CHALLENGES IN UTILIZING FOSSIL FUELS

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UTILIZATION OF FOSSIL FUELS AND THE ENERGY EMERGENCY IS RECOGNIZED AS A COMPLEX ONE. THE EXPLOITATION OF SUCH FUELS AND THE NECESSARY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS DISCUSSED. RECOVERY OF ENERGY FROM OIL SHALE (WHICH REPRESENTS ONE OF THE LARGEST AVAILABLE ENERGY SOURCES), BY MINING THE SHALE AND RETORTING IT ABOVE GROUND, WOULD PRESENT THE ENORMOUS PROBLEM OF "RECYCLING" THE SPENT RAW MATERIAL. THE PROTECTION OF WATER QUALITY, AND THE RULES AND REQUIREMENTS OF AIR QUALITY STANDARDS ARE OUTLINED. THE USE OF LEAD AND LEAD SALTS AS CATALYTIC DEVICES, THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FUEL WITH MORE RESTRICTED VOLATILITY CHARACTERISTICS, AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF EXHAUST EMISSION STANDARDS TO THE ENERGY PROBLEM ARE DISCUSSED. THE ENERGY REQUIREMENTS OF EXCESSIVE LIMITATION OF DISCHARGES INTO THE ENVIRONMENT CONTAIN THE ELEMENTS OF DISASTER. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE STANDARDS BE MODIFIED TO 80 PERCENT REDUCTION IN OXIDES OF NITROGEN INSTEAD OF 90, AND THAT STANDARDS BE APPLIED ON A GEOGRAPHIC BASIS SUCH THAT ONLY 15 PERCENT OF EACH YEAR'S CAR MODELS ARE REQUIRED TO MEET THE VERY STRICT 1976 STANDARDS. IT IS URGED THAT IMPLEMENTATION LEGISLATIVE MANDATES BE ADJUSTED TO RECOGNIZE THE TRUE NEEDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION, AND THE LIMITATIONS ON THE ENERGY SOURCES.

• Corporate Authors:

  Chemical Engineering Progress

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Coppoc, W J
• Publication Date: 1973-6

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 40-7
• Serial:
  • Volume: 69
  • Issue Number: 6

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality management; Energy; Fossil fuels; Laws; Lead compounds; Oil shales; Recycling; Water quality
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00224515
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 27 1974 12:00AM