A dual-use of DBD plasma for simultaneous NO(x) and SO(2) removal from coal-combustion flue gas

Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) was investigated for the simultaneous removal of NO(x) and SO(2) from flue gas in a coal-combustion power plant. The DBD equipment was used in either a mode where flue gas was directed through the discharge zone (direct oxidation), or a mode where produced ozonized air was injected in the flue gas stream (indirect oxidation). Removal efficiencies of SO(2) and NO for both methods were measured and compared. Oxidation of NO is more efficient in the indirect oxidation, while oxidation of SO(2) is more efficient in the direct oxidation. Addition of NH(3), has lead to efficient removal of SO(2), due to thermal reaction, and has also enhanced NO removal due to heterogeneous reactions on the surface of ammonium salt aerosols. In the direct oxidation, concentration of CO increased significantly, while it maintained its level in the indirect oxidation.     

Broadband spectroscopic sensor for real-time monitoring of industrial SO(2) emissions

A spectroscopic system for continuous real-time monitoring of SO(2) concentrations in industrial emissions was developed. The sensor is well suited for field applications due to simple and compact instrumental design, and robust data evaluation based on ultraviolet broadband absorption without the use of any calibration cell. The sensor has a detection limit of 1 ppm, and was employed both for gas-flow simulations with and without suspended particles, and for in situ measurement of SO(2) concentrations in the flue gas emitted from an industrial coal-fired boiler. The price/performance ratio of the instrument is expected to be superior to other comparable real-time monitoring systems.     

Lattice variation and thermal parameters of Ni x Mg1−x SO4·7H2O single crystals

Ni _x Mg_1−x SO₄·7H₂O single crystals were grown by the slow evaporation method from aqueous solutions. Density was measured by the floatation method. X-ray diffraction data were collected for powder samples and used for the estimation of lattice variation and thermal parameters like Debye-Waller factor, mean-square amplitude of vibration and Debye temperature. Lattice volumes approximately obey a relation similar to Retger’s rule. Values of thermal parameters do not follow any particular order with composition. The results obtained are reported.     

Simultaneous removal of SO2 and NO by wet scrubbing using aqueous chlorine dioxide solution

The present study attempts to generate chlorine dioxide (ClO(2)) gas continuously by chlorate-chloride process and to utilize it further to clean up SO(2) and NO(x) gases simultaneously from the flue gas in the lab-scale bubbling reactor. Experiments were carried out to examine the effect of various operating parameters like input SO(2) concentration, input NO concentration, pH of the reaction medium, and ClO(2) feeding rate on the SO(2) and NO(x) removal efficiencies at 45 degrees C. Complete oxidation of NO into NO(2) occurred on passing sufficient ClO(2) gas into the scrubbing solution. SO(2) removal efficiency of about 100% and NO(x) removal efficiency of 66-72% were achieved under optimized conditions. NO(x) removal efficiency decreased slightly with increasing pH and NO concentration. Input SO(2) concentration had marginal catalytic effect on NO(2) absorption. No improvement in the NO(x) removal efficiency was observed on passing excess of chlorine dioxide in the scrubbing solution.     

A quartz crystal microbalance-based sensor system coated with functional polymers for SO2 and NO2 detection

In this work, a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM)-based adsorption sensor system with high sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility is designed and fabricated. The functional polymers such as polypyrrole, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), and polystyrene are coated on 8 MHz AT-cut quartz crystal surfaces as sensing materials for SO2 and NO2. All sensing materials on the QCM surface are characterized experimentally by SEM and AFM. The frequency shifts of the QCM by adsorption and desorption of gases are measured and analyzed to assess the practical applicability of the sensor system. The overall results show that the QCM coated with polypyrrole is highly selective for SO2 gas and that coated with PEDOT is for NO2. It is proven that the QCM-based adsorption sensor system is possible for monitoring SO2 and NO2 gases in the mixture of ppm level.     

Removal of SO2 and NO from flue gas by wet scrubbing using an aqueous NaClO2 solution

This study used a NaClO₂/NaOH solution as the additive/absorbent to determine the extent of NO_x removal in a wet scrubbing system. A combined SO_x/NO_x removal system was also tested. The experiments were performed in a bench-scale spraying sieve tray wet scrubber in a continuous mode. The operating variables included NO and SO₂ concentrations, L/G ratio, molar ratio, and initial pH.

