Nitrogen oxides thermal

To reduce nitrogen oxide, thermal and catalytic processes are available. The thermal process is licensed by Exxon. NHj or urea is injected into the flue gas at an elevated temperature ( 1600°F, 870°C) NOj is reduced to nitrogen. This process is applicable to FCC units that have CO boilers. NO can also be reduced over a catalyst at 500°F to 750°F (260°C to 400°C). 

At the high temperatures found in MHD combustors, nitrogen oxides, NO, are formed primarily by gas-phase reactions, rather than from fuel-bound nitrogen. The principal constituent is nitric oxide [10102-43-9] NO, and the amount formed is generally limited by kinetics. Equilibrium values are reached only at very high temperatures. NO decomposes as the gas cools, at a rate which decreases with temperature. If the combustion gas cools too rapidly after the MHD channel the NO has insufficient time to decompose and excessive amounts can be released to the atmosphere. Below about 1800 K there is essentially no thermal decomposition of NO. 

A process development known as NOXSO (DuPont) (165,166) uses sodium to purify power plant combustion flue gas for removal of nitrogen oxide, NO, and sulfur, SO compounds. This technology reHes on sodium metal generated in situ via thermal reduction of sodium compound-coated media contained within a flue-gas purification device, and subsequent flue-gas component reactions with sodium. The process also includes downstream separation and regeneration of spent media for recoating and circulation back to the gas purification device. A full-scale commercial demonstration project was under constmction in 1995. 

Environmentally Available Reactants. Under normal conditions ethyleneamines are considered to be thermally stable molecules. However, they are sufftciendy reactive that upon exposure to adventitious water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and oxygen, trace levels of by-products can form and increased color usually results. 

Excess fertilizer and combustion processes also can increase nitrous oxide (NnO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the atmosphere. Nitrous oxide is a powerful greenhouse gas, and nitrogen oxides lead to smog and acid rain. The production of fertilizers requires a great deal of energy. The use of fossil fuels to supply the thermal requirements for fertilizer production further increases emission of nitrogen compounds to the atmosphere. 

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) - thermal NOx is formed with gas as with other fuels, particularly if air preheat is practiced. There is very little fuel nitrogen compared with other fossil fuels so that the total NOx emissions are lower. 

Broer, S. and Hammer, T. (2000) Selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides by combining a non-thermal plasma and a V205-W03/Ti02 catalyst, Appl. Catal. B Env. 28, 101-11. 

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