Oxidation and Reduction Processes During NO x Removal with Corona-Induced Nonthermal Plasma

In this paper, the NO-to-NO ₂ conversion in various gaseous mixtures is experimentally investigated. Streamer coronas are produced with a dc-superimposed high-frequency ac power supply (10–60 kHz). According to NO _x removal experiments in N ₂ +NO _x and N ₂ +O ₂ +NO _x gaseous mixtures, it is supposed that the reverse reaction NO ₂ +ONO+O ₂ may not only limit NO ₂ production in N ₂ +NO _x mixtures, but also increase the energy cost for NO removal. Oxygen could significantly suppress reduction reactions and enhance oxidation processes. The reduction reactions, such as N+NON ₂ +O, induce negligible NO removal provided the O ₂ concentration is larger than 3.6%. With adding H ₂ O into the reactor, the produced NO ₂ per unit removed NO can be significantly reduced due to NO ₂ oxidation. NH ₃ injection could also significantly decrease the produced NO ₂ via NH and NH ₂ - related reduction reactions. Almost 100% of NO ₂ can be removed in gaseous mixtures of N ₂ +O ₂ +H ₂ O+NO ₂ with negligible NO production.     

Effects of Process Variables on NOx Conversion by Pulsed Corona Discharge Process

We investigated the effects of several process variables (initial concentrations of NO, NH₃, and H₂O and electron concentration) on NOx conversion by the pulsed corona discharge process (PCDP). In the PCDP, most of the NO is converted into NO₂ and, later, into HNO₃ which reacts with NH₃ to form NH₄NO₃ particles. We solved the model equations of chemical species in the PCDP considering 23 chemical species and 54 chemical reactions. As the initial NO concentration increases or electron concentration decreases, it takes a longer reactor length to remove the NO_x by the PCDP. As the initial H₂O, it takes a shorter reactor length to remove the NO_x. As the initial NO and H₂O and electron concentration decreases, or as the initial NH3 concentration increases, it takes a longer reactor length to consume the NH₃ by the particle formation reactions. The information on the effects of several process variables on the plasma chemistry in NO_x conversion can be the basis guideline to develop a more efficient PCDP and this study can be extended to obtain the information on particle characteristics of ammonium salts.     

By-Products NOx Control and Performance Improvement of a Packed-Bed Nonthermal Plasma Reactor

NO_x are main toxic by-products in the effluent gas whendecomposing volatile organic compounds in air by a packed-bed plasmareactor. Several types of materials such as 13X zeolite, BaTiO₃and Pd/Pt catalysts have been selected to be packed in the reactor, andmethane decomposition and NOx by-products in discharged gases areinvestigated at different range of reaction temperature and dischargeenergy density at atmospheric pressure. The ratios of methane decompositionpercentage/NO_x concentration are used to assess these packed bedmaterials and reaction conditions. The results show that usingPd/-Al₂O₃ with lower percentage Pd as packedbed, and discharging with lower discharge density at higher reactiontemperature can reduce NO_x output effectively and greatly improveperformance of the reactor.     

Ozone Production in the Positive DC Corona Discharge: Model and Comparison to Experiments

A numerical model of ozone generation in clean, dry air by positive DC corona discharges from a thin wire is presented. The model combines the physical processes in the corona discharge with the chemistry of ozone formation and destruction in the air stream. The distributions of ozone and nitrogen oxides are obtained in the neighborhood of the corona discharge wire. The model is validated with previously published experimental data. About 80% of the ozone produced is attributed to the presence of excited nitrogen and oxygen molecules. A parametric study reveals the effects of linear current density (0.1–100 A/cm of wire), wire radius (10–1000 m), temperature (300–800 K) and air velocity (0.05–2 m/s) on the production of ozone. The rate of ozone production increases with increasing current and wire size and decreases with increasing temperature. The air velocity affects the distribution of ozone, but does not affect the rate of production.     