The results of the individual DeNO_x experiments show that the maximum DeNO_x efficiencies ranged from 3.1 to 12.6%. The results of the combined DeSO_x/DeNO_x experiments show that the maximum DeNO_x and DeSO_x efficiencies ranged from 36.6 to 71.9% and from 89.4 to 100.0%, respectively. The major parameters affecting NO_x removal efficiencies are the L/G ratio and the dosage of additive. The major parameter influencing DeSO_x efficiencies is the L/G ratio.     

Physicochemical properties of metal-doped activated carbons and relationship with their performance in the removal of SO2 and NO

The carbon dioxide (CO(2)) levels of the global atmosphere and the emissions of heavy metals have risen in recent decades, and these increases are expected to produce an impact on crops and thereby affect yield and food safety. In this study, the effects of elevated CO(2) and fly ash amended soils on trace element accumulation and translocation in the root, stem and seed compartments in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] were evaluated. Soybean plants grown in fly ash (FA) amended soil (0, 1, 10, 15, and 25% FA) at two CO(2) regimes (400 and 600 ppm) in controlled environmental chambers were analyzed at the maturity stage for their trace element contents. The concentrations of Br, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in roots, stems and seeds in soybeans were investigated and their potential risk to the health of consumers was estimated. The results showed that high levels of CO(2) and lower concentrations of FA in soils were associated with an increase in biomass. For all the elements analyzed except Pb, their accumulation in soybean plants was higher at elevated CO(2) than at ambient concentrations. In most treatments, the highest concentrations of Br, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Pb were found in the roots, with a strong combined effect of elevated CO(2) and 1% of FA amended soils on Pb accumulation (above maximum permitted levels) and translocation to seeds being observed. In relation to non-carcinogenic risks, target hazard quotients (TQHs) were significant in a Chinese individual for Mn, Fe and Pb. Also, the increased health risk due to the added effects of the trace elements studied was significant for Chinese consumers. According to these results, soybean plants grown for human consumption under future conditions of elevated CO(2) and FA amended soils may represent a toxicological hazard. Therefore, more research should be carried out with respect to food consumption (plants and animals) under these conditions and their consequences for human health.     

Efficient Catalysis of Hydrogen Evolution Reaction from WS2(1−x)P2x Nanoribbons

The rational design of Earth abundant electrocatalysts for efficiently catalyzing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is believed to lead to the generation of carbon neutral energy carrier. Owing to their fascinating chemical and physical properties, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are widely studied for this purpose. Of particular note is that doping by foreign atom can bring the advent of electronic perturbation, which affects the intrinsic catalytic property. Hence, through doping, the catalytic activity of such materials could be boosted. A rational synthesis approach that enables phosphorous atom to be doped into WS₂ without inducing phase impurity to form WS_{2(1? x )}P_{2 x} nanoribbon (NRs) is herein reported. It is found that the WS_{2(1? x )}P_{2 x} NRs exhibit considerably enhanced HER performance, requiring only ?98 mV versus reversible hydrogen electrode to achieve a current density of ?10 mA cm^?2. Such a high performance can be attributed to the ease of H‐atom adsorption and desorption due to intrinsically tuned WS₂, and partial formation of NRs, a morphology wherein the exposure of active edges is more pronounced. This finding can provide a fertile ground for subsequent works aiming at tuning intrinsic catalytic activity of TMDs.     

Application of TiO2-coated alumina beads to dielectric barrier discharge-photocatalyst hybrid process for NO and SO2 removals

NO and SO2 removal by dielectric barrier discharge-photocatalyst (DBD-P) hybrid process was examined for various conditions of process variables. Alumina beads were coated with TiO2 thin film by a rotating cylindrical PCVD reactor and they were packed inside the cylindrical reactor. The NO and SO2 removal efficiencies can be enhanced by using a combination of dielectric barrier discharge and photodegradation by TiO2. The stronger the applied voltage is, the higher the pulse frequency is, or the longer the gas residence time is, the higher the NO and SO2 removal efficiencies become. By applying additional photocatalytic effect, NO removal efficiency increased more significantly than SO2 removal efficiency, because SO2 removal efficiency was already high by dielectric barrier discharge only. In this study, we found that the alumina beads coated with TiO2 thin film by a rotating cylindrical PCVD reactor could be used effectively to remove NO and SO2 by DBD-P hybrid process.     

