serious negative effects of aquatic environments.
Acid rain forms because petroleum naturally has impurities in it. This is because when the plant or animal died millions of years ago the various elements and molecules they were made of were trapped inside. This means that when the crude oil is extracted it is full of unwanted materials which must be filtered out. The petroleum that is burnt in our cars and factories is very refined but still contains trace amounts of sulfur …show more content…
If the acid rain falls on limestone soil, it will be neutralised and have very little effect. However, if it falls on soil, vegetation or a lake or ocean, it can have serious effects on the ecosystem in that area. If acid rain falls on soil it will acidify and add extra hydrogen ions to the soil. This can cause heavy metals found in the soil to be displaced further into the soil or washed away by runoff water. These heavy metals are essential for the growth of plants and microorganisms and a lack of these can mean that the region becomes barren and