Evaluation of Multiple Corona Reactor Modes and the Application in Odor Removal

Effects of multiple corona reactor modes on pulse characteristics, energy transfer efficiency, and odor (H₂S and NH₃) removal were investigated experimentally by the wire-plate corona reactor(s). The removal efficiency of H₂S was only 91% and the energy consumption was 16.1 Wh m⁻³ by the single mode with a gas-flow rate of 23 m³ h⁻¹ and an initial concentration of 200 mg m⁻³. At the same experimental conditions, almost 100% removal efficiency was achieved and the energy consumption was only 12.8 and 14.9 Wh m⁻³ by the series and parallel modes. In the case of 50 mg m⁻³ NH₃ removal at the same gas-flow rate, the removal efficiencies with the single mode, the series and parallel modes were 64, 92 and 70%, respectively. The energy requirement did not increase at the same residence time under the experimental conditions of the single mode with a gas-flow rate of 11.5 m³ h⁻¹ and the series or parallel mode with a gas-flow rate of 23.0 m³ h⁻¹. The experimental results indicate that the series and parallel modes are effective in saving energy consumption, improving removal ability and efficiency, especially for the series mode.     

Combined Effects of Pulsed Discharge Removal of NO,SO2, and NH3 from Flue Gas

Experiments have been performed using pulsed high-voltage discharges with the aim of removing NO and SO ₂ from flue gas obtained from a methane burner. It is found that the NO conversion is strongly increased by the addition of SO ₂ or NH ₃ . When both gases are added simultaneously the increase almost disappears. The synergetic effect can be maintained, as is shown, when NH ₃ is introduced much later than SO ₂ . The SO ₂ removal is already 70% upon stoichiometric addition of NH ₃ , but the electric discharge improves this to >95% and reduces the NH ₃ leak to a few ppm. This increase is probably related to aerosol production by the pulsed discharge which enhances the ammonium salt production. A so-called history effect is observed, i.e., the removal of NO and SO ₂ depends on the time that is taken to reach the required energization. It appears that the discharge has to create favorable conditions for the cleaning process. Using the synergetic and history effects the best cleaning result, at initial concentrations of 300 ppm, is 80% NO removal and 95% SO ₂ removal with 3 ppm NH ₃ leak. In this case the energy cost is 13 eV/NO (or a yield of 90 g NO and 200 g SO ₂ per kWh). Possibilities for further improvement are indicated.     

Point and Multipoint to Plane Barrier Discharge Process for Removal of NOx from Engine Exhaust Gases: Understanding of the Reactional Mechanism by Isotopic Labeling

An experimental study on the removal of NO_x in a simulated vehicle exhaust gas has been carried out using point to plane and multipoint to plane DBD corona reactors. Hydrocarbon (C₃H₆) and NO_x by-products were systematically investigated with a Gas Chromatography coupled to a Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). NO_x (NO and NO₂) and CO output were also monitored with a gas analyzer in order to complete the mass balance. ¹⁸O tracer technique analyzes is applied to investigate the mechanism of propylene decomposition. From the plasma chemical reaction pathway proposed, it is apparent that the oxygen activation is one of the important steps for initiating the oxidation processes and the R-NO_x formation. We present data for the reaction of the (N₂/O₂/C₃H₆/CO₂NO/H₂O system in the corona discharge reactors mentioned above. This system has been shown to generate a significant amount of aldehyde. CH₃NO₂ and CH₃ONO₂ are the main R-NO_x compounds produced. Reactant composition and discharge energy densities (controlled by a numerical oscilloscope) were the operating parameters under study in wet and dry air mixture. Water vapors played an important role in NO_x removal (especially in NO₂ removal) via the reaction forming HNO₃. Therefore, in wet-gas mixture supplied reactors the highest removal rates of NO_x were as high as 30%, while in dry-gas only 15%. Different dielectric materials such as Al₂O₃/SiO₂ and TiO₂ on Al₂O₃/SiO₂ support have been used.     

Recent developments and applications of screen-printed electrodes in environmental assays—A review

Screen-printed electrodes (SPEs), which are used as economical electrochemical substrates, have gone through significant improvements over the past few decades with respect to both their format and their printing materials. Because of their advantageous material properties, such as disposability, simplicity, and rapid responses, SPEs have been successfully utilised for the rapid in situ analysis of environmental pollutants. This critical review describes the basic fabrication principles, the configuration designs of SPEs and the hybrid analytical techniques based on SPEs. We mainly overview the electrochemical applications of SPEs in environmental analysis over the past 3 years, including the determination of organic compounds, heavy metals and gas pollutants.