Effects of SO2 on selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 over a TiO2 photocatalyst

The effect of SO₂ gas was investigated on the activity of the photo-assisted selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen monoxide (NO) with ammonia (NH₃) over a TiO₂ photocatalyst in the presence of excess oxygen (photo-SCR). The introduction of SO₂ (300 ppm) greatly decreased the activity of the photo-SCR at 373 K. The increment of the reaction temperature enhanced the resistance to SO₂ gas, and at 553 K the conversion of NO was stable for at least 300 min of the reaction. X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), elemental analysis and N₂ adsorption measurement revealed that the ammonium sulfate species were generated after the reaction. There was a strong negative correlation between the deposition amount of the ammonium sulfate species and the specific surface area. Based on the above relationship, we concluded that the deposition of the ammonium sulfate species decreased the specific surface area by plugging the pore structure of the catalyst, and the decrease of the specific surface area resulted in the deactivation of the catalyst.     

Effects of SO2 on selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 over a TiO2 photocatalyst

Abstract

The effect of SO₂ gas was investigated on the activity of the photo-assisted selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen monoxide (NO) with ammonia (NH₃) over a TiO₂ photocatalyst in the presence of excess oxygen (photo-SCR). The introduction of SO₂ (300 ppm) greatly decreased the activity of the photo-SCR at 373 K. The increment of the reaction temperature enhanced the resistance to SO₂ gas, and at 553 K the conversion of NO was stable for at least 300 min of the reaction. X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), elemental analysis and N₂ adsorption measurement revealed that the ammonium sulfate species were generated after the reaction. There was a strong negative correlation between the deposition amount of the ammonium sulfate species and the specific surface area. Based on the above relationship, we concluded that the deposition of the ammonium sulfate species decreased the specific surface area by plugging the pore structure of the catalyst, and the decrease of the specific surface area resulted in the deactivation of the catalyst.     

Characterisation of CO/NO/SO2 emission and ash-forming elements from the combustion and pyrolysis process

Bioenergy is considered as a sustainable energy which can play a significant role in the future’s energy scenarios to replace fossil fuels, not only in the heat production, but also in the electricity and transportation sectors. Emission formation and release of main ash-forming elements during thermal conversion of biomass fuels at different conditions have been the scope of this study. The experiments were conducted in a quartz glass reactor where the temperature and atmosphere could be controlled. The selected fuels represent a wide range of biomass compositions. They are torrefied softwood, spruce bark, waste wood, miscanthus, and wheat straw. The fuels were first grinded and then pressed with a pellet maker into pellets of the same size and weight. For each fuel, the experiments were carried out under both oxidation and pyrolysis condition, with atmosphere of 3 % O₂ + 97 % N₂ and 100 % N₂, respectively, at four residence times. The selected temperatures under which experiments were performed are 800, 900, and 1,050 °C. The concentration of SO₂, NO, CO, and CO₂ emissions and O₂ were monitored online by three analysers, simultaneously. The residue weight was measured after each process, and the comparison with the ash content of the fresh pellet is made. Additionally, the release of several ash-forming elements (K, Zn, Na, and Mn) from the fuels has been quantified as function of temperature and residence time by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Time-dependent formation of NO and SO₂ and other emissions is presented and discussed with respect to different temperature and combustion conditions.     

SnS2纳米片的制备及其对NO2气体的检测

二维金属硫化物材料具有较低的电子噪声以及极大的比表面积, 使其非常适合用作气敏材料, 因此寻求高效可控的方法制备二维金属硫化物材料是目前的研究热点。本研究使用高温化学浴法制备了不同形貌的高结晶二维六方SnS₂纳米片。采用不同手段对制备的SnS₂纳米片进行表征, 并进一步研究了SnS₂纳米片的气敏性能。结果显示: 油酸、油胺用量(体积)相同时, 产物SnS₂的形貌是均一的六角形纳米片, 其直径约150 nm, 厚度约4~6 nm。气敏测试表明该SnS₂纳米片对NO₂气体具有良好响应, 且响应过程可逆, 选择性好。其最佳工作温度为130 ℃, 响应和恢复时间分别为98和680 s。     

Impedance and modulus spectroscopic studies on (CuI)100-x-(Ag2SO4)x (0≤x≤60) mixed system

