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Vehicles and Factories produce air-pollution like Nitrogen Dioxide(NO2) and Sulfur Dioxide(SO2).

Plants use Fertilizer with those same compounds (NO2 & SO2)

So, by what method can air-pollution be captured, and recycled as fertilizer ?

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    $\begingroup$ would it be more effective to not produce it in the first place? $\endgroup$
    – Solar Mike
    Dec 14, 2017 at 8:14
  • $\begingroup$ Given the rate & number of petrol and diesel vehicles being sold, especially in Africa & Asia, there is no chance of elimination of Vehicular pollution, at-least in the next few decades. Also, US & Europe boast pollution reduction, by moving polluting factories to Africa & Asia, thus causing China to become the biggest manufacturer. $\endgroup$
    – Neel
    Dec 14, 2017 at 8:27
  • $\begingroup$ Especially some manufacturers selling the “old” more polluting versions in Africa etc when they no longer meet the Eu and US standards... back to my first point then... $\endgroup$
    – Solar Mike
    Dec 14, 2017 at 8:46

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One of the problems with such an idea is the concentration of such polluting gases, within the exhaust gas stream of individual producers is relatively low.

A similar problem exists with coal fired power stations and schemes to capture the carbon dioxide produced so that it can be sequestrated underground.

Firstly, the polluting gasses must be removed from the exhaust stream, concentrated and stored so that can be disposed of, or utilized in another way - such as making fertilizer.

The equipment to do so is large and expensive, which would deem many industrial plants uneconomic, particularly if it had to be retrofitted to existing plants.

Fitting such a system to motor vehicles, would increase the size of the vehicles and their weight and it would reduce fuel efficiency. It would be better to abandon the use of fossil fuelled vehicles and use another souce of energy, such as electricity.

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Just found a patent for this: https://www.google.com/patents/US20070154374

Method for removing sulfur dioxide and other acid gases, mercury, and nitrogen oxides from a gas stream with the optional production of ammonia based fertilizers

enter image description here

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  • $\begingroup$ And this is a cheap process that can be put into place quickly on all the industrial plants .... $\endgroup$
    – Solar Mike
    Dec 16, 2017 at 21:28

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