Airborne investigations of SO2 oxidation in the plumes from power stations

Abstract The Danish contribution to the EUROCOP COST 61a project is described. Work concerned the physical and chemical reactions of sulphur dioxide released from a power station. The investigation was based on the application of two tracers. Inactive, inert SF 6 is used to monitor the dispersion of and deposition from the plume; it was intended to use radioactive 35 SO 2 to determine the degree of oxidation of sulphur released from the stack; so far, however, public reaction has prevented the use of a release of activity in field experiments. Some attempts have been made to base the investigations of analyses of inactive samples only. Previously published results obtained at an oil-fired power station suggest a half-life of about 30 min for SO 2 in the first part of the plume. New results obtained at a mainly coal-fired power station give a half-life of about 90 min.