Systematic Study of Rain Events throughout Two Different Cities Precipitation Areas in the Island of Puerto Rico: Acid Rain Episodes | AIChE

Systematic Study of Rain Events throughout Two Different Cities Precipitation Areas in the Island of Puerto Rico: Acid Rain Episodes

Authors 

Caraballo-Alvarez, C. - Presenter, AIChE University of Puerto Rico
De Jesus - Echevarría, M. - Presenter, University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus


In many parts of the world, rainwater still provides the majority of the water needed to meet the basics, necessities usually used, as potable water. Since the problem of acid precipitation has become a major environmental concern in the world and in Puerto Rico is very important to obtain and maintain available data of the quality of the rainwater in the island. Considering that there no systematic study of rain events throughout the different precipitation area of the island has undertaken, our study was aimed at determining the possible prevalence of acid rain on an island basis. We collect the rainwater through a system that consists of polyethylene one gallon each on top connected to a plastic funnel. . We select two different stations, the building roofs of the cities, Mayagüez and Río Piedras. Weekly during a year, we run several chemical analysis in the rainwater samples and determine the pH, conductivity, salinity, total dissolve solids, turbidity and ion concentration of NO -3, SO4 -2, Cl-and other ions. The rainfall values results from August 2006 to July 2007 varies in the two cities. We can conclude that the acid rain episodes have happen in both cities.