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Title: The use of rice hulls for sustainable control of NOx emissions in deep space missions

Journal Article · · Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
OSTI ID:836780

The use of the activated carbon produced from rice hulls to control NOx emissions for the future deep space missions has been demonstrated. The optimal carbonization temperature range was found to be between 600 C and 750 C. The burnoff of 61.8% was found at 700 C in pyrolysis and 750 C in activation. The BET surface area of the activated carbon from rice hulls was determined to be 172 m{sup 2}/g when prepared at 700 C. The presence of oxygen in flue gas is essential for effective adsorption of NO by the activated carbon. On the contrary, water vapor inhibits the adsorption efficiency of NO. Consequently, water vapor in flue gas should be removed by drying agents before adsorption to ensure high NO adsorption efficiency. All of NO in the flue gas was removed for more than one and a half hours when 10% oxygen was present and using a ratio of the carbon weight to the flue gas flow rate (W/F) of 15.4 g-min/L. The reduction of the adsorbed NO to form N{sub 2} can be effectively accomplished under anaerobic conditions at 550 C. For NO saturated activated carbon, the loss of carbon mass was determined to be about 0.16% of the activated carbon per cycle of regeneration. The reduction of the adsorbed NO also regenerates the activated carbon. The regenerated activated carbon exhibits improved NO adsorption efficiency.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (US)
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
836780
Report Number(s):
LBNL-49334; R&D Project: 43BD01; TRN: US200504%%289
Journal Information:
Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol. 42, Issue 8; Other Information: Submitted to Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research: Volume 42, No.8; Journal Publication Date: 04/16/2003; PBD: 21 Dec 2001
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English