The frequency-dependent conductivity, σω measurements on (CuI)100-x-(Ag2SO4)x (0≤x≤60) mixed system in the frequency range 1 Hz–65.5 kHz and over the temperature range 293–403 K have been carried out. These studies have illustrated similarities in the behaviour of the present system and the other fast ionic solid systems which are generally found to obey the Jonscher's universal power law, σa.c.(ω)=σ0+Aωn, where σa.c.(ω) is the conductivity at frequency ω, σ0 is the limiting zero frequency conductivity or d.c. conductivity and A and n are fitting parameters. The value of n decreases with increasing temperature and A and σ0 increase with temperature (n is a temperature-dependent frequency exponent, A is a frequency-independent and temperature-dependent parameter). These results appear to suggest a mechanism of fast ion conduction due to the presence of well-defined pathways. The strong low-frequency dispersion observed in the case of high conductivity compositions is attributed to the electrode polarization effects. The observed impedance and modulus spectra in correlation with the Arrhenius plots obtained at different frequencies have clearly indicated the frequency dispersion of conduction due to many-body effects and the formation of a large capacitance associated with the electrodes. Thus, the present analysis has suggested a non-Debye type of relaxation process arising due to many-body effects and a distribution of relaxation times, which is a temperature-independent phenomenon exhibited by the heterogeneous electrical structure of the mixed system. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Fish-Tail Effect and Its Evolution Under Neutron Irradiation in Li-Doped YBa2Cu3O7−x

The evolution of the critical current density of Li-doped YBa₂Cu₃O_7?x polycrystalline samples submitted to neutron irradiation is investigated as function of magnetic field (0 ≤ B ≤ 6 T) temperature (5 ≤ T ≤ 85 K) and neutron fluence (0 ≤ Φ ≤ 9.98 × 10¹⁷ cm^?2). At fluences lower than 10¹⁷ cm^?2, a second peak in j _s vs. B dependence is present (fish-tail effect). Its magnitude decreases with increasing the fluence. Above 10¹⁷ cm^?2, the second peak of current density completely disappears; instead, the logarithmic susceptibility shows a second peak at a certain field B _infl. A dependence of B _infl on fluence is proposed.     

NO x emission from electric arc furnace in steel industry: contribution from electric arc and co-combustion reactions

Off-gas measurements were conducted at industrial electric arc furnaces (EAF) in Germany in order to investigate the interrelation of NO _x emission with installed plant equipment (e.g. gas burner) and process data (e.g. carbon input). Off-gas data monitor rapid changes in off-gas composition, temperature, and volume flow rates of air into the furnace indicating the transient state batch process of scrap melting. From the measurements two distinct sources of NO _x emission are clearly distinguished: (1) NO _x formation in the electric arc plasma during the start-up period of the melting process in an oxidizing furnace atmosphere after the charging of the furnace. (2) NO _x formation from post-combustion of CO/CO₂/H₂ gas with air inside and outside the furnace. Whereas the contribution from arc ignition is similar for different types of EAFs, other contributions depend on furnace equipment and operation, e.g. gas burners, use of air as carrier medium for carbon or dust injection, air-tightness of furnace, and parameters of off-gas extraction by EAF dedusting system. The positive effect of the minimum volume flow rate of air into the furnace by controlled off-gas extraction to total NO _x emission is shown.     

Simultaneous absorption of NOx and SO2 from flue gas with pyrolusite slurry combined with gas-phase oxidation of NO using ozone

NO was oxidized into NO₂ first by injecting ozone into flue gas stream, and then NO₂ was absorbed from flue gas simultaneously with SO₂ by pyrolusite slurry. Reaction mechanism and products during the absorption process were discussed in the followings. Effects of concentrations of injected ozone, inlet NO, pyrolusite and reaction temperature on NO_x/SO₂ removal efficiency and Mn extraction rate were also investigated. The results showed that ozone could oxidize NO to NO₂ with selectivity and high efficiency, furthermore, MnO₂ in pyrolusite slurry could oxidize SO₂ and NO₂ into MnSO₄ and Mn(NO₃)₂ in liquid phase, respectively. Temperature and concentrations of injected ozone and inlet NO had little impact on both SO₂ removal efficiency and Mn extraction rate. Specifically, Mn extraction rate remained steady at around 85% when SO₂ removal efficiency dropped to 90%. NO_x removal efficiency increased with the increasing of ozone concentration, inlet NO concentration and pyrolusite concentration, however, it remained stable when reaction temperature increased from 20 °C to 40 °C and decreased when the flue gas temperature exceeded 40 °C. NO_x removal efficiency reached 82% when inlet NO at 750 ppm, injected ozone at 900 ppm, concentration of pyrolusite at 500 g/L and temperature at 25 °C.